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WILLIAM  R.  PERKINS 
LIBRARY 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/historyofwarbetw01mcca_0 


William  I.,  Emperor  of  Germany. 

I.,  Staffer  oon  ®eutfd)(anb. 


Emperor  Napoleon.  Empress  Eugenie. 

SUufcr  Rapolron.  Saiferin  @uflenie. 


S  :r  ■:  I  !  k 


HISTORY 

il 


THE  W AH 


BETWEEN 

AND 


WITH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


OF  THE 


PRINCIPAL  PERSONAGES  ENGAGED  IN  THE  CONTEST. 


BY 

JAMES  D.  McCABE, 


J"  R. , 


AUTHOR  OP  “PARIS  BY  SUNLIGHT  AND  GASLIGHT,”  “LIFE  OF  NAPOLEON  III.,” 
“LIFE  AND  CAMPAIGNS  OF  GENERAL  U.  E.  LEE,”  “  GREAT  FORTUNES,” 
“PLANTING  THE  WILDERNESS,”  ETC.,  ETC.,  ETC. 


EMBELLISHED  AND  ILLUSTRATED  WITH  OVER  100 
FINE  ENGRAVINGS  AND  MAPS. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  NATIONAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

AND 

JONES,  JUNKIN  &  CO. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 
J.  It.  JONES, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


Count  Yon  Bismarck. 

fflrflf  t>on  3Si$marcf. 


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PREFACE. 


None  of  the  great  struggles  that  have  convulsed  the 
world  at  various  epochs  of  its  history,  have  been  more 
fraught  with  momentous  consequences  than  the  war 
between  Germany  and  France  which  has  just  come  to 
an  end.  It  is  but  natural  that  the  nations  of  the  world, 
although  holding  aloof  from  it,  should  not  only  have 
watched  its  course  with  the  greatest  interest,  but  that 
they  should  still  await,  with  an  anxiety  not  less  grave, 
the  consequences  which  must  spring  from  it,  and  which 
must  affect,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  every  nation 
upon  the  globe.  In  no  country  was  the  war  more 
eagerly  watched  than  in  our  own.  Bound  as  we  are  to 
France  by  gratitude  for  the  aid  she  gave  us  in  our  strug¬ 
gle  for  independence,  and  united  with  Germany  by  the 
thousands  of  her  people  who  have  made  our  country 
their  home,  we  witnessed  the  contest  with  a  sincere 
sympathy  for  the  sufferings,  and  a  warm  admiration  for 
the  heroism  of  each  combatant. 

The  great  interest  manifested  by  the  American  peo¬ 
ple  in  the  war,  and  the  eagerness  with  which  its  events 
were  discussed  by  them  at  the  time,  warrant  the  belief 
that  a  concise  and  consecutive  history  of  those  events 
will  prove  acceptable  to  them,  since  it  will  enable  them 
to  review  with  calmness  the  judgments  they  formed  in 
the  heat  of  the  conflict,  and  will  place  them  in  posses¬ 
sion  of  a  more  connected  narrative  than  has  yet  been 


4 


PREFACE. 


accessible  to  them.  Such  a  narrative  is  offered  to  them 
in  these  pages,  in  which  the  chief  effort  of  the  Author 
has  been  to  present  a  simple  and  unvarnished  story  of 
the  war.  He  has  sought  to  make  the  events  recorded 
point  their  own  moral,  and  has  ventured  to  offer  his 
own  opinions  only  where  it  seemed  that  comment  would 
be  of  service  to  the  reader.  No  effort  has  been  made 
to  plead  the  cause  of  either  combatant,  but  a  very 
earnest  attempt  has  been  made  to  present  facts  free 
from  the  coloring  given  to  them  at  the  time  by  the  en¬ 
thusiasm  and  prejudices  of  the  partisans  of  Germany 
and  France. 

The  story  told  in  these  pages  is  the  most  wonderful 
of  the  century,  equalling  in  attractiveness  the  most 
brilliant  passages  in  the  world’s  history.  It  is  a  record 
of  battles  which  have  shaken  Europe  to  its  centre,  the 
consequences  of  which  must  extend  even  to  our  western 
world  ;  of  patriotism,  heroism,  military  skill  and  states¬ 
manship  never  surpassed ;  and  of  the  fall  and  rise  of 
the  mightiest  Empires  of  modern  times.  It  is  not  in¬ 
teresting  in  this  respect  alone,  however,  but  is  still  more 
instructive  as  the  description  of  one  of  the  greatest 
epochs  of  human  civilization. 

A  free  use  has  been  made  of  contemporary  narratives ; 
and  the  Author  would  here  acknowledge  his  great  obli¬ 
gations  to  those  brilliant  writers  and  gallant  gentlemen 
who  followed  the  contending  armies  throughout  the 
struggle,  and,  braving  all  the  dangers  of  the  troops  en¬ 
gaged,  collected  the  materials  for  their  narratives  under 
fire.  The  obligations  of  the  reading  public  to  these 
modest  but  heroic  chroniclers  can  hardly  be  estimated. 
They  alone  have  rescued  the  history  of  the  war  from 
the  dryness  of  official  bulletins. 


' 


PREFACE. 


As  the  reader  will  naturally  desire  to  know  some¬ 
thing  more  of  the  history  of  the  men  who  were  most 
conspicuous  in  the  war  than  could  be  given  in  the 
course  of  the  narrative,  a  series  of  biographical  sketches 
of  the  leaders  on  both  sides  is  given  at  the  close  of  the 
volume.  These  sketches  are  confined  to  those  who 
held  high  commands  in  the  field,  or  prominent  positions 
in  the  civil  service.  It  was  impossible  to  include  all 
who  achieved  distinction,  and  it  seemed  best  under 
the  circumstances  to  mention  only  those  filling  high 
positions. 

For  the  assistance  of  the  reader,  a  series  of  carefully 
prepared  maps  is  attached  to  this  volume.  It  is  believed 
that  these  will  be  amply  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
trace  the  course  of  the  war  with  clearness  and  precision. 

Many  of  the  engravings  are  devoted  to  the  city  of 
Paris  and  its  objects  of  interest.  The  facts  that  the  cap¬ 
ture  of  that  city  was  the  main  object  of  the  German 
campaign,  and  that  the  chief  interest  of  the  war  centred 
there  for  so  long  a  time,  will  account  for  the  importance 
which  has  been  attached  by  the  Publishers  to  these  illus¬ 
trations  ;  and  it  is  confidently  believed  that  the  value 
of  the  work  is  increased  by  their  embodiment  in  it. 

New  York, 

2  Oth  April,  181 1. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  William  I.,  Emperor  of  Germany .  Frontispiece. 


2.  Emperor  Napoleon .  “ 

3.  Empress  Eugenie .  “ 

4.  Count  Yon  Bismarck .  page  3 

5.  Map  of  the  Seat  of  War  in  France .  4 

6.  Count  Von  Moltke .  6 

7.  Crown  Prince  Frederick  William:  “  Our  Fritz.” .  6 

8.  Marshal  Bazaine .  8 

9.  Marshal  MacMahon .  8 

10.  Illumination  of  the  Rathhaus  (Town-Hall)  of  Berlin,  in  Honor 

of  the  Victories  in  France . .  10 

11.  Map  of  Paris  and  the  Surrounding  Country,  showing  the  De¬ 

fences,  Forts,  etc . .  20 

12.  Palace  and  Park  of  Versailles.  The  chief  German  Hospital 

during  the  Siege  of  Paris .  22 

13.  Prince  Leopold  of  Hohenzollern-Sigmar ingen .  25 

14.  Gen.  Achille  de  Failly .  29 

15.  Prime  Minister  Ollivier .  29 

16.  The  Grand  Hotel :  Paris.  Used  as  a  Hospital  during  the  Siege.  35 

17.  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs.  Official  Residence  of  Jules  Favre.  36 

18.  Napoleon  Barracks  :  Paris .  39 

19.  Departure  of  the  National  Guard  for  the  Front — the  Soldiers 

Parting  from  their  Friends  at  the  Depot  of  Aubervilliers....  41 

20.  The  Populace  in  Paris  Rejoicing  at  the  Declaration  of  War...  43 

21.  Reception  of  the  Chambers  by  the  Emperor  at  the  Tuileries..  53 

22.  The  Emperor  receiving  the  Congratulations  of  the  Members 

of  the  Senate  upon  the  Declaration  of  War .  55 

23.  Departure  of  the  Emperor  and  Prince  Imperial  from  the  Pal¬ 

ace  of  St.  Cloud  for  the  Army  of  the  Rhine .  61 

24.  Palace  of  the  Legion  of  Honor:  Paris .  62 

25.  Pont  au  Change,  showing  the  Theatres  on  the  North  Side: 

Paris.  Farthest  point  reached  by  the  German  Shells .  75 

26.  Pont  des  Arts,  showing  the  Louvre  and  the  Tuileries:  Paris.  96 

27.  Boulevard  Montmartre:  Paris.  During  the  Siege .  101 

28.  Sainte-Genevifcve.  (The  Pantheon.)  :  Paris.  Injured  by  the 

Bombardment .  109 


6 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS.  7 

29.  RuedelaPaix:  Paris.  Scene  of  the  Tumult  of  Aug.  6th,  1870.  121 

30.  Palace  of  Justice:  Pari/3 .  138 

31.  Gardens  of  the  Palais  Royal :  Paris.  Used  as  a  Hospital  during 

the  Siege .  142 

32.  The  First  Blood  of  the  War.  A  Scouting  Party  of  Baden  Offi¬ 

cers  surprised  by  the  French .  147 

33.  Weissenbourg,  Scene  of  Prince  Frederick  Win’s.  First  Victory .  149 

34.  Map  of  the  Battle-fields  of  Weissenbourg  and  Woerth .  150 

35.  The  Battle  of  Woerth — MacMahon’s  Last  Charge .  153 

36.  Map  of  the  Battle-fields  of  Saarbriick  and  Spicheren .  156 

37.  Stragglers  from  the  French  Army  entering  Saverne .  161 

38.  The  Bourse.  Sacked  by  the  Mob .  163 

39.  The  Arch  of  Triumph.  'Through  which  the  Germans  Marched 

out  of  Paris .  167 

40.  Place  Vendome  and  Napoleon  Column.  Headquarters  of  the 

Army  of  Paris .  168- 

41.  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame.  Front  View  :  Paris .  175 

42.  Map  of  the  Country  Around  Metz,  Showing  the  Battle-fields 

from  August  14th.  1870,  to  the  Surrender  of  the  City .  182 

43.  Battle  of  Gravelottc— Momentary  Repulse  of  the  Prussians...  189 

44.  Gen.  Von  Steinmetz .  201 

45.  Place  du  Carrousel :  Paris.  Captured  by  the  Mob  in  Sept.,  1870.  214 

46.  The  Attack  on  the  Village  of  Mouzon  by  the  Prussians,  on  the 

day  before  the  battle  of  Sedan .  217 

47.  Map  of  the  Country  Around  Sedan,  Showing  Battle-fields,  etc.  218 

48.  View  of  the  Village  of  Bazeilles  after  the  Battle .  235 

49.  The  Field  Guns  captured  by  the  Prussians  at  Sedan .  237 

50.  Bird’s-eye  View  of  the  Louvre  and  Tuileries :  Paris.  Resi¬ 

dence  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  before  the  War .  248 

51.  The  Emperor  Napoleon  on  his  way  to  Bellvue  Castle .  255 

52.  A  Prussian  Officer  receiving  the  parole  of  the  French  Officers 

included  in  the  Capitulation  of  Sedan .  261 

53.  French  Prisoners  of  War  on  the  March,  at  Night,  after  the 

Battle  of  Sedan .  265 

54.  Prince  Frederick  Charles .  267 

55.  Palace  of  the  Corps  Legislatif :  showing  the  Pont  de  la  Con¬ 

corde.  Scene  of  the  Revolution  of  September,  1870 .  275 

56.  Last  Session  of  the  French  Senate .  283 

57.  The  Gardens  of  the  Tuileries.  Used  as  an  Artillery  Camp  du¬ 

ring  the  Siege .  289 

58.  Prison  of  Sainte-Pelagie :  Paris .  293 

59.  The  Louvre  Gallery:  Paris— by  which  the  Empress  Escaped..  301 

60.  Pome  of  the  Invalides  :  Paris.  Tomb  of  Napoleon  I.  Dam¬ 

aged  by  Shells .  313 


S  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

61.  Place  de  la  Bastille.  Scene  of  the  Revolutionary  Meetings ... .  325 

62.  Laying  up  Stores  for  the  Siege  in  the  Halles  Centrales,  or 

Principal  Market  of  Paris .  337 

63.  Castle  of  Vincennes.  The  principal  Arsenal  of  Paris .  341 

64.  Palace  of  the  Tuileries :  Paris.  Scene  of  the  Plight  of  the 

Empress  Eugenie . „ .  352 

65.  The  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  viewing  Paris  from  the  Heights 

of  Chatillon .  357 

66.  Sevres  Porcelain  Factory,  and  Heights  of  St.  Cloud.  Fortified 

by  the  Germans . 361 

67.  Prussians  Examining  French  Newspapers  and  Letters  from  a 

Captured  Balloon .  367 

68.  Palace  of  Versailles:  View  from  the  Terrace — during  the  visit 

of  King  William .  369 

69.  Arrival  of  the  King  of  Prussia  at  Versailles .  371 

70.  Bombardment  of  Strasbourg .  379 

71.  The  Citadel  of  Strasbourg  after  the  Bombardment .  385 

72.  Map  Showing  the  Investment  of  Strasbourg .  386 

73.  Scene  in  the  Rue  de  Saverne,  Strasbourg,  as  it  appeared  imme¬ 

diately  after  the  Capitulation . v _  395 

74.  Ruins  of  Thionville,  after  the  Bombardment  by  the  Prussians.  401 

75.  Marshal  Canrobert .  403 

76.  The  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame:  Paris.  Sacked  by  the  Mob. . .  408 

77.  Deserters  from  Bazaine's  Army  at  the  German  Headquarters  .  431 

78.  The  Surrender  of  Metz — The  Army  of  Bazaine  Marching  out 

of  the  Fortifications  Surrounding  the  City .  443 

79.  Port  Marly,  on  the  Seine.  Site  of  a  German  Siege  Battery _  459 

80.  German  Foragers  at  Work .  461 

81.  A  Battalion  of  Francs-Tireurs  passing  through  the  City  of 

Tours,  carrying  the  Black  Flag .  463 

82.  Chateau  de  Saint  Germain — occupied  by  the  Germans .  467 

83.  Interior  of  the  Church  of  St.  Denis — occupied  by  the  Germans. .  468 

84.  Porte  St.  Denis  :  Paris .  478 

85.  Palace  of  Fontainebleau.  The  Fountain  Court — during  its  oc¬ 

cupation  by  the  Germans .  483 

86.  Burial  of  French  Soldiers  in  Trenches  at  Chevilly,  near  Or¬ 

leans,  by  the  Sanitary  Corps .  491 

87.  Wounded  brought  to  Paris  in  Steamers .  502 

88.  Place  de  la  Concorde  :  Paris-occupied  by  the  Germans .  505 

89.  Observatory  :  Paris.  Struck  by  Shells .  512 

90.  Surrender  of  the  Fortress  of  Belfort .  527 

91.  German  Officers  Bivouacking  in  the  Palace  of  St.  Cloud .  531 

92.  Count  Bismarck’s  Headquarters  at  Versailles .  538 

93.  A  German  Siege  Battery  before  Paris .  561 


Marshal  Bazaine.  Marshal  MacMahon. 

SWarf#  f  -''Sfuninc.  9Jtarfd)all  93iac2Kal)on. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


9 


94.  Avenue  of  the  Empress  :  Paris;  showing' the  Fortress  of  Mont 

Yalerien  in  the  distance .  5G4 

95.  German  Soldiers  searching  for  concealed  Arms  m  a  Mansion 

at  Versailles .  5G9 

96.  LaMalmaison.  Scene  of  the  Battle  of  January  19th .  573 

97.  Hoisting  the  German  Flag  on  Mont  Valerien .  579 

93.  Von  Moltke  at  Mont  Val§rien .  582 

99.  Palace  of  St.  Cloud — before  its  Destruction  by  the  French...  589 

100.  An  Encampment  of  National  Guards  in  the  Garden  of  the 

Tuileries .  591 

101.  Hotel  de  Ville  (City  Hall) :  Paris.  Headquarters  of  the 

Provisional  Government .  593 

102.  General  Trochu  rallying  the  loyal  National  Guard,  after  the 

Red  Republican  Invasion  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville .  597 

103.  Laborers  Guarding  the  Great  Sewer  of  Paris  during  the  Siege.  599 

104.  Wounded  Soldiers  at  a  Paris  Railway  Station. ..  .■ .  G01 

105.  Bird  Market:  Paris — during  the  Siege . . .  007 

10G.  Disembarking  Wounded  Soldiers  at  the  Quai  de  la  Megisserie.  G13 

107.  Principal  Market :  Paris .  GIG 

108.  Hospital  of  La  Pitie  :  Paris,  Struck  by  the  German  Shells. . .  620 

109.  Hospital  of  the  Hotel  Dieu  :  Paris . 622 

110.  Prussian  shells  falling  near  Mont  Parnasse  Cemetery  :  Paris..  G23 

111.  Boulevard  S6bastopol,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Seine :  Paris. 

Constantly  under  Fire  during  the  Bombardment .  G27 

112.  Mazas  Prison:  Paris . 633 

113.  Attack  on  the  Hotel  de  Ville  (City  Hall),  Paris,  by  the  Red 

Republican  Insurgents,  January  22d . G35 

114.  Palace  and  Gardens  of  the  Luxembourg:  Paris.  Used  as  a 

Hospital  during  the  Siege . .  . .  G38 

115.  Galerie  des  Glaces  :  Versailles — in  which  King  William  was 

Proclaimed  Emperor .  G45 

116.  Scene  in  the  Gallery  of  Mirrors.  Versailles,  January  18th,  on 

the  Proclamation  of  King  William  as  Emperor  of  Germany.  647 

117.  Rue  de  Rivoli  :  Paris.  Held  by  the  National  Guard  during 

the  German  Occupation .  671 

118.  Meeting  of  the  National  Assembly  at  Bordeaux  :  Discussing 

the  Terms  of  Peace .  683 

119.  Triumphal  Entry  of  30,000  German  Troops  into  Paris .  689 

120.  Grand  Avenue  of  the  Champs  Elys6es :  Paris.  Scene  of  the 

Triumphal  March  of  the  Germans .  690 

121.  The  Champs  Elys6es  :  Paris — occupied  by  the  Germans .  693 

122.  Palace  of  Industry  :  Paris — occupied  by  the  Germans .  695 


Illumination  of  the  Rathhaus  (Town-Hall)  of  Berlin,  in  Honor  of  the 
Victories  in  France. 


10 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  \y 

Review  of  the  causes  of  the  war — Rapid  growth  of  Prussia — The  wars 
of  Napoleon  I.  against  the  German  States — Prussia’s  place  in  the 
Germanic  Confederation — Disruption  of  the  Bund  in  1866 — The  war 
with  Austria — Formation  of  the  North  German  Confederation — Re¬ 
lations  with  the  South  German  States — Position  of  Prussia  in  Ger¬ 
many — Growth  of  the  idea  of  German  unity — Hostility  to  France — 
The  real  conflict  between  Germany  and  France — Approach  of  the 
war — Position  of  France — Efforts  to  increase  the  French  territory— 
History  of  the  annexation  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine — France  under 
the  first  Empire — Losses  in  1815 — Determination  of  the  French  to 
regain  the  Rhine  frontier — Distrust  and  dislike  of  Prussia — French 
view  of  the  question  of  German  unity — Dangerous  condition  of 
public  sentiment  in  Germany  and  Fiance — Statement  of  the  real 
cause  of  the  war . 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Spanish  crown  offered  to  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern— It  is  ac¬ 
cepted — Effect  of  the  acceptance  upon  France — The  French  govern¬ 
ment  urged  to  resent  the  interference  of  Germany  in  Spanish  affairs 
— Action  of  the  Imperial  cabinet — Instructions  to  Count  Benedetti — 
The  demand  upon  Prussia — Count  Benedetti’s  interviews  with  King 
William  at  Ems — Efforts  of  the  British  government  to  avert  a  rup¬ 
ture — Statements  of  the  Due  de  Grammont  to  Lord  Lyons — In¬ 
creased  demands  by  the  French— Indignation  of  the  Germans — 
Benedetti’s  last  interview  with  the  King— His  demands  refused — 
The  “insult”  to  the  French  minister — Bismarck  resents  the  French 
demands— The  French  army  ordered  to  the  frontier — France  de¬ 
clares  war  against  Prussia — Excitement  in  Paris — The  war  popular 
— King  William’s  arrival  at  Berlin— The  first  German  council  of 
war — The  mobilization  of  tiie  army  ordered — Scenes  in  Berlin — 
Enthusiasm  throughout  Germany — The  South  makes  common 
cause  with  the  North— Meeting  of  the  German  Parliament — The 
King’s  speech — Opposition  to  the  war  in  the  French  Chambers — M. 
Thiers— M.  Jules  Favre — The  French  circular — The  Emperor’s 
proclamation— The  Empress  reviews  the  fleet — Departure  of  the 

11 


12 


CONTENTS. 


Emperor  for  the  army— His  address  to  the  troops— The  Prussian 
day  of  solemn  prayer— "Departure  of  King  William  for  the  army — 

ITis  address  to  his  troops — The  Pope  offers  his  mediation — Letter  to 
the  King  of  Prussia — Reply  of  the  latter — “  The  secret  treaty  ” — A 
shrewd  move  on  the  part  of  Bismarck — Statement  of  M.  Ollivier — 
Benedetti’s  explanation — Bismarck’s  rejoinder — Remarks  of  the 
Saturday  Review — The  neutral  powers — Review  of  the  course  of 
the  French  Liberals— Their  responsibility  for  the  war — Napoleon’s 
vindication  of  his  course — The  history  of  twenty  years .  35 

CHAPTER  III. 

Review  of  the  condition  of  the  Prussian  army — Education  compulsory 
— The  Prussian  military  system — The  career  of  a  conscript — The 
term  of  military  service— Strength  of  the  army — The  provincial  sys¬ 
tem — The  needle  gun — Krupp’s  cannon — The  staff  corps — How 
officers  are  trained  in  Prussia — Field  instruction  of  the  troops — 

The  new  tactics — Detailed  statement  of  the  army — The  Prussian 
navy — Financial  condition  of  Prussia  and  Germany— The  French 
military  system  -Its  defects — Reorganization  in  18G8 — The  new 
system  explained — Failure  to  furnish  substitutes— Condition  of  the 
Garde  Mobile — Inferiority  to  the  Prussian  system — Defective  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  intendance— Lax  discipline — The  chassepot  rifle — The 
French  artillery — The  mitrailleuse — Detailed  statement  of  the  army 
— The  French  navy— Financial  condition  of  France .  100 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Arrival  of  Napoleon  at  Metz — Position  of  the  French  army  on  the 
frontier — Detailed  statement  of  its  strength — The  scene  of  opera¬ 
tions — Strategic  value  of  railroads  on  the  French  frontier — Marshal 
Leboeuf — Dissensions  among  the  officers — Fatal  self-confidence — 

The  Emperor  finds  the  army  unprepared  for  war— Lack  of  supplies 
—The  Emperor’s  plan  of  operations — Causes  of  the  French  delay — 

The  Prussians  on  the  frontier — Capture  of  Saarbruck  by  the  French 
— Neglect  to  watch  the  enemy— Errors  of  the  French  at  the  opening 
of  the  campaign — Rapid  mobilization  of  the  German  armies — The 
concentration  on  the  frontier — Position  of  the  German  armies — De¬ 
tailed  statement  of  their  strength— Strategic  value  of  the  German 
railways— Success  of  Yon  Moltke’s  plans — Activity  of  the  German 
cavalry— Von  Moltke  fully  informed  of  the  French  movements— 

The  German  plan  of  advance — Napoleon’s  anxiety  for  his  left— 
MacMahon  ordered  to  close  in — General  Douay’s  position  at  Weis- 
senbourg—  Advance  of  the  Crown  Prince — The  attack  on  Weissen- 
bourg— Defeat  of  Douay — Arrival  of  MacMahon — The  battle  of 
Woerth — "Our  Fritz”  wins  a  victory— Retreat  of  MacMahon — 

The  Crown  Prince  pursues  him — Demoralization  of  the  French — 


CONTENTS. 


13 


Frossard  withdrawn  from  Saarbrnck — The  first  and  second  German 
armies  in  motion — The  heights  of  Spicheren — The  advance  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps — Battle  of  Forbacli — Another  victory  for  the  Ger¬ 
mans — Retreat  of  Frossard— Retreat  of  De  Failly  from  Bitsche — 
Reception  of  the  news  at  Metz — King  William’s  telegram— The 
news  in  Berlin — French  official  bulletins — Consternation  of  the 
Ministry — Rejoicings  in  Paris  over  false  news — The  truth  known — 

A  terrible  reaction— Scene  at  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior — The 
proclamation  of  the  Empress — The  appeal  to  the  nation — Meeting 
of  the  Chambers — The  National  Guard  refuse  to  disperse  the  crowd 
before  the  Corps  Legislatif — Alarm  in  Metz .  129 

CHAPTER  V. 

Ti  ■ue  policy  of  the  French  after  their  defeats — Affairs  not  desperate — 

The  Emperor  proposes  to  retreat  upon  Chalons — His  plan  disap¬ 
proved  by  the  Ministers — The  army  ordered  to  concentrate  at  Metz 
— Fatal  delays — Ignorance  as  to  the  movements  of  the  Germans — 
Vigor  of  Von  Moltke’s  movements — King  William’s  address  to  the 
army — The  invasion  of  France — The  King’s  proclamation  to  the 
French  people — Removal  of  Marshal  Lebceuf — Decision  of  the  Em¬ 
peror — Arrival  of  General  Changarnier  at  Metz— His  reception  by 
the  Emperor— The  council  of  War — Napoleon  resigns  his  command 
— Appointment  of  Marshal  Bazaine  to  the  command  of  the  army — 
Departure  of  the  Emperor  from  Metz — Bazaine  resolves  to  retreat  to 
Chalons — Fatal  delays— Arrival  of  the  German  armies  before  Metz — 

Von  Moltke  discovers  the  withdrawal  of  the  French — Battle  of 
Courcelles — Efforts  of  the  Germans  to  intercept  Bazaine — Sketch  of 
the  French  line  of  retreat — Bazaine  still  delays — Passage  of  the  Mo¬ 
selle  by  the  Germans — The  battle  of  Vionville — A  bloody  engage¬ 
ment — Success  of  the  German  plans — Bazaine  retires  to  the  vicinity 
of  Metz — The  new  French  position — Increased  activity  of  the  Ger¬ 
mans— The  French  Marshal  loses  his  last  chance  of  escape — The 
battle  of  Gravelotte— A  great  victory  for  Germany— Bazaine  driven 
under  the  guns  of  Metz — The  investment  of  the  French  position — 

The  siege  ol' Metz  begun .  169 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Continuation  of  MacMahon’s  retreat — Arrival  of  the  Marshal  at 
Nancy — Scene  at  the  Cafe — The  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  pursues 
the  French — Halts  to  await  the  result  at  Metz—  Scenes  in  the  con¬ 
quered  provinces— The  German  plan  for  an  advance  upon  Paris — 
Formation  of  the  4th  army — The  King  and  Von  Moltke  join  the 
3d  army  —The  march  resumed — MacMahon  at  Chalons — He  orga 
nizes  a  fresh  army — Composition  and  morale  of  the  new  army — 
The  Emperor  reaches  Chalons— His  inability  to  return  to  Paris — 


14 


CONTENTS. 


Secret  dispatch  from  the  Empress — Political  embarrassments — In¬ 
terference  of  the  Ministers— MacMalion’s  protest  against  the  effort 
to  rescue  Bazaine— The  French  army  moves  to  Rheims— Orders 
from  Paris — MacMahon  starts  for  Metz — The  news  at  the  German 
headquarters— Yon  Moltke’s  game — The  forced  march  of  the  3d 
and  4th  armies —MacMahon  attempts  to  retreat,  but  is  stopped 
by  orders  from  Paris — The  battle  of  Beaumont— The  hostile  armies 
op  the  Meuse — Events  of  the  31st  of  August — Battle  of  Sedan — 
General  De  Wimpffen  succeeds  to  the  command  of  the  French  army 
—The  French  defeated — Sedan  invested — The  flag  of  truce — Letter 
from  the  Emperor  to  the  King  -The  King’s  reply  -The  surrender 
— Scenes  in  Sedan — King  William’s  letter  to  the  Queen  of  Prussia — 
Correspondence  between  the  Emperor  and  General  De  Wimpffen — 
Statement  of  the  Emperor’s  aides — Effect  of  the  surrender  upon  the 
French  troops — Demoralization  of  the  beaten  army — Meeting  of 
Von  Moltke  and  De  Wimpffen  to  arrange  the  capitulation— Terms 
of  the  surrender— Von  Moltke’s  order — Visit  of  the  Emperor  to 
Count,  Bismarck— The  interview  near  Donchery— The  Emperor 
escorted  to  Bellvue  Castle  —King  William’s  speech  on  the  battle¬ 
field— Visit  of  the  King  to  the  Emperor— The  meeting  of  the  sove¬ 
reigns — Generosity  of  King  William — The  Emperor’s  journey  to 
Wilhelmshohe — The  capitulation  carried  out — De  Wimpffen’s  fare¬ 
well  address  to  his  troops— Statement  of  the  officers,  troops,  and 
material  of  war  surrendered  at  Sedan . 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Matters  in  Paris— City  becomes  calmer— Efforts  of  the  opposition  to 
embarrass  the  government— Demand  for  arms— Threats  of  the  Left 
— A  change  of  Ministry — The  new  Ministers —Stormy  scenes  in  the 
Corps  Legislatif— M.  Thiers  declares  the  Empire  dead — Energetic 
efforts  of  the  new  Ministers— The  city  becomes  more  excited — Omi¬ 
nous  signs -Expulsion  of  the  Germans  from  France —Success  of 
the  financial  policy  of  the  Government— Red  Republican  demonstra¬ 
tions  in  Paris— The  riot  at  La  Villette — General  Trochu  appointed 
Governor  of  Paris — Formation  of  the  Committee  of  Defence — Criti¬ 
cal  state  of  affairs — Timorous  and  deceptive  policy  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment-Untruthful  statements  of  the  Minister  of  War — The  National 
Guard  of  Paris  organized  and  armed — Anxiety  to  hear  from  Mac¬ 
Mahon  —The  news  from  Sedan  — Palikao’s  statement  to  the  Cham¬ 
ber — Movements  of  the  opposition — Proclamation  of  the  Ministers 
— Excitement  in  the  city — The  midnight  session  of  the  Chamber — 
Palikao  tells  the  truth— Jules  Favre  proposes  the  decheance — Paris 
on  the  4th  of  September— The  revolution  begun— Scenes  in  the  city 
— A  peaceful  revolution — Last  meeting  of  the  Senate — The  mob 
occupies  the  Place  de  la  Concorde  —The  National  Guard  pass  the 
river  and  reach  the  hall  of  the  Corps  Legislatif — The  hall  invaded 


CONTENTS. 


17 


tries  armed  with  the  chassepot — MacMahon’s  northward  movement 
• — Bazaine’s  dispatch — Efforts  of  the  French  to  procure  supplies — 
The  Emperor’s  message — Sorties  of  August  31st  and  September  1st 
— Bazaine’s  telegrams — No  news  from  without  —  The  Germans 
strengthen  their  position — The  Landwehr  brought  into  France — 
Heroic  conduct  of  these  troops — Removal  of  General  Von  Stein- 
metz — Care  of  the  German  commanders  for  their  troops — Sickness 
in  the  armies — Sorties  of  September  23d  and  24th — Failure  of  the 
French  to  gain  ground — Bazaine’s  difficulties — Sortie  of  October 
7th  A  desperate  effort — Brilliant  repulse  of  the  French — Sickness 
in  the  French  camp — The  troops  on  the  point  of  starvation — Action 
of  the  council  of  war — General  Boyer  sent  to  Versailles — The  secret 
negotiations — A  strange  story — Firmness  of  the  Empress  of  the 
French — Failure  of  the  negotiations — Changarnier’s  mission — Its 
failure— Bazaine  offers  to  surrender — The  capitulation  agreed  upon 
— Terms  of  the  surrender — Magnitude  of  the  capture — The  fortress 
occupied  by  the  Germans — Action  of  the  citizens  of  Metz — Bazaine 
goes  to  Cassel — He  is  insulted  by  the  citizens  of  Metz — Changar¬ 
nier’s  views — Examination  of  Bazaine’s  conduct — Effect  of  the  sur¬ 
render  upon  the  French  nation — Charges  of  the  Provisional  Gov¬ 
ernment — The  Republican  proclamation— M.  Gambetta  speaks  his 
mind— Rejoicings  in  Gennady — The  King  of  Prussia  raises  “Our 
Fritz  ”  and  Frederick  Charles  to  the  rank  of  Field-Marshal — The 
German  army  leaves  Metz . 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  people  of  France  support  the  Provisional  Government — Weak¬ 
ness  of  the  Tours  delegation — Sad  state  of  affairs  in  France — Law¬ 
lessness  of  the  Francs-Tireurs — Arrival  of  Gambetta  at  Tours — A 
sudden  change  in  affairs — France  hopeful  again — M.  Gambetta’s 
career — He  becomes  Dictator — Formation  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire— 
The  Germans  overrun  the  country  around  Paris — Reyan  beats  the 
Germans  near  Orleans — Von  dcr  Tann  sent  to  the  rescue— Capture 
of  Orleans  by  the  Germans — Importance  of  the  capture — The  Gen¬ 
eral  and  the  Bishop — Reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire — De- 
Paladines  given  the  command — Formation  of  new  armies — Decisive 
measures  of  Gambetta — The  new  French  loan  successful — Progress 
of  the  German  armies — Von  der  Tann  on  the  defensive — Surrender 
of  Metz — Advance  of  the  French  on  the  Loire — The  battle  of  Bac- 
con — A  French  victory — Recapture  of  Orleans  by  the  French — De 
Paladines  throws  away  his  opportunity — Approach  of  Frederick 
Charles — Concentration  of  the  German  forces — The  Red  Prince  on 
the  Loire — Positions  of  the  armies — The  French  advance — Battles 
of  Beaune  la  ltolande  and  Patay — Mecklenburg  joins  Von  der  Tann 
— The  Red  Prince  takes  the  offensive — Battles  before  Orleans — Suc- 
2 


413 


18 


CONTENTS. 


cess  of  the  German  tactics — The  French  army  cut  in  half — Retreat 
of  the  French — The  pursuit — Gambetta’s  escape — Recapture  of  Or¬ 
leans  by  the  Germans — Battle  of  Beangency,  and  pursuit  of  Chanzy 
to  the  Loire — Flight  of  the  French  Government  from  Tours — Cap¬ 
ture  of  that  city  by  the  Germans — The  Germans  retire  to  Orleans — 
Chanzy  reorganizes  his  army — The  new  French  plan — Bourbaki 
moves  off — Frederick  Charles  marches  westward — Battle  of  Le 
Mans  and  retreat  of  Chanzy  to  Laval — The  war  in  the  north  of 
France — -Efforts  of  the  French  in  that  quarter — Manteuffel’s  march 
from  Metz — He  takes  Amiens — Capture  of  Rouen — Havre  threat¬ 
ened — Faidherbe  moves  toward  Paris — Manteuffel’s  forced  march — 
Battle  of  Pod t  Noyelles — Battle  of  Bapaume — Surrender  of  the  for¬ 
tress  of  Peronue — Faidherbe  totally  defeated  at  St.  Quentin — Gam¬ 
betta’s  cold  reception  at  Lille: — Capture  of  English  ships  in  the 
Seine — Close  of  the  campaign  in  the  North — The  Eastern  army  of 
France — Efforts  of  General  Cambriels — Von  Werder  moves  south¬ 
ward — The  Rhine  fortresses  invested — Efforts  of  the  French  to 
relieve  Neuf  Brissach — They  are  defeated  near  Epinal — Garibaldi 
arrives  in  France — Is  assigned  a  command  in  the  East — His  difficul¬ 
ties  and  unpopularity — Von  Werder  occupies  Vesoul — Retreat  of 
the  French  to  Besan<;on — Dijon  taken  by  the  Germans — Garibaldi 
goes  to  Autun — Ricciotti  Garibaldi  surprises  Chittillon — The  Gari- 
baldian  attack  on  Dijon  repulsed — The  Germans  capture  Nuits — 
Bourbaki’s  advance  from  the  Loire — Withdrawal  of  Von  Werder — 
Bourbaki  takes  Vesoul — Von  Werder  covers  the  siege  of  Belfort — 
Bourbaki’s  efforts  to  raise  the  siege — The  French  defeat — They 
retreat  westward — Arrival  of  Manteuffel’s  army  near  Langres — 
Garibaldi  kept  at  Dijon— Bourbaki  is  cut  off  from  Chalons  and 
attempts  suicide — The  French  army  driven  into  Switzerland — 
Scenes  on  the  frontier — Surrender  of  Belfort . 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

First  weeks  of  the  siege  of  Paris — Destruction  of  the  palace  of  St. 
Cloud — General  Von  Roon  on  the  siege— Reconnoissances  of  the 
12tli,  13th,  and  14th  of  October — Real  character  of  the  siege — The 
German  plan — Capture  of  Le  Bourget — The  Germans  retake  it— 
Organization  of  the  Paris  armies — Trochu’s  letter — Riot  of  October 
31st — Peace  negotiations — M.  Thiers’  interview  with  Count  Bis¬ 
marck — The  French  and  German  circulars — Efforts  to  raise  the 
siege — Defeat  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire — Battles  of  the  Marne — Du- 
crot  fails  to  break  the  German  line — Censure  of  Trocliu — His  diffi¬ 
culties — His  true  policy — His  failure — Extension  of  the  defensive 
-works — Mont  Avron  fortified — The  battle  of  the  21st  of  December 
— Bombardment  of  Mont  Avron — Evacuation  of  the  fort — It  is  occu¬ 
pied  by  the  Saxons — Opening  of  the  bombardment  of  the  forts — 


456 


CONTENTS. 


19 


What  it  accomplished — Bombardment  of  the  city  of  Paris — Arrival 
of  General  Kameke — Siege  approaches  begun — Versailles  under 
German  rule — Suffering  in  Paris — Dissatisfaction  with  General 
Trochu — Night  sorties — The  last  sortie — Battle  of  January  19th — 
Defeat  of  the  French — Trochu  resigns  the  command — Is  succeeded 
by  General  Vinoy — The  end  at  last — Jules  Favre  opens  negotiations 
with  Bismarck — The  Armistice  agreed  upon — Surrender  of  the  Paris 


forts — Provisions  sent  into  the  city — Rejoicings  of  the  Germans .  529 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Diary  of  the  siege  of  Paris .  584 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Progress  of  the  efforts  for  the  union  of  the  German  States— Meeting 
of  the  North  German  Parliament — Action  of  the  South  German 
States — Bavaria  hesitates — The  people  triumphant — Formation  of 
the  German  Empire — Synopsis  of  the  Constitution — Statement  of 
the  area  and  population  of  the  Empire — The  Imperial  Crown  offered 
to  the  King  of  Prussia — The  King’s  reply — The  ceremony  of  pro¬ 
claiming  the  German  Emperor — A  brilliant  and  impressive  scene  at 
Versailles — The  Emperor’s  proclamation — The  banquet — Success 
of  the  German  War  loans — Measures  for  the  government  of  Alsace 
and  Lorraine .  638 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Condition  of  France  at  the  conclusion  of  the  Armistice — Popular  feel¬ 
ing — Statement  of  the  Provisional  Government — Matters  in  Paris — 
Revictualling  the  city — The  Armistice  in  the  provinces — Action  of 
M.  Gambetta  —  Firmness  of  the  Paris  Government  —  Gambetta 
resigns — The  election  for  the  Assembly — Proclamation  of  the  Em¬ 
peror  Napoleon  III. — The  result — Meeting  of  the  Assembly — Re¬ 
signation  of  the  Provisional  Government — Garibaldi  resigns — Orga¬ 
nization  of  the  Assembly — M.  Thiers  chosen  Chief  of  the  Executive 
— The  new  Government — Protest  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine — Painful 
scene  in  the  Assembly — Appointment  of  Commissioners — The  peace 
negotiations — The  German  terms — Unsuccessful  efforts  of  the 
French  Representatives  to  obtain  a  better  settlement — M.  Thiers’ 
appeal  to  the  Emperor  William — Extension  of  the  Armistice — Con¬ 
clusion  of  peace — The  Emperor’s  announcement — The  news  in 
Paris — Appeal  of  the  Government  to  the  citizens — Debate  in  the 
Assembly  upon  the  Treaty — Ratification  of  the  Treaty — The  Assem¬ 
bly  declares  Napoleon  III.  to  be  deposed — Entry  of  the  German 
troops  into  Paris — Evacuation  of  the  city — The  homeward  march  of 
the  German  army — The  end  of  the  war .  650 


20 


CONTENTS. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 

WILLIAM  I.,  EMPEROR  OF  GERMANY .  702 

FREDERICK  WILLIAM,  CROWN  PRINCE  OF  PRUSSIA  707 

PRINCE  FREDERICK  CHARLES  .  710 

PRINCE  YON  BISMARCK .  712 

GENERAL  COUNT  YON  MOLTKE .  717 

THE  CROWN  PRINCE  OF  SAXONY . 720 

GENERAL  YON  ROON .  721 

GENERAL  VON  STEINMETZ .  722 

GENERAL  VON  MANTEUFFEL .  723 

NAPOLEON  III.,  EMPEROR  OF  THE  FRENCH .  724 

EUGENIE,  EMPRESS  OF  THE  FRENCH .  727 

MARSHAL  MACMAHON . 730 

MARSHAL  BAZAINE .  732 

GENERAL  TROCHU  .  733 

LEON  GAMBETTA .  734 

GABRIEL  CLAUDE  JULES  FAVRE . 735 

LOUIS  ADOLPH  THIERS .  736 


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?.Vf:'M\iUn-'0r>-  .firffrrf j,  N'V*  j| 

'  -  •  #|  '■  a: 

ao  ^ouow  |  ^ 


1  t 


v\.  . . i  >'/  >  ' 


■■■ 


i  <■  '  P 


HISTORY  OF  THE  FAR 


BETWEEN 

GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

REVIEW  OF  THE  CAUSES  OF  THE  WAR — RAPID  GROWTH  OF  PRUSSIA — 
THE  WARS  OF  NAPOLEON  I.  AGAINST  TnE  GERMAN  STATES — PRUSSIA’S 
PLACE  IN  TnE  GERMANIC  CONFEDERATION — DISRUPTION  OF  THE  BUND 
IN  1866 — THE  WAR  WITH  AUSTRIA — FORMATION  OF  TnE  NORTH  GER¬ 
MAN  CONFEDERATION — RELATIONS  WITH  THE  SOUTH  GERMAN  STATES 
— POSITION  OF  PRUSSIA  IN  GERMANY  — GROWTH  OF  TnE  IDEA  OF  GER¬ 
MAN  UNITY — HOSTILITY  TO  FRANCE — THE  REAL  CONFLICT  BETWEEN 
GERMANY  AND  FRANCE — APPROACH  OF  THE  WAR — POSITION  OF  FRANCE 
— EFFORTS  TO  INCREASE  THE  FRENCH  TERRITORY — HISTORY  OF  THE 
ANNEXATION  OF  ALSACE  AND  LORRAINE— FRANCE  UNDER  TnE  FIRST 
EMPIRE — LOSSES  IN  1815— DETERMINATION  OF  THE  FRENCH  TO  REGAIN 
THE  RHINE  FRONTIER  — DISTRUST  AND  DISLIKE  OF  PRUSSIA— FRENCH 
VIEW  OF  THE  QUESTION  OF  GERMAN  UNITY — DANGEROUS  CONDITION 
OF  PUBLIC  SENTIMENT  IN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE — STATEMENT  OF 
THE  REAL  CAUSE  OF  THE  WAR. 

fT  has  become  so  common  to  denounce  the  war  which 
began  in  the  summer  of  1870,  between  France  and 

f  Germany,  as  an  unprovoked,  wanton  aggression  of  the 
one  dynasty  upon  the  other,  that  very  few  persons  have 
ever  given  themselves  the  trouble  to  inquire  into  the 
true  causes  of  the  great  struggle.  Nor  have  all  classes 
been  agreed  as  to  whom  the  responsibility  for  the  war  belongs. 
The  French  and  their  sympathizers  are  unanimous  in  alleging 
that  the  selfish  policy  of  Prussia  and  her  King  alone  produced 
the  conflict ;  while  on  the  other  hand,  the  Germans  and  those 
who  uphold  their  cause,  are  agreed  in  believing  the  Emperor 

21 


22 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Napoleon  III.  the  author  of  the  sufferings  which  the  struggle, 
despite  its  brilliant  triumphs,  has  brought  upon  the  Father- 
land.  But  the  student  of  history  must  approach  the  question 
in  a  calmer  mood  than  is  possible  to  the  partizans  of  either 
France  or  Germany,  and  must  look  deeper  than  the  events  of 
to-day  for  the  causes  of  the  war.  In  the  impartial  exercise 
of  his  duties,  he  will  discover  a  long  chain  of  causes,  which, 
extending  over  a  period  of  more  than  two  centuries,  and 
growing  stronger  and  more  irresistible  year  by  year,  have  at 
length  resulted  in  the  conflict,  of  which  we  are  about  to  nar¬ 
rate  the  history. 

Since  the  days  of  the  Great  Elector,  it  has  been  the  persis¬ 
tent  policy  of  the  Prussian  Government  to  raise  that  country 
to  the  front  rank  of  the  European  Powers.  Step  by  step, 
year  by  year,  Prussia  has  risen  higher  in  the  European  scale, 
her  territory  and  population  expanding  at  a  rate  which  seems 
almost  marvellous,  until  the  little  Margraviate  of  Branden¬ 
burg  has  grown  into  the  powerful  Kingdom  of  to-day.  Na¬ 
poleon  I.  did  indeed  place  a  momentary  check  upon  this  ex¬ 
pansion  ;  but  the  disasters  from  which  Prussia  suffered  at  this 
time,  proved  in  the  end  the  means  of  leading  her  on  to  still 
greater  success.  The  compulsory  reduction  of  her  army  by 
her  conqueror,  drove  her  to  a  policy  of  short  enlistments  and 
frequent  drafts.  Men  were  drawn  into  the  service  for  six 
months  only,  and  then  discharged  :  and  thus  the  knowledge 
of  arms  and  the  most  important  details  of  army  life  were  spread 
among  the  whole  people ;  so  that  when  Germany  rose  to 
throw  off  the  Napoleonic  yoke,  Prussia  was  enabled  at  once 
to  put  into  the  field  the  army  which  did  such  good  service 
under  Bliicher  and  Gneisenau. 

In  the  Germanic  Confederation,  which  was  created  by  the 
Treaties  of  1815,  Prussia  held  the  second  place,  the  precedence 
being  given  to  Austria.  This  did  not  suit  Prussia,  however. 
She  aspired  to  the  leadership  of  Germany,  and  was  not  willing 
to  follow  the  guidance  of  any  Power,  still  less  one  which  was 
not  as  purely  German  as  herself.  Thereupon  ensued  that  long 
series  of  contentions  between  these  two  great  States,  which 


, 


■ 

> 


. 


■ 

"  '  * : 


. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


23 


marked  the  history  of  the  Confederation,  and  which,  in  I860, 
resulted  in  open  war  between  them,  the  total  disruption  o! 
the  old  Bund ,  and  the  formation  of  the  North  German  Con¬ 
federation,  at  the  head  of  which  stood  Prussia.  This  Confede¬ 
ration,  consisting  of  the  States  north  of  the  Main,  was  com¬ 
prised  of  Prussia,  Saxony,  Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  Meeklen- 
burg-Strelitz,  Oldenburg,  Saxe- Weimar,  Brunswick,  Anhalt, 
Saxe-Meiningen,  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,  Saxe-Altenburg,  Lippe 
Detmold,  Waldeck,  Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt,  Schwarzburg 
Sonderhausen,  Reuss  Younger  Line,  Schaumburg-Lippe, 
Reuss  Elder  Line,  Hamburg,  Liibeck,  Bremen,  Upper  Hesse, 
and  Iiesse-Darmstadt.  These  countries  cover  an  area  of  159, 
94(>  square  miles,  and  have  a  population  of  29,220,862  souls, 
of  which  23,590,543  belong  to  Prussia.  The  remaining 
German  States — those  which  lie  south  of  the  Main — Bavaria, 
W urtemberg,  Baden,  Hesse-Darmstadt,  and  Lichtenstein — 
were  permitted  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  Nicholsburg  be¬ 
tween  Austria  and  Prussia,  to  unite  in  a  South  German  Con¬ 
federation,  or  unite  with  the  States  north  of  the  Main, 
according  to  their  own  option.  By  this  same  treaty  Austria 
was  excluded  from  all  participation  in  German  affairs. 

Thus  the  designs  of  Prussia  were  triumphant.  Her  own 
territory  was  increased  to  an  enormous  extent;  she  was  su¬ 
preme  in  North  Germany,  which  would  unhesitatingly  sup¬ 
port  her  in  all  her  foreign  policy  ;  and  it  was  very  certain 
that  South  Germany  would  not  dare  to  oppose  her  will  when 
vigorously  exerted,  unless  aided  by  some  ally  more  powerful 
than  Austria.  Only  one  such  ally  was  possible,  and  that  was 
France;  but  in  the  existing  state  of  German  sentiment  it  was 
extremely  improbable  that  the  South  German  States  would 
ever  unite  with  their  traditional  foe  against  any  portion  of 
the  Fatherland.  Baden,  indeed,  was  strongly  Prussian  in  its 
sympathies,  and  the  most  sanguine  friends  of  the  Northern 
Confederation  hoped  that  if  the  objections  of  Bavaria  could 
be  overcome — and  of  this  they  did  not  despair — all  Germany 
would  in  a  few  years  be  united. 

It  is  not  our  intention  to  discuss  here  the  question  whether 


24 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


the  union  of  the  German  States  under  the  supremacy  of  Prus¬ 
sia,  must  not  eventually  result  in  the  political  extinction  of 
the  weaker,  by  their  gradual  absorption  into  the  Prussian 
monarchy.  With  this  we  have  nothing  to  do.  Time  will 
show  whether  Prussia  has  been  actuated  by  true  German  pa¬ 
triotism  or  by  mere  ambition,  and  will  demonstrate,  to  the 
confusion  of  all  theorists,  whether  a  purely  selfish  policy  can 
be  carried  out  in  the  Germany  of  to-day.  Neither  do  we  pro¬ 
pose  to  censure  Prussia  for  the  manner  in  which  she  has  in¬ 
creased  her  area  and  her  strength.  It  is  undoubtedly  true 
that  she  has  done  so  by  conquest.  She  is  not  alone  in 
this  respect,  however,  for  the  whole  history  of  Europe  is 
a  record  of  conquest — of  the  supremacy  of  the  strongest 
Power.  Nor  can  we  join  in  the  wholesale  abuse  which  has 
been  directed  at  the  sovereigns  and  statesmen  who  have  led 
Prussia  to  her  present  high  position.  Their  policy  has  had 
but  one  object — the  exaltation  of  their  country  not  only  to 
the  supremacy  in  Germany,  but  in  Europe.  They  have  had 
sincerely  at  heart  the  interests  and  the  glory  of  their  country, 
and  they  have  labored  for  them  without  sparing  themselves. 
If  personal  ambition  has  influenced  them,  it  has  been  tempered 
and  guided  by  that  love  which  every  German  feels  for  his 
Fatherland,  and  it  has  been  from  the  reflection  of  her  glory  that 
they  have  sought  to  illumine  their  own  records,  fl’bis  is  what 
men  call  patriotism,  and  patriotism  has  been  held  in  all  ages 
to  be  the  noblest  feeling  of  man.  True  patriotism,  however, 
has  a  strong  element  of  selfishness  in  it.  As  the  world  is  now 
organized,  a  nation  can  only  advance  in  power  and  importance 
at  the  expense  of  some  neighbor.  The  man  who  seeks  to 
place  his  country  at  the  head  of  the  march  of  nations,  must, 
therefore,  be  ready  to  do  so  at  the  expense  of  the  claims  of 
some  neighboring  Power,  whose  pretensions  may  be  as  just 
as  his  own.  This  is  simply  what  the  Prussian  statesmen  have 
done.  They  have  labored  to  advance  their  own  country,  and 
they  have  been  as  scrupulous  in  their  forbearance  toward 
those  who  opposed  them,  as  their  opponents  would  have  been 
to  them  had  the  conditions  been  reversed.  It  is  a  very  selfish 


Prince  Leopold  of  Hohenzollern-Sigmanngen. 


25 


26 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


world  that  we  live  in,  and  we  cannot  expect  more  from  nations 
than  we  find  in  the  individual  units  of  nationalities.  It  ill 
becomes  any  nation  in  Europe  to  denounce  Prussia  as  “the 
Robber  nation.”  There  is  not  a  Power  in  the  Old  World 
whose  skirts  are  clear  from  the  stain.  Even  virtuous  Eng¬ 
land  has  had  her  share — and  a  very  fair  one  when  she  was 
strong  enough  to  accomplish  it — of  robbery.  Were  simple 
justice  done — were  the  territory  gotten  by  force  given  up  by 
all  the  robbers — what  changes  there  would  be  in  the  map  of 
Europe ! 

Perhaps  the  chief  cause  of  the  marvellous  success  of  Prussia 
has  been  the  strictly  German  policy,  which  has  marked  every 
stage  of  her  career  for  the  last  half  century.  In  all  things  she 
has  been  the  champion  of  Germany — of  Germany  as  distinct 
from  the  States.  Half  a  century  ago  there  arose  the  idea  that 
the  day  would  come  when  the  Fatherland  would  be  one  and 
indivisible — a  nation  comprising  the  whole  German-speaking 
race,  advancing  under  one  guidance  to  the  fulfilment  of  a 
glorious  destiny.  Truly,  it  was  a  grand  conception — all  the 
more  so,  that  it  arose  out  of  the  darkness  into  which  French 
domination  had  cast  the  German  spirit;  and  we  cannot 
wonder  that  it  had  a  fascination  for  the  German  mind, 
beyond  the  power  of  words  to  express.  Not  that  the  sover¬ 
eigns  and  statesmen  of  Germany  had  given  utterance  to  it. 
They  had  not  yet  overcome  their  mutual  jealousies,  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  entertain  it.  It  was  an  idea  born  of  the  people, 
nursed  by  them,  and  cherished  so  fondly  that  it  has  now  be¬ 
come  the  ruling  passion  of  Germany.  It  was  this  which 
united  them  in  a  solid  front  in  the  war  of  liberation,  and 
which  has  twice  carried  their  victorious  advance  to  Paris. 

Prussia  was  the  first  of  the  German  Powers  to  thoroughly 
appreciate  this  feeling,  and  by  carefully  directing,  it  has  been 
able  to  profit  by  it.  Her  statesmen  having  become  convinced 
that  German  unity  was  sure  of  accomplishment,  resolved  to 
place  themselves  at  the  head  of  the  movement.  They  have 
succeeded  so  well,  that  at  length  the  voice  of  Prussia  has  be¬ 
come  the  voice  of  Germany  in  all  international  questions. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


27 


Undoubtedly  Prussia  has  gained,  and  will  gain  still  more, 
by  her  course ;  but  shall  we  refuse  her  the  merit  of  German 
patriotism  ?  If  she  has  attained  the  first  place  in  the  new 
Empire,  it  is  because  she  has  deserved  it.  Being  the  Ar.-t 
of  the  German  States,  strong  and  prosperous  at  home,  and 
feared  abroad,  the  crown  of  right  belongs  to  her. 

United  with  this  desire  for  German  unity,  was  the  feeling 
which  lies  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  trouble  as  far  as  Ger¬ 
many  is  concerned — distrust  and  hatred  of  France.  Every 
man  of  thought  understood  that,  unity  once  accomplished, 
Germany  must,  in  justice  to  herself,  seek  to  obtain  the  first 
place  in  Europe,  which,  indeed,  it  would  be  difficult  to  deny 
her.  That  place  was  held  by  France,  who  had  maintained  it 
for  years,  and  it  was  not  in  reason  to  suppose  she  would  sur¬ 
render  it  without  a  struggle.  Furthermore,  it  was  clear  that 
France  in  view  of  the  logical  consequences  of  the  unity  of 
Germany,  would  seek  to  prevent  it.  Thus  the  two  nations 
were  forced  by  their  very  efforts  for  advancement  into  the 
position  of  antagonists.  One  of  them  must  stand  aside  and 
allow  the  other  to  pass  it,  or  a  conflict  must  ensue  at  some 
future  time.  The  German  had  not  only  the  remembrance  of 
past  grievances  to  keep  alive  his  hostility,  but  he  had  the 
conviction  also  that  France  would  at  some  future  time  at¬ 
tempt  to  prevent  the  realization  of  the  wish  dearest  to  every 
German  heart.  He  learned  to  distrust  her,  to  watch  her,  to 
regard  a  conflict  with  her  as  more  and  more  certain  every 
day.  Year  by  year  this  feeling  grew  stronger,  and  it  be¬ 
came  the  settled  polioy  of  Prussia  as  the  leader  of  German 
sentiment,  as  the  power  around  which  the  minor  States  must 
rally  for  union,  to  be  ready  for  the  shock  when  it  did  come, 
and  to  see  that  her  allies  were  ready  for  it  too.  Her  chief 
care,  after  feeling  herself  strong  enough,  was  to  expel  Austria 
from  the  German  League,  so  that  there  might  be  no  inharmo¬ 
nious  element  in  it.  This  done,  she  exerted  herself  with  fresh 
vigor  to  hasten  the  realization  of  the  German  wish.  Mean¬ 
while  military  preparations  went  on  all  over  Germany.  The 
distrust  of  France,  the  dislike  for  her  grew  greater,  as  German 


2S 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


unity  drew  nearer.  It  was  well  understood  that  the  straining 
for  perfection  in  the  military  system  had  but  one  object— 
to  be  ready  for  war  with  France  when  it  came.  In  such  a 
state  of  feeling — with  such  convictions — with  such  hopes  and 
interests  at  stake — we  can  readily  understand  how  easy  it  was 
to  force  the  Germans  into  a  war,  which  they  were  resolved 
not  to  bring  on,  but  which  they  were  persuaded  could  not  be 
avoided.  A  people  ready  for  war,  confident  that  it  must 
come,  and  profoundly  convinced  that  a  certain  Power  seeks 
to  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  what  they  regard  as  their 
destiny,  will  not  need  much  provocation  to  bring  them  to 
blows. 

France  on  her  part  was  drifting  into  war  as  rapidly  as  her 
rival.  Ever  since  the  formation  of  the  kingdom,  it  had  been 
the  aim  of  the  French  sovereigns  to  place  their  country  first 
among  the  nations  of  Europe.  Upon  the  consolidation  of  the 
royal  authority,  this  task  became  easier.  France  rose  higher 
in  European  importance  with  the  increase  of  civilization, 
until  at  length  she  attained  a  position  which  induced  Frede¬ 
rick  the  Great  to  declare,  that  “  if  he  were  king  of  France,  he 
would  not  allow  a  cannon  shot  to  be  fired  in  Europe  without 
bis  leave.”  With  her  rising  importance  came  the  thirst  for 
power,  the  desire  for  more  territory,  which  has  distinguished 
not  only  France,  but  every  strong  power  of  Europe.  1  To  ex¬ 
tend  the  French  territory  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine,  and 
to  embrace  within  her  limits  the  whole  area  of  ancient  Gaul, 
became  at  an  early  period  the  settled  policy  of  France. 
Louis  XI.  made  a  decided  step  in  this  direction,  when  he  an¬ 
nexed  Burgundy  to  France;  but  there  still  remained  a  large 
territory  on  the  northeastern  border  of  the  kingdom,  and  be¬ 
tween  France  and  the  Rhine,  which  the  French  sovereigns 
greatly  coveted.  This  was  the  territory  known  as  Franche- 
Comte,  Lorraine  and  Alsace,  which  now  comprise  nine  of  the 
eighty-six  departments  into  which  France  is  divided,  or  about 
one-tenth  of  its  entire  area.  These  three  provinces  brought 
Germany  to  the  very  border  of  Champagne,  and  imposed 
upon  France  a  boundary  which  was  both  inconvenient* and 


29 


Gen.  Achille  de  Failly.  Prime  Minister  Ollivier. 


30 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


unnatural.  Henry  II.  began  the  work  of  securing  this  de¬ 
sired  territory,  under  the  pretext  of  aiding  Albert  of  Bran¬ 
denburg,  and  the  German  Protestants.  He  succeeded  in 
breaking  the  union  between  Lorraine  and  the  Empire  of 
Charles  V.,  and  his  successors  were  prompt  to  carry  on  his 
work.  Alsace,  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  France,  but 
which  had  become  incorporated  into  the  German  Empire 
in  the  tenth  century,  was  wrested  from  Germany  in  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIII.,  and  the  new  acquisitions  of  France,  a  portion 
of  which  had  been  in  her  possession  for  ninety-six  years,  were 
solemnly  confirmed  to  her  by  the  Empire,  in  the  treaty  of 
Westphalia  (1648).  Strasbourg,  the  capital  of  Alsace,  was 
taken  by  Louis  XIV.  in  1681,  and  confirmed  to  France  by 
the  Peace  of  Ryswick  in  1697.  Louis  XIV.  also  completed 
Henry  II. ’s  work  with  regard  to  Lorraine,  and  by  his  skilful 
diplomacy,  concluded  an  arrangement  by  which  the  duchy 
was  lost  to  Germany,  and  annexed  to  France  peaceably  in 
1766.  Meanwhile,  his  troops  had  overrun  Franche-Comte, 
which  was  surrendered  to  France  by  Spain  in  1678.  Thus, 
after  a  lapse  of  two  centuries,  the  coveted  territory  had  passed 
into  the  possession  of  France,  whose  dominions  from  the 
ocean  to  the  Rhine  were  unbroken.  Germany  had  ratified 
all  these  accessions  on  the  part  of  France  by  treaties  and  con¬ 
ventions,  and  had  solemnly  relinquished  her  claim  to  them, 
and  no  one  dreamed  that  she  would  ever  seek  to  set  up  a  title 
■"to  them  again.  France  promptly  applied  herself  to  the  task 
of  attaching  her  new  subjects  to  her  rule;  in  which  she  has 
succeeded  so  well,  that  of  all  her  people  none  are  more  devo¬ 
tedly  French  than  those  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine. 

Under  the  First  Empire  the  French  territorial  dream  was 
realized — Holland  and  Belgium  were  annexed  to  France. 
The  left  bank  of  the  Rhine,  to  its  mouth,  was  in  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  Empire.  The  peace  of  1815  broke  up  Napoleon’s 
arrangements  for  his  own  country  as  well  as  for  Europe,  and 
France  was  deprived  of  Belgium  and  Holland,  and  restricted 
to  the  domains  of  Louis  XIV.  on  the  Rhine.  Since  then  it 
has  been  the  ardent  wish  of  the  French  nation  not  only  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


31 


recover  Belgium,  but  to  extend  the  Rhine  frontier  to  the 
borders  of  Holland,  and  thus  regain  the  provinces  now  known 
as  Rhenish  Prussia  and  Rhenish  Bavaria.  Whatever  the  dif¬ 
ferences  of  parties  respecting  the  internal  affairs  of  France,  all 
have  been  united  on  the  recovery  of  the  Rhine  frontier.  It 
has  been,  since  1815,  the  settled  determination  ctf  the  French 
people  to  acquire  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine  at  some  future 
day,  and  this  determination  has  grown  stronger  with  the 
lapse  of  time.  Whether  they  are  right  or  wrong  in  this  de¬ 
termination,  does  not  concern  us  at  present.  We  are  simply 
stating  the  feeling  of  the  French  people  with  regard  to  this 
question.  They  have  been  taught  by  their  writers,  orators, 
and  public  instructors,  as  well  as  encouraged  by  each  succes¬ 
sive  government  since  the  Restoration,  to  regard  Rhenish 
Prussia  as  a  rightful  possession  of  France,  wrongfully  taken 
from  her  in  1815;  and  they  have  naturally  regarded  Prussia 
as  their  enemy  in  withholding  it  from  them.  So  strong  has 
been  this  feeling,  that  it  has  been  for  years  well  understood 
in  France,  and  in  Europe  generally,  that  no  government  could 
maintain  its  hold  upon  the  French  people,  which  should  resist 
the  popular  demand  for  an  advance  to  the  Rhine,  in  case 
affairs  were  favorable  to  such  a  movement. 

I  In  addition  to  this,  the  French  people  were  quick  to  mark 
tne  rapid  progress  of  Prussia,  and  to  note  the  efforts  made  by 
that  Power  to  secure  the  unity  of  Germany  under  her  own 
leadership.  France,  under  the  Second  Empire,  had  reached 
her  highest  position  in  European  affairs.  She  was  the  leading 
nation  of  the  Old  World,  and  her  supremacy  was  so  univers¬ 
ally  acknowledged,  that  she  began  to  look  upon  her  proud 
position  as  belonging  to  her  by  an  inalienable  right.  She 
therefore  watched  the  progress  of  Prussia  with  a  jealous  eye. 
It  was  well  understood  in  France  that  the  object  of  Prussia 
was  to  attain  for  herself  the  place  held  by  France,  and  that  to 
the  accomplishment  of  this,  the  unity  of  Germany  was  essen¬ 
tial.  It  therefore  became  the  policy  of  France  to  prevent  the 
union  of  the  German  States,  even  at  the  cost  of  war,  and  to 
maintain  her  own  position  by  every  means  within  her  power. 


32 


HISTORY  OF  TI1E  LATE  WAR 


The  triumph  of  Prussia  over  Austria  warned  France  that  the 
success  of  her  rival  was  close  at  hand,  and  revealed  to  her  the 
strength  of  Germany  in  its  true  light.  Later  on,  there  were 
indications  that  German  unity  was  so  nearly  an  accomplished 
fact  that  the  only  means  of  preventing  it  was  war,  and  every 
nerve  was  strained  by  France  to  prepare  for  the  conflict.  The 
Government,  if  anything,  lagged  behind  the  nation.  The 
whole  land  rang  with  complaints  that  the  prestige  of  France 
was  passing  away,  and  that  the  supremacy  in  Europe  was 
being  surrendered  to  Prussia. 

To  understand  the  feelings  of  this  gallant  but  excitable  na¬ 
tion,  one  must  imagine  himself  a  Frenchman.  Having  tried 
to  do  justice  to  the  German  by  stating  his  view  of  the  matter, 
let  us  look  at  it  from  a  French  stand-point.  France  beheld 
not  only  the  moral  but  the  physical  supremacy  passing  into 
the  hands  of  her  rival.  She  beheld  a  strong  military  power 
being  erected  on  her  borders,  between  which  and  herself 
there  had  existed  for  years  nothing  but  distrusts  and  suppres¬ 
sed  hostility.  To  the  French  mind  there  was  nothing  but 
danger  to  France  in  the  formation  of  this  new  Power,  and  it 
became  the  duty  of  every  patriotic  Frenchman  to  avert  that 
danger  from  his  country.  However  unjust  to  his  neighbor 
might  be  his  effort  to  prevent  the  realization  of  the  German 
wish,  it  was  pure  devotion  to  France  which  prompted  him  to 
it.  His  first  duty  was  to  France,  even  at  the  expense  of  Ger¬ 
many.  He  was  sincerely  convinced  that  the  establishment  of 
Germany  as  one  great  nation,  would  not  only  prevent  the 
realization  of  the  French  desires  with  regard  to  the  Rhine, 
but  would  result  in  the  actual  loss  of  power  to  France. 
Apart  from  this,  it  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  any 
great  nation  would  passively  suffer  a  rival  to  assume  the 
place  in  the  world  which  it  had  held  for  twenty  years  with 
vigor  and  with  glory. 

Thus  we  see  that  these  two  great  nations,  each  seeking 
after  the  same  object,  and  each  profoundly  disliking  and  dis¬ 
trusting  the  other,  had  reached  a  point  in  their  rivalry  ar 
which  one  or  the  other  must  give  way.  The  German  could 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


33 


justly  declare  that  he  sought  only  the  highest  good  for  his 
country;  and  the  Frenchman,  equally  justified  in  his  own 
eyes,  could  maintain  that  he  sought  only  the  salvation  of  his. 
The  German  regarded  the  effort  of  the  Frenchman  to  prevent 
the  consolidation  of  his  country  as  unjustifiable,  and  the 
Frenchman  regarded  his  opposition  to  that  consolidation  as 
justified  by  its  danger  to  France.  Each  regarded  his  cause 
as  just,  and  in  the  mutual  distrust  which  existed  between 
them,  there  was  little  chance  of  an  adjustment  of  the  differ¬ 
ences. 

Here  then  was  the  real  cause  of  the  war.  The  occasion  was 
not  long  wanting.  When  two  great  Powers,  armed  to  the 
teeth,  and  distrustful  of  and  hating  each  other,  find  themselves 
in  a  position  from  which  neither  can  in  its  own  eyes  retreat 
with  honor,  there  is  no  alternative  left  to  them  but  an  appeal 
to  the  sword.  That  two  such  nations,  each  so  great  and  noble 
in  itself  as  Germany  and  France,  should  ever  be  brought  to 
such  a  pass  is,  without  doubt,  distressing;  but  it  seems  clear 
from  what  we  have  been  considering,  that  such  a  state  of 
affairs  was  simply  unavoidable  to  each.  National  prejudices, 
which  will  influence  men  as  long  as  human  nature  remains 
what  it  is — old  quarrels,  whose  wounds  were  still  painful,  and 
a  struggle  for  the  highest  power  in  Europe — these  were  the 
causes  of  the  war.  Peace  and  good  will  might  have  reigned 
in  France  and  Germany  but  for  these  ;  but  in  the  face  of  these 
causes — causes  for  which  no  one  generation  in  either  country 
can  fairly  be  held  responsible — he  would  have  been  a  wise 
statesman  indeed  who  could  have  kept  the  peace  of  Europe 
unbroken.  The  war  was  the  result  of  causes  which  it  was 
not  in  the  power  of  man  to  control,  and  it  is  chiefly  in  this 
fact  that  the  combatants  must  seek  their  justification.  Wil¬ 
liam  of  Prussia,  Napoleon,  Bismarck,  Benedetti — these  were 
but  the  instruments  of  a  destiny  which  they  could  not  resist. 
It  is  idle  then  to  censure  either  as  having  causelessly  brought 
on  the  war.  The  Almighty  King  of  kings,  who  will  surely 
bring  some  good  out  of  all  this  trouble,  has  made  it  an  un¬ 
changeable  law  of  the  moral  world,  that  a  given  cause  must 
3 


34 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


produce  a  given  effect.  The  cause  in  this  case  was  the  state 
of  feeling  which  for  the  last  half  century  has  existed  between 
France  and  Prussia  ;  the  effect  was  the  war. 

It  does  not  follow,  however,  that  men  are  justified  always 
in  bringing  events  to  a  crisis.  The  result  of  a  train  of  causes 
may  be  well  known  ;  yet  if  that  result  be  injurious  to  the 
world,  it  is  the  solemn  duty  of  those  in  power  to  delay  it  to 
the  last  moment.  Here  is  where  the  responsibility  for  this 
war  begins — in  the  hastening  of  events  to  a  crisis  of  which 
war  was  the  only  probable  solution.  The  narrative  upon 
which  we  now  enter  will  show  upon  whom  this  responsibility 
must  rest. 


The  Grand  Hotel  Hospital :  Paris, 
©ranfe  £otel  $ofpita( :  *pari£. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


35 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  SPANISH  CROWN  offered  to  the  prince  of  HOHENZOLLERN — IT  IS 
ACCEPTED — EFFECT  OF  TIIE  ACCEPTANCE  UPON  FRANCE  — THE  FRENCn 
GOVERNMENT  URGED  TO  RESENT  THE  INTERFERENCE  OF  GERMANY  IN 
SPANISH  AFFAIRS — ACTION  OF  THE  IMPERIAL  CABINET — INSTRUCTIONS 
TO  COUNT  BENEDETTI — THE  DEMAND  UPON  PRUSSIA — COUNT  BENE- 
DETTl’S  INTERVIEWS  WITn  KING  WILLIAM  AT  EMS— EFFORTS  OF  THE 
BRITISH  GOVERNMENT  TO  AVERT  A  RUPTURE — STATEMENTS  OF  THE  DUC 
DE  GRAMMONT  TO  LORD  LYONS— INCREASED  DEMANDS  BY  THE  FRENCH 
— INDIGNATION  OF  THE  GERMANS — BENEDETTl’S  LAST  INTERVIEW  WITH 
THE  KING — HIS  DEMANDS  REFUSED— THE  “INSULT”  TO  THE  FRENCH 
MINISTER— BISMARCK  RESENTS  THE  FRENCH  DEMANDS — TIIE  FRENCH 
ARM^  ORDERED  TO  THE  FRONTIER— FRANCE  DECLARES  WAR  AGAINST 
PRUSSIA — EXCITEMENT  IN  PARIS  — THE  WAR  POPULAR — KING  WILLIAM’S 
ARRIVAL  AT  BERLIN — THE  FIRST  GERMAN  COUNCIL  OF  WAR — THE  MOBI¬ 
LIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  ORDERED — SCENES  IN  BERLIN — ENTHUSIASM 
THROUGHOUT  GERMANY — THE  SOUTH  MAKES  COMMON  CAUSE  WITn  TIIE 
NORTn— MEETING  OF  THE  GERMAN  PARLIAMENT — THE  KING’S  SPEECH — 
OPPOSITION  TO  THE  WAR  IN  THE  FRENCH  CHAMBERS — M.  THIERS— M. 
JULES  FAVRE — THE  FRENCH  CIRCULAR — THE  EMPEROR’S  PROCLAMATION 
—THE  EMPRESS  REVIEWS  THE  FLEET — DEPARTURE  OF  THE  EMPEROR 
FOR  THE  ARMY — HIS  ADDRESS  TO  THE  TROOPS — THE  PRUSSIAN  DAY  OF 
SOLEMN  PRAYER — DEPARTURE  OF  KING  WILLIAM  FOR  THE  ARMY — HIS 
ADDRES8  TO  HIS  TROOPS — THE  POPE  OFFER8  HIS  MEDIATION — LETTER 
TO  THE  KING  OF  PRUSSIA — REPLY  OF  THE  LATTER — “  THE  SECRET 
TREATY”  — A  SHREWD  MOVE  ON  THE  PART  OF  BI8MARCK— STATEMENT 
OF  M.  OLLIVIER —  BENEDETTl’S  EXPLANATION — BISMARCK’SREJOINDER — 
REMARKS  OF  THE  SATURDAY  REVIEW— THE  NEUTRAL  POWERS— RE¬ 
VIEW  OF  THE  COURSE  OF  THE  FRENCH  LIBERALS— THEIR  RESPONSIBIL¬ 
ITY  FOR  THE  WAR — NAPOLEON’S  VINDICATION  OF  HIS  COURSE — THE 
HISTORY  OF  TWENTY  YEARS. 

fAVING  examined  the  state  of  feeling  prevailing  be¬ 
tween  France  and  Germany,  we  shall  now  be  better 
prepared  to  understand  why  it  was  that  a  circumstance 
apparently  so  insignificant  in  itself  was  able  to  bring 
^  them  to  open  hostilities. 

Since  the  Revolution  of  1868,  the  kingdom  of  Spain  had 
been  without  a  sovereign.  Efforts  had  been  made  in  various 


30 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  :  Paris. 


quarters  to  procure  a  king  acceptable  to  the  Spanish  people, 
but  without  success.  At  length,  General  Prim,  into  whose 
hands  the  destinies  of  Spain  had  fallen  for  the  time,  deter¬ 
mined  to  offer  the  Crown  of  his  country  to  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Hohenzollern.  In  June  1870,  he  proposed  to  the 
Spanish  Cortes,  as  a  candidate  for  the  throne,  the  name  of 
Prince  Leopold,  second  son  of  Prince  Carl  Anton,  the  head 
of  the  House  of  Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,  and  the  proposal 
was  accepted  by  a  large  majority  of  the  Cortes.  A  corres¬ 
pondence  was  at  once  opened  with  the  Prince,  who  promptly 
signified  his  willingness  to  accept  the  proferred  dignity. 

Prince  Leopold  was  a  member  of  an  independent  branch 
of  the  Hohenzollern  House.  His  family  had  no  claims  to 
the  succession  to  the  Prussian  throne,  to  which  they  were 
bound  merely  by  the  ties  which  held  the  other  princes  of 
Germany  to  it.  Leopold  was  about  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
of  great  wealth,  highly  educated,  and  a  Catholic  in  his  reli¬ 
gious  faith.  The  Prince  consulted  the  King  of  Prussia,  as 
the  head  of  bis  family,  with  reference  to  the  Spanish  proposi¬ 
tion,  and  the  King  promptly  expressed  his  disapprobation  of 
it,  believing  that  it  would  prove  another  Maximilian  affair, 
and  that  the  Prince  would  lose  his  head. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


37 


Notwithstanding  this  disapproval,  the  Prince  accepted  the 
Spanish  offer.  On  the  4th  of  July  1870,  General  Prim 
officially  informed  Senor  Olozaga,  the  Spanish  Minister  at 
Paris,  of  his  selection  of  Prince  Leopold,  and  the  sanction  of 
it  by  the  Cortes. 

General  Prim’s  selection  was  most  unfortunate.  In  itself 
it  was  an  insignificant  circumstance;  but,  as  we  have  shown, 
the  mine  was  dug  and  the  train  laid  long  before  that  was  to 
produce  the  explosion;  and  the  state  of  feeling  between 
France  and  Germany  was  such  that  it  needed  but  a  spark, 
and  that  was  afforded  by  Prim’s  fatal  selection. 

The  news  of  the  choice  of  Prince  Leopold  affected  the 
French  nation  profoundly.  It  was  regarded  by  the  people 
as  another  attempt  on  the  part  of  Prussia  to  humiliate  France. 
“It  touched  the  sensitive  nature  of  France  to  the  quick,” 
says  a  recent  writer,  “  that  the  detested  House  of  Hohenzol- 
lern  should  be  found  suddenly  meddling  in  Spain,  among  the 
uttermost  of  those  Latin  nations,  a  supremacy  over  whom  she 
had  always  fondly  assumed  to  herself.  Not  content  with 
planting  a  prince  of  his  House  firmly  in  Koumania,  the  King 
of  Prussia  was  now  giving  his  sanction  to  another  dynastic 
intrusion,  and  that,  too,  in  a  country  where  he  had  no  right 
to  interfere.”  The  Paris  press  urged  the  Government  to  be¬ 
have  with  firmness  in  the  crisis,  and  to  insist  upon  the  with¬ 
drawal  of  Germany  from  Spanish  affairs  even  at  the  risk  of 
war.  The  people  all  over  the  country  echoed  the  demand, 
and  the  empire  rang  with  denunciation  and  defiance  of  Prus¬ 
sia.  Matters  looked  so  threatening  that  on  the  5th  of  July, 
Baron  Werther,  the  Prussian  Minister  at  Paris,  left  that  city 
for  Erns,  to  consult  with  the  King  relative  to  the  affair.  On 
the  6th  of  July,  the  French  Government,  urged  on  by  the 
popular  excitement,  addressed  a  note  to  Count  Benedetti,  the 
Emperor’s  Minister  at  Berlin,  instructing  him  to  demand  the 
disavowal  of  Prince  Leopold’s  candidacy  by  Prussia,  and  the 
withdrawal  of  his  name  from  the  list  of  candidates  for  the 
Spanish  Crown,  on  the  ground  that  France  would  consider 
his  elevation  to  that  position  as  a  check  and  menance  to  her, 


38 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


which  she  would  not  under  any  pretext  permit.  The  Due 
de  Grammont  also  declared  in  the  Chambers  that  the  Spanish 
scheme  “  imperilled  the  interests  and  honor  of  France.” 

The  King  of  Prussia  was  not  in  Berlin  at  the  time,  but 
was  spending  the  summer  at  Ems,  and  to  that  place  Count 
Benedetti  at  once  repaired.  Having  requested  an  audience, 
he  was  received  by  the  King  on  the  9th  of  July.  He  at  once 
laid  before  King  William  the  demand  of  his  Government — 
that  the  King  should  require  Prince  Leopold  to  withdraw  his 
acceptance  of  the  Spanish  Crown.  The  King  informed  him 
that  throughout  the  whole  affair  he  had  been  addressed  sim¬ 
ply  as  the  head  of  the  family,  and  never  as  the  King  of  Prus¬ 
sia,  and  that  as  he  had  given  no  command  for  the  acceptance 
of  the  Crown,  he  could  not  command  its  relinquishment.  This 
was  the  substance  of  the  first  interview.  On  the  11th,  M. 
Benedetti  requested  a  second  audience,  which  was  granted. 
He  urged  the  King  to  prevail  upon  Prince  Leopold  to  re¬ 
nounce  the  Spanish  Crown.  The  King  replied  that  the  Prince 
was  perfectly  free  to  decide  for  himself,  and  that,  moreover, 
he  did  not  even  know  where  he  was  at  that  moment,  as  he 
was  about  to  undertake  a  journey  to  the  Alps. 

Meanwhile  the  danger  to  the  peace  of  Europe  had  been 
anxiously  watched  by  the  other  Powers,  and  Great  Britain 
had  exerted  herself  to  avert  an  open  rupture.  The  British 
Government  frankly  informed  the  Due  de  Grammont  that  the 
candidacy  of  Prince  Leopold  would  not  be  regarded  by  Europe 
as  a  sufficient  cause  for  war,  and  at  the  same  time  urged  the 
Prussian  and  Spanish  Governments  to  withdraw  the  Prince, 
in  deference  to  French  susceptibility.  On  the  8th  of  July, 
the  Due  de  Grammont  told  Lord  Lyons,  the  British  Minister 
at  Paris,  that  the  question  would  be  solved  if  the  Prince  of 
Hohenzollern  of  his  own  accord  abandoned  his  pretensions  to 
the  Spanish  Crown.  A  voluntary  renunciation  on  the  part 
of  the  Prince  would,  M.  De  Grammont  thought,  be  a  most 
fortunate  solution  of  difficult  and  intricate  questions;  and  he 
begged  Her  Majesty’s  Government  to  use  all  their  influence 
to  bring  it  about.  The  Due  de  Grammont’s  declaration  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


39 


Napoleon  Barracks:  Paris. 


Lord  Lyons  was  not  guarded  by  any  conditional  demand  that 
the  King  of  Prussia  should  even  approve  of  the  abandonment 
of  the  candidature.  On  the  10th  of  July,  the  Due  de  Gram- 
mont  again  authorized  Lord  Lyons  to  inform  Her  Majesty’s 
Government  that  “if  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern  should  now, 
on  the  advice  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  withdraw  his  ac¬ 
ceptance  of  the  Crown,  the  whole  affair  would  be  at  an 
end.  ” 

On  the  12th  of  July,  Prince  Leopold  notified  the  French 
Government  of  his  renunciation  of  the  Crown,  in  the  interests 
of  peace,  and  Lord  Lyons  thereupon  pointed  out  to  the  French 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  that  all  cause  for  war  was  now 
removed.  It  afterward  appeared  that  his  renunciation  was 
made  either  by  the  advice  or  with  the  approval  of  King 
William.  The  renunciation  did  not  satisfy  the  French  Cabi¬ 
net,  however.  The  Due  de  Grammont  told  Lord  Lyons  that 
France  was  very  much  excited,  and  that  the  Government 
could  not  go  down  to  the  Chamber  without  announcing  that 
it  had  received  “  some  satisfaction  ”  from  the  King  of  Prussia. 
The  Prussian  Minister  at  Paris  was  informed  that  the  King 
might  immediately  put  an  end  to  the  crisis  if  he  would  write 
a  letter  of  apology  to  the  Emperor.  Lord  Lyons  was  told 
that  if  the  King  would  lay  his  royal  command  upon  Prince 


40 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR. 


Leopold  *  not  to  resume  liis  candidature  at  any  future  time, 
peace  might  be  restored. 

The  incident  had  created  quite  as  much  excitement  in 
Germany  as  in  France.  The  French  demands  were  regarded, 
not  only  in  Prussia,  but  throughout  the  Fatherland,  as  intol¬ 
erable  and  insulting.  Count  Bismarck  informed  the  British 
Minister  at  Berlin  that  France  owed  reparation  to  the  wounded 
feelings  of  Germany,  and  that  its  Government  must  give  some 
guarantee  against  the  repetition  of  these  attacks  on  her  tran¬ 
quillity,  if  confidence  was  to  be  restored.  Prince  Leopold  had 
renounced  his  candidature,  and  this  was  the  time  for  the 
French  Government  to  do  justice  to  Germany,  by  publicly 
acknowledging  the  moderate  and  peaceful  bearing  of  the  King 
and  Government  of  Prussia  throughout  these  transactions. 

In  the  presence  of  such  conflicting  claims,  peace  hung  by 
a  slender  thread.  Meanwhile  M.  Benedetti  was,  intentionally 
or  unintentionally,  doing  his  best  to  prepare  the  occasion  of 
a  rupture.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  July,  the  King  of 
Prussia,  walking  on  the  Fountain  Promenade  at  Ems,  saw 
the  French  Ambassador,  and  gave  him  an  extra  number  of 
the  Cologne  Gazette ,  which  he  had  just  received,  containing 
the  announcement  of  the  withdrawal  of  Prince  Leopold  from 
the  Spanish  candidacy.  M.  Benedetti  remarked  that  he  was 
already  apprised  of  that  fact,  having  been  informed  of  it  by 
his  Government  on  the  previous  evening ;  and  on  the  King 
proceeding  to  speak  of  the  matter  as  at  length  settled,  the 
French  Minister  made  the  unexpected  request  that  His  Ma¬ 
jesty  should  give  a  distinct  assurance  that  he  would  never 
again  give  his  consent  to  that  candidature,  should  it  be  re¬ 
vived.  This  the  King  firmly  refused  to  do,  although  M. 
Benedetti  again  and  again  urged  his  proposal.  A  few  hours 
later,  the  French  Minister  sought  a  further  audience,  stating 
that  he  wished  to  recur  to  the  subject  spoken  of  in  the  morn¬ 
ing.  The  King  refused  a  fresh  audience  on  the  ground  that 

*  The  Due  de  Grammont’s  communication  to  Lord  Lyons  was  as  follows  : 
“Nous  demandons  au  Roi  de  Prusse  de  defendre  au  Prince  de  Hohenzollern 
derevenir  sa  l  e  olution.  S’il  le  fait  tout  l’incident  est  terming.'’ 


41 


Departure  for  the  Front  of  the  National  Guard — the  Soldiers  Parting  from  their 
Friends  at  the  Depot  of  Aubervilliers. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


he  could  return  no  other  answer  than  the  one  already  given, 
and  intimated  that  all  further  negotiations  must  proceed  regu¬ 
larly  through  the  Ministers.  On  the  14th,  after  an  informal 
but  friendly  leave-taking  of  the  King,  M.  Benedetti  left  Ems. 
On  the  same  evening  the  Berlin  journals  published  a  short, 
communicated  paragraph,  announcing  that  after  the  resigna¬ 
tion  of  Prince  Leopold  had  been  officially  communicated  to 
the  French  Government,  the  French  Ambassador,  at  Ems, 
had  further  demanded  certain  engagements  of  the  King,  and 
that  “  His  Majesty  thereupon  declined  to  receive  the  French 
Ambassador  again,  and  had  told  him,  by  the  adjutant  in  at¬ 
tendance,  that  His  Majesty  had  nothing  further  to  communi¬ 
cate  to  the  Ambassador.” 

This  communication  greatly  aggravated  the  French  Gov¬ 
ernment  and  nation.  Amongst  the  French  people  it  was,  for 
a  while  at  least,  believed  that  King  William  had  deliberately 
insulted  their  Ambassador;  while  the  German  people  and 
press  regarded  M.  Benedetti’s  course  as  a  studied  insult  to  the 
King.  The  sentiment  of  the  Germans  was  expressed  by 
Count  Bismarck  in  his  remarks  to  Lord  Loftus,  the  British 
Ambassador  at  Berlin.  On  the  13th  of  July,  he  told  Lord 
Loftus  that  the  King’s  courteous  reception  of  M.  Benedetti 
had  produced  general  indignation  throughout  Prussia.  He 
also  intimated  that  his  Government  would  insist  on  a  retrac¬ 
tion  of  the  Duke  of  Grainmont’s  menaces,  and  on  explanations 
of  the  military  measures  which  had  been  adopted  by  France. 
“I  could  not,”  said  the  Count,  “hold  communication  with 
the  French  Ambassador  after  the  language  held  to  Prussia  by 
the  French  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  in  the  face  of  Europe.” 

On  the  15th  of  July,  the  Duke  of  Grammont,  with  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  communication  to  the  Berlin  journals,  quoted 
above,  told  Lord  Lyons  that  “the  Prussian  Government  had 
deliberately  insulted  France,  by  declaring  to  the  public  that 
the  King  had  affronted  the  French  Ambassador.  It  was  evi¬ 
dently  the  intention  of  the  King  of  Prussia  to  take  credit 
with  the  people  of  Germany  for  having  acted  with  haughti¬ 
ness  and  discourtesy — in  fact  to  humiliate  France.” 


43 


The  Populace  in  Paris  Rejoicing  at  the  Declaration  of  War. 


44 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


As  early  as  the  8  th  of  July,  the  Emperor  Napoleon  had 
ordered  two  corps  d'armee  to  be  ready  for  immediate  move¬ 
ment,  one  under  the  command  of  Bazaine,  the  other  under 
Leboeuf.  On  the  12th  the  army  of  Paris  commenced  moving 
to  the  Moselle.  On  the  14th,  at  a  council  of  the  French  Min¬ 
isters,  held  at  the  Tuileries,  it  was  resolved  to  declare  war 
against  Prussia,*  and  to  call  out  the  reserves.  On  the  15th, 
war  was  declared  by  the  French  Government  to  exist  between 
France  and  Prussia.  The  grounds  upon  which  the  declara¬ 
tion  was  based  were:  “1st.  The  insult  offered  to  Count  Bene- 
detti,  the  French  Ambassador,  by  the  King  of  Prussia,  at 
Ems,  and  its  approval  by  the  Prussian  Government;  2nd. 
The  refusal  of  the  King  of  Prussia  to  compel  the  withdrawal 
of  Prince  Leopold’s  name  as  a  candidate  for  the  Spanish 
Crown  ;  3rd.  The  fact  that  the  King  persisted  in  giving  the 
Prince  liberty  to  accept  the  Crown.”  The  announcement 
was  received  by  the  Chambers  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  M. 
Thiers  and  Jules  Favre  endeavored  to  oppose  the  course 
of  the  Government,  but  were  silenced  by  the  majority.  The 
Chambers,  by  an  overwhelming  vote,  granted  the  credit  of 
50,000,000  francs  for  the  army,  and  16,000,000  for  the  navy, 
asked  for  by  the  Ministers ;  and  motions  to  call  out  the  Garde 
Mobile,  and  for  making  the  term  of  enlistment  cover  the  pe¬ 
riod  of  the  war,  were  carried  almost  by  acclamation.! 


*  On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  July,  the  Government  party  met  in  the 
Committee  room  of  the  French  Chambers,  at  ten  o’clock.  The  following  con¬ 
versation  occurred  in  regard  to  the  declaration  of  war: 

M.  De  Kdr&try.  Marshal,  are  we  ready? 

Marshal  Lebceuf.  Entirely  ready. 

M.  De  KeiAtry.  You  give  us  your  word  of  honor?  Consider  what  a  crime 
it  would  be  to  engage  France  in  a  war  without  having  provided  for  every 
possible  contingency. 

Marshal  Leboeuf.  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  we  are  completely  prepared. 

M.  De  Cassagnac.  One  word  more.  What  do  you  understand  by  these 
words,  “  being  ready  ?  ” 

M.  Leboeuf  (with  authority).  I  understand  by  that  to  say  that  if  the  war 
should  last  a  year,  we  would  not  have  even  so  much  as  a  button  to  buy. 

f  The  statement  of  the  Ministry  in  communicating  the  declaration  of  war 
to  the  Chambers,  was  as  follows : 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


45 


All  Paris  was  in  an  uproar.  The  people  were  wild  with 
excitement.  Shouts  of  “  Vive  l’Empereur  !”  were  heard  from 
the  bitterest  opponents  of  the  Napoleon  dynasty,  and  cries  of 
“Hurrah  for  the  war !”  “Down  with  the  Prussians!”  “To 


“  We  believe  we  can  count  upon  your  support.  We  commenced  on  the  6th 
negotiations  with  foreign  powers  to  invoke  their  good  offices  with  Prussia. 
We  asked  nothing  of  Spain.  We  took  no  steps  with  the  Prince  of  Hohenzol- 
lern,  considering  him  shielded  by  the  King  of  Prussia. 

“The  majority  of  the  powers  admitted,  with  more  or  less  warmth,  thejus- 
tice  of  our  demands”  The  Prussian  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs-  rcfnBcrk'fo 
accede  10  our  demands,  pretending  thru  Kelcnew  nothing  of  the  affair,  and  that 
the  Cabinet  of  Berlin  remained  completely  foreign  to  it.  We  then  addressed 
ourselves  to  the  King  himself,  and  the  King,  whilst  avowing  that  he  had  au¬ 
thorized  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern  to  accept  the  candidatura-to-the  Spanish 
C ro wn‘  maintained  that  he  had  also  been  foreign  to^ra-pcffot,iatic»3r4>jui 
that  he  had  intervened  between  the  Prince  of  HohAnwOlern  apH  Spain,  as 
head  of  the  family,  and  not  as  sovereign.  He  acknowledged,  however^-that 

he  lfad  commnnicntprl  the  affair  to  Count  Bismarck. _ We  could  not  admit 

this  subtle  distinction  between  the  chief  of  the  family  and  the  sovereign..  In 
the  meanwhile  we  received  an  intimation  from  the  Spanish  Ambassador  that 
the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern  had  renounced  the  Crown.  We  asked  the  King 
to  associate  himself  with  this  renunciation,  and  we  asked  him  to  engage  that 
should  the  Crown  be  again. offered  to  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollerig-he  would 
refuse  his  authorization.  Our  mod^rate^emand,  couched  in  equally  mode¬ 
rate  language,  written  to  M.  Benedetti,  made  it  clear  that  we  had__no  arriire 
pensge,  and  that  we  were  not  seeking  a  pretext  in  the  Hohenzollern  affair. 
The  engagement  demanded  the  King  refused  to  give,  and  terminated  the  con¬ 
versation  with  M.  Benedetti  by  saying  that  he  would  in  this,  as  in  all  other 
thingfSy ^rqaeryeAQ-JiimselL.tlie. right .of .considering  the  circumstances.  Not¬ 
withstanding  that,  in  consequence  of  our  desire  for  peace.,  we  did  nth  break 
off  the  negotiations.  Our  surprise  was  great  when  we  learned  that,  the  King 
had  refused  to  receive  M.  Benedetti,  and  had  communicated  the  fact  officially 
to  the  Cabinet.  Baron  wyfp »r  Viad  received  orders^  to  take  his  leave,  and 
Prussia  was  arming.  Under  thase  circumstances  we  should  have  forgotten  our 
dignity  and  also  our  prudence  had  we  not  made  preparations.  We  have  pre¬ 
pared  to  maintain  the  war  which  is  offered  to  us,  leaving  to  each  that  portion 
of  the  responsibility  which  devolves  upon  him.  (Enthusiastic  and  prolonged 
applause.)  Since  yesterday  we  have  called  out  the  reserve,  and  we  shall  take 
the  necessary  measures  to  guard  the  interests,  and  the  security,  and  the  honor 
of  France.” 

Declaration  of  War  by  the  Council  of  Ministers. 

To  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia : 

The  Government  of  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the  French  being  unable  to 
view  the  project  of  placing  a  Prussian  Prince  on  the  Spanish  throne  other- 


46 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Berlin!”  Avere  heard  on  all  sides.  If  external  evidences  are 
to  be  trusted,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the  war  was  tho¬ 
roughly  popular  with  the  Parisians;  and  confirmations  came 
in  every  hour  of  its  popularity  in  the  provinces.  The  press 
throughout  the  empire,  as  a  general  rule,  endorsed  the  action 
of  the  Government.  Its  tone  may  be  judged  by  the  following 
language  of  the  Constitutionnel :  “  Prussia  insults  us,  let  us 
cross  the  Rhine.  The  soldiers  of  Jena  are  ready.” 

On  the  15th  of  July  Count  Bismarck  issued  a  circular 
warning  all  German  vessels  to  seek  shelter  in  port;  Holland 
ordered  the  mobilization  of  her  army  ;  Austria  professed  neu- 

wise  than  as  an  action  directed  against  the  security  of  the  territories  of 
France,  found  itself  obliged  to  demand  of  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia  the 
assurance  that  such  a  combination  could  not  be  realized  with  his  consent. 
His  Majesty  having  refused  to  give  any  such  guarantee,  and  having,  on  the 
contrary,  declared  to  the  Ambassador  of  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the 
French  that  he  intends  to  reserve  to  himself  for  that  eventuality,  as  for  any 
other,  the  right  to  be  guided  by  circumstances,  the  Imperial  Government  has 
been  forced  to  see  in  this  declaration  of  the  King  an  arri&re  pensge,  menacing 
in  like  manner  to  France  and  the  European  equilibrium.  This  declaration 
has  been  rendered  worse  by  the  communication  made  to  the  different  Cabi¬ 
nets  of  the  King’s  refusal  to  receive  the  Ambassador  of  the  Emperor,  and  to 
enter  into  any  further  explanations  with  him.  In  consequence  hereof,  the 
French  Government  has  thought  it  its  duty  to  take  immediate  steps  for  the 
defence  of  its  honor  and  its  injured  interests,  and  has  resolved  to  adopt,  for 
this  object,  all  measures  which  the  situation  in  which  it  has  been  placed 
renders  necessary.  It  considers  itself  from  this  moment  in  a  state  of  war 
against  Prussia. 

The  undersigned  has  the  honor  to  be,  your  Excellency’s,  etc.,  etc. 

(Signed  by  the  Council  of  Ministers.) 

The  opposition  in  the  Corps  Legislatif  demanded  that  the  Ministers  should 
produce  the  note  of  the  Prussian  Government  referred  to  in  the  above  state¬ 
ment,  but  M.  Ollivier  declined  to  do  so.  The  Prussian  Government  immedi¬ 
ately  caused  it  to  be  declared  that  “  the  note  which  Ollivier  declined  to  read, 
did  not  exist  as  a  note,  being  merely  a  transcript  of  a  telegram  that  appeared 
in  the  newspapers,  and  which  was  communicated  to  the  German  Govern¬ 
ments  and  to  the  North-German  Ministers  at  some  non-German  Courts  for 
their  information,  exactly  in  the  very  same  words  in  which  it  was  published 
by  the  newspapers,  and  merely  as  a  statement  of  the  nature  of  the  French 
demands,  and  of  the  firm  resolution  of  the  King  not  to  yield  to  them.” 
Therefore  it  added  that  it  was  not  in  M.  Ollivier’s  power  to  produce  such  a 
diplomatic  note. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


47 


trality,  unless  a  third  Power  should  intervene ;  and  the  Ger¬ 
man  army  was  ordered  to  advance  to  the  frontier. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  King  William  left  Ems 
for  Berlin.  A  large  crowd  of  citizens  had  collected  at  the 
station  to  witness  his  departure.  He  said  to  them,  “  God  is 
my  witness  that  I  have  not  desired  war ;  but  if  I  am  forced 
into  it,  I  will  maintain  the  honor  of  Germany  to  the  last 
man.”  Upon  his  arrival  at  Berlin  he  was  met  at  the  station 
by  Count  Bismarck,  the  Crown  Prince,  Generals  Yon  Moltke, 
Yon  Roon,  Yon  Wrangel,  and  the  Ministers.  A  telegram 
announcing  the  declaration  of  war  by  France,  was  brought  to 
the  station  by  the  Under  Secretary  of  State,  and  read  aloud  to 
the  King  by  Count  Bismarck.  The  King  listened  calmly,  and 
then  an  informal  council  took  place,  the  result  of  which  was 
an  order  for  the  immediate  mobilization  of  the  army.  The 
Crown  Prince  announced  the  news  to  his  suite,  and  it  spread 
to  the  crowd  collected  around  the  depot.  As  the  King  ap¬ 
peared,  the  multitude  broke  into  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  ac¬ 
companying  the  royal  carriage  to  the  Palace,  and  making  the 
welkin  ring  with  their  hurrahs  and  patriotic  songs.  Says  a 
correspondent  of  the  London  press:  u  Upwards  of  100,000 
persons  were  assembled  between  the  railway  station  at  the 
Brandenburg  gate  and  the  Palace,  where  the  King  arrived  at 
9.15  P.  M.,  and  was  received  with  indescribable  enthusiasm. 
He  came  forward  repeatedly  to  the  windows  of  the  Palace, 
saluting  and  thanking  the  crowd.  The  promenade  Unter  den 
Linden  was  illuminated  and  decorated  with  North  German 
and  Prussian  flags.  Though  this  street  is  fully  200  feet 
broad,  and  extends  over  the  length  of  a  mile,  it  was  filled  to  the 
brim  on  both  pavements,  and  on  the  central  promenade.  All 
the  houses  showed  flags,  but  the  attempt  to  illuminate  was 
promptly  stopped,  the  occasion  not  being  one  of  rejoicing. 
This  scene  of  intense  excitement  lasted  until  daybreak.  Men, 
women,  and  children  equally  took  part  in  it.” 

The  enthusiasm  was  as  great  in  all  parts  of  Germany  as  in 
Berlin.  The  South  German  States  were  as  enthusiastic  as 
their  Northern  sisters.  It  has  been  alleged  that  theEmperoi 


48 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


of  the  French  expected  to  detach  them  from  their  alliance 
with  North  Germany,  as  he  believed  that  they  were  secretly 
anxious  to  rid  themselves  of  their  overshadowing  neighbor. 
This  is  hardly  possible.  He  has  authorized  the  statement 
that  he  believed  these  States  would  promptly  unite  their 
forces  with  those  of  Prussia,  unless  France  could  promptly 
throw  her  army  between  them  and  the  North,  and  prevent 
this  junction.  However  this  may  be,  the  South  Germans 
were,  if  anything,  more  ardent  than  their  Northern  brethren, 
and  througout  the  whole  of  Germany,  there  was  but  one  cry, 
“  With  God  and  King  for  Fatherland.” 

The  Bavarian  Government,  on  the  16th  of  July,  ordered 
the  mobilization  of  its  army,  and  on  the  same  day  the  Crown 
Prince  of  Saxony  gave  orders  for  the  mobilization  of  the 
Saxon  Army  Corps.  On  the  20th,  Count  Bismarck  was  offi¬ 
cially  notified  that  Bavaria  would  make  common  cause  with 
Prussia  against  France.  On  the  same  day  the  Saxon  Minis¬ 
ter  was  recalled  from  Paris.  The  Bavarian  Chamber  of  De¬ 
puties  voted  the  extraordinary  credit  of  18,200,000  florins 
demanded  by  the  Government  for  the  expenses  of  the  war. 
Hesse  Darmstadt  on  the  same  day  officially  declared  its  hearty 
alliance  with  Prussia,  and  its  Diet  voted  the  sums  demanded 
for  war  expenses  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  The  other  Ger¬ 
man  States  were  as  prompt  and  as  cordial.  A  letter  from 
Frankfort  thus  expresses  the  German  feeling : 

Frankfort-on-the-Main,  July  21. 

The  feeling  in  South  Germany,  and  in  the  newly  annexed  Prussian 
provinces,  is  entirely  on  the  side  of  Prussia.  France  has  deceived  her¬ 
self  if  she  expected  to  find  sympathy  among  the  anti-Prussians  of  two 
weeks  ago.  Never  was  there  known  such  a  change  of  public  sentiment 
as  has  been  seen  here  before  and  since  the  declaration  of  war  on  the 
part  of  France.  Two  weeks  ago,  and  this  once  free  city  was  strongly 
anti-Prussian  ;  but  to-day  there  cannot  be  counted  a  hundred  men  who 
do  not  go  heart  and  soul  for  the  German  cause.  As  regiment  after 
regiment  has  passed  through  the  city,  thousands  of  citizens  have  met 
and  cheered  them  ;  and  on  the  evening  after  the  news  of  the  declaration 
of  war  arrived,  many  hundreds  of  the  city  youth  paraded  the  streets, 
full  of  enthusiasm,  singing  “  Die  Wacht  am  Rhein,"  and  similar  Rhine 
songs.  And  the  change  of  sentiment  in  the  annexed  provinces  is 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


49 


,-qually  marked.  France  calculated  very  much  on  Hesse  Cassel,  where 
the  feeling  against  Prussia  was  indeed  bitter  ;  but  the  reception  of  King 
William  in  Cassel  on  his  return  to  Berlin  shows  plainly  that  the  hearts 
of  the  people  are  true.  The  South  German  States  have  not  hesitated  a 
moment  in  declaring  their  intention  to  keep  their  treaty  of  defence  and 
offence  made  with  Prussia  in  1866. 

The  North  German  Parliament  met  in  Berlin  on  the  19th 
of  July,  in  obedience  to  the  royal  summons.  The  declaration 
of  war  by  France  was  announced  to  the  Parliament  by  Count 
von  Bismarck,  in  his  capacity  of  Chancellor  of  the  Confede¬ 
ration,  and  was  received  with  cheers.  The  King  opened  the 
session  with  the  following  speech  from  the  throne : 

Honored  Gentlemen  of  the  Parliament  of  the  North  German  Confedera¬ 
tion  : 

When  at  your  last  meeting  I  bade  you  welcome  from  this  place  in  the 
name  of  the  Allied  Governments,  it  was  with  joy  and  gratitude  that  I 
was  able  to  bear  witness  to  the  fact  that,  by  the  help  of  God,  success 
had  rewarded  my  sincere  efforts  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  people,  and 
the  requirements  of  civilization,  by  avoiding  any  disturbance  of  the 
peace  of  Europe. 

If,  notwithstanding  this  assurance,  the  menace  and  imminence  of  war 
have  now  laid  upon  the  Confederate  Governments  the  dut}'  of  calling 
you  together  for  an  extraordinary  session,  you  as  well  as  ourselves  will 
be  animated  with  the  conviction  that  the  North  German  Confederation 
has  labored  to  improve  the  national  forces,  not  to  imperil,  but  to  afford 
a  greater  protection  to  universal  peace,  and  that  when  we  call  upon  this 
national  army  to  defend  our  independence,  we  only  obey  the  mandates 
of  honor  and  duty.  The  candidacy  of  a  German  prince  for  the  Spanish 
throne,  both  in  the  bringing  forward  and  withdrawal  of  which  the  Con¬ 
federate  Governments  were  equally  unconcerned,  and  which  only  inte¬ 
rested  the  North  German  Confederation  in  so  far  as  the  Government  of 
a  friendly  country  appeared  to  base  upon  its  success  the  hopes  of  ac¬ 
quiring  for  a  sorely  tried  people  a  pledge  for  regular  and  peaceful  gov¬ 
ernment,  afforded  the  Emperor  of  the  French  a  pretext  for  a  casus  belli, 
put  forward  in  a  manner  long  since  unknown  in  the  annals  of  diplomatic 
intercourse,  and  adhered  to  after  the  removal  of  the  very  pretext  itself, 
with  that  disregard  for  the  people’s  right  to  the  blessings  of  peace,  of 
which  the  history  of  a  former  ruler  of  France  affords  so  many  analogous 
examples.  If  Germany  in  former  centuries  bore  in  silence  such  viola¬ 
tions  of  her  rights  and  of  her  honor,  it  was  only  because  in  her  then  di¬ 
vided  state  she  knew  not  her  own  strength.  To-day,  vdien  the  links  of 
intellectual  and  rightful  community,  which  began  to  be  knit  together  at 
4 


50 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  time  of  the  wars  of  liberation,  join  the  more  slowly,  the  more  surely, 
the  different  German  races;  to-day,  that  Germany’s  armament  leaves 
no  longer  an  opening  to  the  enemy.  The  German  nation  contains 
within  itself  the  will  and  the  power  to  repel  the  renewed  aggression  of 
France.  It  is  not  arrogance  that  puts  these  words  in  my  mouth.  The 
Confederate  Governments  and  I  myself  are  acting  in  the  full  conscious¬ 
ness  that  victory  and  defeat  are  in  the  hands  of  Him  who  decides  the 
fate  of  battles.  With  a  clear  gaze  we  have  measured  the  responsibility 
which,  before  the  judgment  seat  of  God  and  of  mankind,  must  fall  upon 
him  who  drags  two  great  and  peace-loving  peoples  of  the  head  of  Europe 
into  a  devastating  war.  The  more  the  Confederate  Governments  are 
conscious  of  having  done  all  our  honor  and  dignity  permitted  to  preserve 
to  Europe  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  the  more  indubitable  it  shall 
appear  to  all  minds  that  the  sword  has  been  thrust  into  our  hands,  so 
much  the  more  confidently  shall  we  rely  upon  the  united  will  of  the 
German  Governments,  both  of  the  North  and  South,  and  upon  your  love 
of  country ;  and  so  much  the  more  confidently  we  shall  fight  for  our 
right  against  the  violence  of  foreign  invaders.  Inasmuch  as  we  pursue 
no  other  object  than  the  endurable  establishment  of  peace  in  Europe, 
God  will  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  forefathers. 

The  King  read  the  speech  in  a  firm  voice,  but  displayed  at 
several  passages  much  emotion,  and  was  often  interrupted 
with  vociferous  cheering,  especially  when  he  spoke  of  the  no 
longer  divided  Germany — a  remark  which  was  understood  to 
allude  to  the  co-operation  of  Bavaria. 

At  the  close  of  the  speech  Baron  Yon  Friesen,  the  Saxon 
Minister,  called  for  cheers  for  King  William,  which  were  re¬ 
peated  over  and  over  again. 

The  Ministers  asked  a  loan  of  120,000,000  thalers  for  the 
expenses  of  the  war,  and  the  measure  was.  carried  without 
opposition.  The  military  authority  set  to  work  with  vigor 
to  put  the  armed  force  of  the  Confederation  in  the  field,  and 
the  whole  land  resounded  with  the  marching  of  troops.  Says 
the  correspondent  of  the  London  Daily  News,  “I  was  in  St. 
Petersburg  when  war  was  declared,  and  as  I  travelled  west¬ 
ward  could  see  but  one  great  mustering  of  soldiers  and  Land- 
wehr  men  from  Konigsberg  to  the  Rhine.  In  Berlin  and  in 
Saxony,  in  Bavaria,  Wurtemberg,  and  Baden,  the  country 
was  all  alive  with  armed  men.  The  railway  officials  worked 
like  galley  slaves,  the  telegraph  was  never  idle,  and  in  a  fort- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


51 


night  all  was  safe.  More  and  more  troops  were  ready  with 
each  succeeding  day.  Bavarians  were  as  ready  as  Prussians, 
South  Germany  as  ready  as  the  Northern  Confederation.” 

In  France  the  war  fever  rose  higher,  “  the  Prussians,”  as 
the  whole  German  army  was  called,  were  regarded  with  con¬ 
tempt,  and  all  classes  were  very  sure  that  it  would  be  an  easy 
matter  for  the  French  army  to  march  from  the  Rhine  to  Ber¬ 
lin.  In  Paris  crowds  still  paraded  the  Boulevards  bearing 
flags,  and  singing  the  national  airs.  The  Marseillaise  was 
chanted  at  the  opera  and  the  theatres  amidst  the  wildest  en¬ 
thusiasm,  and  the  Emperor,  as  he  drove  in  from  St.  Cloud,  to 
receive  the  Chambers  at  the  Tuileries,  was  cheered  at  every 
step  of  the  way.  This  reception  was  held  on  the  22d  of  July 
at  2  o’clock  p.  M.  M.  Schneider,  the  President  of  the  Corps 
Legislatif,  addressed  the  Emperor  as  follows  : 

Sire:  —  The  Legislative  Body  has  terminated  its  labors,  after  voting 
all  its  subsidies  and  laws  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  country.  Thus 
the  Chamber  has  joined  in  an  effective  proof  of  patriotism.  The  real 
author  of  the  war  is  not  he  by  whom  it  was  declared,  but  he  who  ren¬ 
dered  it  neccessary.  There  will  be  but  one  voice  among  the  people  of 
both  hemispheres,  namely,  throwing  the  responsibility  of  the  war  upon 
Prussia,  which,  intoxicated  by  unexpected  success,  and  encouraged  by 
our  patience  and  our  desire  to  preserve  to  Europe  the  blessings  of  peace, 
has  imagined  that  she  could  conspire  against  our  security  and  wound 
with  impunity  our  honor.  Under  these  circumstances  France  will  know 
how  to  do  her  duty.  The  most  ardent  wishes  will  follow  you  to  the 
army,  the  command  of  which  you  assume,  accompanied  by  your  son, 
who,  anticipating  the  duties  of  maturer  age,  will  learn  by  your  side  how 
to  serve  his  country.  Behind  you,  behind  our  army,  accustomed  to 
carry  the  noble  flag  of  France,  stands  the  whole  nation  ready  to  recruit 
it.  Leave  the  regency,  without  anxiety,  in  the  hands  of  our  august 
sovereign,  the  Empress.  To  the  authority  commanded  by  her  great 
qualities,  of  which  ample  evidence  has  already  been  given.  Her  Majesty 
will  add  the  strength  now  afforded  by  the  liberal  institutions,  so  glori¬ 
ously  inaugurated  by  your  Majesty.  Sire,  the  heart  of  the  nation  is 
with  you,  and  with  your  valiant  army. 

The  Emperor  replied  : 

I  experience  the  most  lively  satisfaction,  on  the  eve  of  my  departure 
for  the  army,  at  being  able  to  thank  you  for  the  patriotic  support  which 


52 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


you  have  offered  my  Government.  A  war  is  right  when  it  is  waged 
witli  the  assent  oT  the  country,  and  the  approval  of  the  country’s  repre¬ 
sentatives.  You  are  right  to  remember  the  words  of  Montesquieu,  that 
“  the  real  author  of  war  is  not  he  by  whom  it  is  declared,  but  he  who 
renders  it  necessary.”  We  have  done  all  in  our  power  to  avert  the 
war ;  and  I  may  say  that  it  is  the  whole  nation  that  has,  by  its  irresisti¬ 
ble  impulse,  dictated  our  decisions.  I  confide  to  you  the  Empress,  who 
will  call  you  around  her  if  circumstances  should  require  it.  She  will 
know  how  to  fulfil  courageously  the  duty  which  her  position  imposes 
upon  her.  I  take  my  son  with  me  :  in  the  midst  of  the  army  he  will 
learn  to  serve  his  country.  Resolved  energetically  to  pursue  the  great 
mission  which  has  been  intrusted  to  me,  I  have  faith  in  the  success  of 
our  arms,  for  I  know  that  behind  me  France  has  risen  to  her  feet,  and 
that  God  protects  her. 

The  members  of  the  Senate  had  already  congratulated  the 
Emperor  upon  his  course.  They  were  received  by  him  at 
St.  Cloud,  on  the  16th  of  July.  M.  Rouher,  the  president,  in 
the  course  of  his  remarks  made  use  of  the  expression :  “  Your 
Majesty  has  occupied  the  last  four  years  in  perfecting  the 
armament  and  organization  of  the  army.” 

In  the  Chambers,  Thiers,  Jules  Favre,  and  a  few  others  of 
the  Liberals,  vehemently  opposed  the  war,  and  to  this  oppo¬ 
sition  was  added  the  Republican  party,  whose  chief  object  was 
to  overthrow  the  Empire  for  their  own  benefit,  regardless  of 
the  welfare  of  France.  It  was  a  singular  sight  to  see  M.  Thiers 
opposing  so  vigorously  the  state  of  affairs  he  had  done  so  much 
to  bring  about.  No  man  in  France  did  more  to  inflame  the 
popular  sentiment  against  Germany  than  he,  and  even  as  late 
as  1870,  he  expressed  in  a  public  speech  his  regret  that  France 
had  not  prevented  the  formation  of  the  North  German  Con¬ 
federation  by  force.  He  denounced  the  occasion  of  the  present 
Avar  as  ill-chosen,  and  the  resort  to  hostilities  upon  such  a  pre¬ 
text  as  a  crime  against  civilization.  We  shall  have  occasion 
to  show  the  position  of  all  classes  of  the  French  people  with 
respect  to  war  with  Prussia,  and  for  the  present  shall  content 
ourselves  with  remarking  that  the  opposition  of  the  Republi¬ 
cans  and  their  allies  was  more  selfish  than  patriotic,  more 
prompted  by  hostility  to  the  Emperor  than  by  love  for  France. 


Reception  of  the  Chambers  by  the  Emperor  at  the 
Tuileries :  Paris. 


53 


54 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


On  the  23d  of  July,  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  who  had  not 
yet  left  Paris,*  issued  the  following  proclamation  : 

Frkxohmbn: — There  are,  in  the  life  of  a  people,  solemn  moments, 
when  the  national  honor,  violently  excited,  gathers  itself  up  irresistibly, 
rises  above  all  other  interests,  and  applies  itself  with  the  single  purpose 
of  directing  the  destines  of  the  nation.  One  of  those  decisive  hours  has 
now  arrived  for  France.  Prussia,  to  whom  we  have  given  evidence  dur¬ 
ing  and  since  the  war  of  1866  of  the  most  conciliatory  disposition,  has 
held  our  good-will  of  no  account,  and  has  returned  our  forbearance  by 
encroachments.  She  has  aroused  distrust  in  all  quarters  necessitating 

*  The  following  circular  of  the  French  Government  to  its  diplomatic  agents 
abroad,  stating  the  French  view  of  the  causes  of  the  war,  will  be  of  service 
to  the  reader  : 

“  Paris,  July ,  21. 

“  Monsieur  : — You  are  already  aware  of  the  chain  of  events  which  has  con¬ 
ducted  us  to  a  rupture  with  Prussia.  The  communication  which  the  Empe¬ 
ror’s  Government  produced,  on  the  15th  inst.,  in  the  tribunes  of  the  great 
bodies  of  the  State,  and  of  which  I  have  sent  you  the  text,  explained  to 
France  and  Europe  the  rapid  variations  in  a  negotiation  in  which,  by  degrees, 
as  we  redoubled  our  efforts  to  preserve  peace,  the  secret  design  of  an  adver¬ 
sary  to  render  it  impossible  was  disclosed.  Either  the  Cabinet  of  Berlin  con¬ 
sidered  war  necessary  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  projects  it  had  long 
since  been  preparing  against  the  autonomy  of  the  German  States,  or  that,  not 
satisfied  with  having  established  in  the  centre  of  Europe  a  militry  power 
redoubtable  to  its  neighbors,  it  desired  to  take  advantage  of  the  strength  it 
had  acquired  to  displace  definitively,  for  its  own  benefit,  the  international 
equilibrium  ;  the  premeditated  intention  of  refusing  us  the  guarantees  most 
indispensable  to  our  security  as  well  as  our  honor,  is  plainly  exhibited  in  all 
its  conduct.  The  following  doubtless  is  the  plan  combined  against  us  :  An 
understanding  prepared  mysteriously  by  unavowed  intermediates  was,  if  light 
had  not  unexpectedly  been  thrown  upon  it,  to  lead  things  to  the  point  when 
the  candidature  of  a  Prussian  prince  to  the  throne  of  Spain  would  have  been 
suddenly  revealed  to  the  assembled  Cortes.  A  vote  carried  by  surprise,  be¬ 
fore  the  Spanish  people  should  have  had  time  for  reflection,  would  have  pro¬ 
claimed — at  least  such  was  the  hope — Prince  Leopold  of  Hohenzollern  heir 
to  the  sceptre  of  Charles  Y.  Thus  Europe  would  have  found  herself  in  pre¬ 
sence  of  an  accomplished  fact;  and,  speculating  on  our  deference  for  the 
gr.eat  principle  of  popular  sovereignty,  the  calculation  was  that  France,  in 
spite  of  a  passing  displeasure,  would  pause  before  the  will,  ostensibly  ex¬ 
pressed,  of  a  nation  for  which  our  sympathies  were  known. 

“  The  Emperor’s  Government,  as  soon  as  it  became  aware  of  the  peril,  did 
not  hesitate  to  denounce  it  to  the  representatives  of  the  country  as  to  all 
foreign  cabinets  ;  against  that  manoeuvre  the  judgment  of  public  opinion  be¬ 
came  its  most  legitimate  auxiliary.  Impartial  minds  were  nowhere  deceived 


55 


The  Emperor  receiving  the  Congratulations  of  the  Members  of  the  Senate  upon  the 
Declaration  of  War,  at  the  Palace  of  St.  Cloud. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


exaggerated  armaments,  and  lias  made  of  Europe  a  camp  where  reign 
disgust  and  fear  of  the  morrow.  A  final  incident  had  disclosed  the  in¬ 
stability  of  the  international  understanding,  and  shown  the  gravity  of 
the  situation.  In  the  presence  of  her  new  pretensions  Prussia  was  made 
to  understand  our  claims.  'They  were  evaded  and  followed  with  con¬ 
temptuous  treatment.  Our  country  manifested  profound  displeasure  at 


as  to  the  real  situation  of  things  ;  they  immediately  comprehended  that  if  we 
were  painfully  affected  in  seeing  traced  out  for  Spain— in  the  exclusive  inter, 
est  of  an  ambitious  dynasty — a  part  totally  unsuited  to  the  straightforward¬ 
ness  of  that  chivalric  people,  so  little  in  conformity  with  the  instincts  and 
traditions  which  unite  it  to  us,  we  could  not  have  the  idea  of  denying  our 
constant  respect  for  the  independence  of  its  national  resolutions.  Every  one 
felt  that  the  unscrupulous  policy  of  the  Prussian  Government  was  alone  in 
this  affair.  That  Government,  in  fact,  not  considering  itself  bound  by  com¬ 
mon  right,  and  despising  the  rules  to  which  the  greatest  powers  have  had 
the  prudence  to  submit,  attempted  to  impose  on  abused  Europe  so  dangerous 
an  extension  of  its  influence.  France  has  taken  up  the  cause  of  equilibrium, 
that  is  to  say,  the  interest  of  all  the  populations  menanced  like  herself  by 
the  disproportionate  aggrandizement  of  a  royal  house.  In  so  doing  does 
she  place  herself,  as  has  been  asserted,  in  contradiction  to  her  own  maxims? 
Assuredly  not.  Every  nation,  we  are  foremost  to  proclaim,  has  a  right  to 
govern  its  own  destinies.  That  principle,  openly  affirmed  by  France,  has  be¬ 
come  one  of  the  fundamental  laws  of  modern  politics.  But  the  right  of  each 
people,  as  of  each  individual,  is  limited  by  that  of  others,  and  any  nation  is 
forbidden,  under  the  pretext  of  exercising  its  own  sovereignty,  to  menace  the 
existence  or  security  of  a  neighboring  nation.  In  that  sense  it  was  that  M. 
De  Lamartine,  one  of  our  great  orators,  said,  in  184?,  that  in  the  choice  of  a 
sovereign  a  Government  has  never  the  right  to  pretend,  and  has  always  the 
right  to  exclude.  That  doctrine  was  admitted  by  all  the  Cabinets  in  circum¬ 
stances  analogous  to  those  in  which  we  have  been  placed  by  the  candidate- 
ship  of  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern,  especially  in  1831  in  the  Belgian  question, 
and  in  1830  and  1862  in  that  of  Greece.  In  the  Belgian  affair,  the  voice  of 
Europe  herself  was  heard,  for  the  five  great  Powers  decided.  The  three 
courts  which  had  taken  in  hand  the  cause  of  the  Hellenic  people,  inspiring 
themselves  with  an  idea  of  general  interest,  had  agreed  not  to  accept  the 
throne  of  Greece  for  a  prince  of  their  families.  The  Cabinets  of  Paris,  Lon¬ 
don,  Vienna,  Berlin,  and  St.  Petersburg,  represented  in  the  Conference  of 
London,  adopted  that  example;  they  made  it  a  rule  of  conduct  for  all  in  a 
negotiation  in  which  the  peace  of  the  world  was  involved,  and  thus  rendered 
a  solemn  homage  to  that  great  law  of  the  balance  of  power  which  is  the  basis 
of  the  European  political  system.  In  vain  the  National  Congress  of  Belgium 
persisted  in  electing  the  Duke  de  Nemours.  France  subnfitted  to  the  engage¬ 
ment  she  had  made,  and  refused  the  Crown  brought  to  Paris  by  the  Belgian 
Deputies.  But  she  in  her  turn  imposed  the  necessity  to  which  she  resigned 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  57 

this  action,  and  quickly  a  war  cry  resounded  from  one  end  of  France  to 
the  other. 

There  remains  for  us  nothing  but  to  confide  our  destinies  to  the  chance 
of  arms.  We  do  not  make  war  upon  Germany,  whose  independence  we 
respect.  We  pledge  ourselves  that  the  people  composing  the  great  Ger¬ 
manic  nationality  shall  dispose  freely  of  their  destinies.  As  for  us,  we 


herself,  by  excluding  the  candidateship  of  the  Duke  de  Leuchtenberg,  which 
had  been  opposed  to  that  of  the  French  Prince. 

“  In  Greece,  when  the  throne  was  last  vacant,  the  Emperor’s  Government 
opposed  at  the  same  time  the  candidateship  of  Prince  Alfred  of  England  and 
that  of  another  Duke  de  Leuchtenberg. 

“  England,  acknowledging  the  validity  of  the  considerations  invoked  by  us, 
declared  at  Athens  that  the  Queen  did  not  authorise  her  son  to  accept  the 
Crown  of  Greece.  Russia  made  a  similar  declaration  for  the  Duke  de  Leuch¬ 
tenberg,  although  that  Prince,  by  reason  of  his  birth,  was  not  considered  by 
her  as  absolutely  a  member  of  the  Imperial  family. 

“  Lastly,  the  Emperor  Napoleon  spontaneously  applied  the  same  principles 
in  a  note  inserted  in  the  Moniteur  of  the  1st  September,  1860,  to  disavow  the 
candidateship  of  Prince  Murat  to  the  throne  of  Naples. 

“  Prussia, .whpm  we  did  not  fail  to  remind  of  those  precedents,  appeared 
for  a  moment  to  give  way  to  our  just  demands.  Prince  Leopold  withdrew 
his  candidateship ;  there  was  room  to  hope  that  the  peace  would  not  be 
broken.  But  that  expectation  soon  gave  place  to  fresh  apprehensions,  and 
then  to  the  certainty  that  Prussia,  without  seriously  abandoning  any  of  her 
pretensions,  was  only  seeking  to  gain  time.  The  language,  at  first  undecided, 
and  then  firm  and  haughty,  of  the  chief  of  the  house  of  Hohenzollern,  his  re¬ 
fusal  to  engage  to  maintain  on  the  morrow  the  renunciation  of  yesterday,  the 
treatment  inflicted  on  our  Ambassador,  who  was  forbidden,  by  a  verbal  mes¬ 
sage,  from  any  fresh  communication  for  the  object  of  his  mission  of  concilia¬ 
tion,  and,  lastly,  the  publicity  given  to  that  unparalleled  proceeding  by  the 
Prussian  journals,  and  by  the  notification  of  it  made  to  the  Cabinets — all 
those  successive  symptoms  of  aggressive  intentions  removed  every  doubt  in 
the  most  prejudiced  minds.  Can  there  be  any  illusion  when  a  sovereign  who 
commands  a  million  of  soldiers  declares,  with  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his 
sword,  that  he  reserves  the  right  of  taking  counsel  of  himself  alone,  and 
from  circumstances?  We  were  led  to  that  extreme  limit  at  which  a  nation 
who  feels  what  is  due  to  itself  cannot  further  compromise  with  the  require¬ 
ments  of  its  honor. 

“If  the  closing  incidents  of  this  painful  discussion  did  not  throw  a  some¬ 
what  vivid  light  on  the  schemes  nourished  by  the  Berlin  cabinet,  there  is  one 
circumstance  not  so  well  known  at  present,  which  would  put  a  decisive 
interpretation  on  its  conduct. 

“The  idea  of  raising  a  Hohenzollern  prince  to  the  Spanish  throne  was  not 
a  new  one  So  early  as  March,  1869,  it  had  been  mentioned  by  our  Ambassa- 


58 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


demand  the  establishment  of  a  state  of  things  guaranteeing  our  security 
and  assuring  the  future. 

We  wish  to  conquer  a  durable  peace,  based  on  the  true  interests  of 
the  people,  and  to  assist  in  abolishing  that  precarious  condition  of  things 
when  all  nations  are  forced  to  employ  their  resources  in  arming  against 
each  other. 


dor  at  Berlin,  who  was  at  once  requested  to  inform  Count  de  Bismarck  what 
view  the  Emperor’s  Government  would  take  of  such  an  eventuality.  Count 
Benedetti,  in  several  interviews  he  had  on  this  topic  with  the  Chancellor  of 
the  South-German  Confederation  and  the  Under-Secretary  of  State  entrusted 
with  the  management  of  foreign  affairs,  did  not  leave  them  in  ignorance  that 
we  could  never  admit,  that  a  Prussian  Prince  should  reign  beyond  the 
Pyrenees. 

“  Count  de  Bismarck,  for  his  part,  declared  that  we  need  be  under  no 
anxiety  concerning  a  combination  which  he  himself  judged  to  be  incapable  of 
realization,  and  during  the  absence  of  the  Federal  Chancellor,  at  a  moment 
when  M.  Benedetti  considered  it  his  duty  to  be  incredulous  and  pressing,  M. 
de  Thile  gave  his  word  of  honor  that  the  Prince  de  Hohenzollern  was  not  and 
could  not  seriously  become  a  candidate  for  the  Spanish  crown. 

“  If  one  were  to  suspect  official  assurances  so  positive  as.this,  diplomatic 
communications  would  cease  to  be  a  guarantee  for  the  peace  of  Europe ;  they 
would  be  but  a  snare  and  a  source  of  peril.  Thus,  although  our  Ambassador 
transmitted  these  statements  under  all  reserve,  the  Imperial  Government 
deemed  fit  to  receive  them  favorably.  It  refused  to  call  their  good  faith  into  ques¬ 
tion  until  the  combination  which  was  their  glaring  negation  suddenly  revealed 
itself.  In  unexpectedly  breaking  the  promise  which  she  had  given  us,  with¬ 
out  even  attempting  to  take  any  steps  to  free  herself  towards  us,  Prussia 
offered  us  a  veritable  definance.  Enlightened  at  once  on  the  value  to  be  at¬ 
tached  to  the  most  formal  protests  of  Prussian  statesmen,  we  were  imperiously 
obliged  to  preserve  our  loyalty  from  fresh  mistakes  in  the  future  by  an  ex¬ 
plicit  guarantee.  We  therefore  felt  it  our  duty  to  insist  as  we  have  done  on 
obtaining  the  certitude  that  a  withdrawal,  which  was  hedged  round  with  the 
most  subtle  distinctions,  was  this  time  definite  and  serious.  It  is  just  that 
the  court  of  Berlin  should  bear,  before  history,  the  responsibility  of  this  war 
which  it  had  the  means  of  avoiding  and  which  it  has  wished  for.  And 
under  what  circumstances  has  it  sought  out  the  struggle?  It  is  when  for 
the  last  four  years  France,  displaying  continual  moderation  towards  it,  has 
abstained,  with  a  scrupulousness  perhaps  exaggerated,  from  calling  up  against 
it  the  treaties  concluded  under  the  mediation  of  the  Emperor  himself,  but  the 
voluntary  neglect  of  which  is  seen  in  all  the  acts  of  a  Government  which  was 
already  thinking  of  getting  rid  of  them  at  the  moment  of  signature. 

“  Europe  has  been  witness  of  our  conduct,  and  she  has  had  the  opportunity 
of  comparing  it  with  that  of  Prussia  during  this  period.  Let  her  pronounce 
now  on  the  justice  of  our  cause.  Whatever  be  the  issue  of  our  combats,  we 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


59 


The  glorious  flag  of  France,  which  w'e  once  more  unfurl  in  the  face  of 
our  challengers,  is  the  same  which  has  borne  over  Europe  the  civilizing 
ideas  of  our  great  revolution. 

It  represents  the  same  principles ;  it  will  inspire  the  same  devotion. 
Frenchman  !  I  go  to  place  myself  at  the  head  of  that  valiant  army  which 
is  animated  by  love  of  country  and  devotion  to  duty.  That  army  knows 
its  worth,  for  it  has  seen  victory  follow  its  footsteps  in  the  four  quarters 
of  the  globe.  I  take  with  me  my  son.  Despite  his  tender  years,  lie 
knows  his  duties  his  name  imposes  upon  him,  and  he  is  proud  to  bear 
his  part  in  the  dangers  of  those  who  fight  for  our  country.  May  God 
bless  our  efforts.  A  great  people  defending  a  just  cause  is  invincible. 

Napoleon. 

A  powerful  ironclad  fleet  had  been  collected  at  Cherbourg, 
and  on  the  25th  of  July,  sailed  from  that  port  to  blockade  the 
German  ports.  It  was  commanded  by  Admiral  Bouet-Wil- 
laumez.  Being  uuabled  to  visit  it  in  person,  the  Emperor 
sent  the  Empress  to  Cherbourg  to  represent  him,  and  on  the 
day  of  the  sailing  of  the  fleet,  she  read  in  tones  full  of  emo¬ 
tion,  the  following  proclamation  to  the  officers  and  men : 

Officers  and  Seamen:  —  Although  1  am  not  in  your  midst,  my 
thoughts  will  follow  you  upon  those  seas  where  your  valor  is  about  to 
be  displayed.  The  French  navy  has  glorious  reminiscences.  It  will 
prove  itself  worthy  of  the  past.  When,  far  from  the  soil  of  our  country, 
you  are  face  to  face  with  the  enemy,  remember  that  France  is  with 
you  ;  that  her  heart  throbs  with  yours ;  that  she  invokes  upon  your 
arms  the  protection  of  heaven.  While  you  are  combating  at  sea,  your 
brethren  in  arms  will  be  struggling  with  the  same  ardor,  for  the  same 


await  without  disquietude  the  judgment  of  our  contemporaries  as  that  of 
posterity.  Accept,  etc.,  Grammont.” 

This  circular  drew  from  the  Prussian  Ministry  the  following  statement, 
which  was  published  by  authority  in  the  German  papers : 

“  In  reference  to  a  circular  of  the  Duke  de  Grammont,  published  yesterday, 
and  of  which  a  telegraphic  summary  has  been  received  here,  alleging  that  the 
Chancellor  of  the  North  German  Confederation  had  declared  the  candidature 
of  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern  to  be  impossible,  and  that  the  Under-Secretarv 
of  State,  Baron  Thile,  had  pledged  his  word  that  such  a  candidature  did  not 
exist,  both  the  Chancellor  and  the  Secretary  declare  officially  and  in  their 
private  capacity  that  not  a  single  word  on  the  subject  has  ever  passed  be¬ 
tween  either  of  them  and  M.  Benedetti,  either  officially  or  in  private  conversa¬ 
tion,  since  they  were  first  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  offer  of  the  Spanish  crown 
had  been  made  to  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern.” 


60 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


cause  as  yourselves.  I)o  you  reciprocally  second  each  other’s  efforts,  the 
same  success  will  crown  them.  Go  !  display  with  pride  our  national 
colors.  On  beholding  the  tri-colored  flag  floating  over  our  ships,  the 
enemy  will  know  that  in  its  folds  it  bears  everywhere  the  honor  and  the 
genius  of  France.  Napoleon. 

Palace  of  St.  Cloud,  July,  23d,  1870. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  the  Emperor  left  St.  Cloud  in  a  special 
train  for  Metz,  the  headquarters  of  the  army,  and  arriving 
there  issued  the  following  address  to  his  troops  on  taking  com¬ 
mand  : 

Soldiers  :  —  I  come  to  take  my  place  at  your  head  to  defend  the  honor 
of  the  soil  of  our  country.  You  go  to  combat  against  one  of  the  best 
armed  of  European  countries;  but  other  countries  as  valiant  as  this  have 
not  been  able  to  resist  your  valor.  It  will  be  the  same  to-day.  The  war 
which  now  commences  will  be  long  and  hardly  contested,  for  its  theatre  will 
be  places  hedged  with  obstacles  and  thick  with  fortresses  ;  but  nothing  is 
beyond  the  persevering  efforts  of  the  soldiers  of  Africa,  Italy,  and  Mexico, 
You  will  prove  once  more  what  the  French  army  is  able  to  accomplish, 
animated  by  a  sentiment  of  duty,  maintained  by  discipline,  influenced  by 
love  of  country.  Whatever  road  we  may  take  across  our  frontiers,  we 
will  find  upon  it  glorious  traces  of  our  fathers,  and  we  will  show  our¬ 
selves  worthy  of  them.  All  France  follows  you  with  ardent  prayers,  and 
the  eyes  of  the  universe  are  upon  you.  Upon  our  success  depends  the 
fate  of  liberty  and  civilization.  Soldiers,  let  each  one  do  his  duty,  and 
the  God  of  battles  will  be  with  us.  Napoleon. 

A.t  the  general  headquarters  at  Metz,  July  28,  1870. 

Before  leaving  Berlin,  King  William,  by  the  following 
proclamation,  set  apart  the  27th  of  July,  as  a  day  of  solemn 
prayer  : 

I  am  compelled  to  draw  the  sword  to  ward  off  a  wanton  attack,  with 
all  the  forces  at  Germany’s  disposal.  It  is  a  great  consolation  to  me  be¬ 
fore  God  and  man  that  I  have  in  no  way  given  a  pretext  for  it.  My  con¬ 
science  acquits  me  of  having  provoked  this  war,  and  1  am  certain  of  the 
righteousness  of  our  cause  in  the  sight  of  God.  The  struggle  before  us 
is  serious,  and  it  will  demand  heavy  sacrifices  from  my  people  and  from 
all  Germany.  But  I  go  forth  to  it  looking  to  the  omniscient  God,  and 
imploring  His  Almighty  support.  1  have  already  cause  to  thank  God 
that  on  the  first  news  of  the  war  one  only  feeling  animated  all  German 
hearts  and  proclaimed  aloud  the  indignation  felt  at  the  attack,  and  the 
joyful  confidence  that  God  will  bestow  victory  on  the  righteous  cause. 
My  people  will  also  stand  by  me  in  this  struggle,  as  they  stood  by  my 


Departure  of  the  Emperor  and  Prince  Imperial  from  the  Palace  of  St.  Cloud 
for  the  Army  of  the  Rhine. 


G2 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Palace  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  :  Paris 

father,  who  now  rests  with  God.  They  will,  with  me,  make  all  sacrifices 
to  conquer  peace  again  for  the  nations.  From  ray  youth  upwards  I 
have  learnt  to  believe  that  all  depends  upon  the  help  of  a  gracious  God. 
In  him  is  my  trust,  and  I  beg  my  people  to  rest  in  the  same  assur¬ 
ance.  I  bow  myself  before  God  in  acknowledgment  of  his  mercy,  and 
I  am  sure  that  my  subjects  and  fellow-countrymen  do  so  with  me.  There¬ 
fore,  I  declare  that  Wednesday,  July  27,  shall  be  set  apart  for  an  extra¬ 
ordinary  solemn  day  of  prayer,  and  Divine  service  in  all  our  churches, 
with  abstention  from  all  public  occupations  and  labor  so  far  as  may 
comport  with  the  pressing  necessities  of  this  time.  I  also  decree  that 
while  the  war  lasts  prayers  shall  be  offered  in  all  Divine  services,  that  in 

this  struggle  God  may  lead  us  to  victory ;  that  he  may  give  us  grace  to 

bear  ourselves  as  Christian  men,  even  unto  our  enemies,  and  that  it  may 
please  him  to  allow  us  to  obtain  a  lasting  peace,  founded  on  the  honor 
and  independence  of  Germany. 

(Signed)  William. 

Berlin,  July  21.  Von  Muhler. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  the  King  left  Berlin  for  his  temporary 
headquarters  at  Mayence,  which  he  reached  on  the  2d  of  Au¬ 
gust.  The  next  day  he  issued  the  following  address  to  his 
troops : ' 

All  Germany  stands  united  against  a  neighboring  State,  which  has 
surprised  us  by  declaring  war  without  justification.  The  safety  of  the 
fatherland  is  threatened.  Our  honors  and  our  hearths  are  at  stake.  To- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


63 


day  I  assume  command  of  the  whole  army.  I  advance  cheerfully  to  a 
contest  like  that  which,  in  former  times,  our  fathers,  under  similar  cir¬ 
cumstances,  fought  gloriously.  The  whole  fatherland  and  myself  trust 
with  confidence  in  you.  The  Lord  God  will  be  with  our  righteous  cause. 

William. 

Meanwhile  the  efforts  of  the  neutral  Powers  to  avert  the 
war  continued,  but  without  avail.  The  most  graceful,  as  well 
as  the  most  touching  of  these  was  the  offer  of  mediation  by 
Pope  Pius  IX.,  who  on  the  22d  of  July,  addressed  letters  to 
both  the  Emperor  and  King  William.  His  letter  to  the  King 
was  as  follows : 

Your  Majesty  : — In  the  present  grave  circumstances  it  may  appear 
an  unusual  thing  to  receive  a  letter  from  me ;  but,  as  the  Vicar  on  earth 
of  God  and  peace,  I  cannot  do  less  than  offer  my  mediation. 

It  is  my  desire  to  witness  the  cessation  of  warlike  preparations,  and 
to  stop  the  evils — their  inevitable  consequences.  My  mediation  is  that 
of  a  Sovereign  whose  small  domain  excites  no  jealousy,  and  who  in¬ 
spires  confidence  by  the  moral  and  religious  influence  he  personifies. 

May  God  lend  an  ear  to  my  wishes,  and  listen  also  to  those  I  form 
for  your  Majesty,  to  whom  I  would  be  united  in  the  bonds  of  charity. 

Given  at  the  Vatican,  July  22d,  1870.  Pius. 

A  postscript  adds : 

I  have  written  identically  to  the  Emperor. 

It  is  not  known  what  reply  the  Emperor  made  to  this 
offer,  but  the  response  of  the  King  was  prompt,  and  to  the 
following  effect : 

Most  August  Pontiff: — I  am  not  surprised,  but  profoundly  moved 
by  the  touching  words  traced  by  your  hand. 

They  cause  the  voice  of  God  and  of  peace  to  be  heard.  How  could 
my  heart  refuse  to  listen  to  so  powerful  an  appeal  ?  God  witnesses  that 
neither  I  nor  my  people  desired  or  provoked  war. 

Obeying  the  sacred  duties  which  God  imposes  on  Sovereigns  and  na¬ 
tions,  we  take  up  the  sword  to  defend  the  independence  and  honor  of  our 
country,  ready  to  lay  it  down  the  moment  those  treasures  are  secure. 

If  your  Holiness  could  offer  me,  from  him  who  so  unexpectedly  de¬ 
clared  war,  assurances  of  sincerely  pacific  dispositions,  and  guarantees 
against  a  similar  attempt  upon  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of  Europe,  it 
certainly  will  not  be  I  who  will  refuse  to  receive  them  from  your  vene¬ 
rable  hands,  united  as  I  am  with  you  in  bonds  of  Christian  charity  and 
sincere  friendship.  (Signed)  William. 


64 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


As  a  means  of  weakening  the  sympathy  of  the  neutral 
Powers  for  France,  Count  Bismarck  on  the  29th  of  July 
issued  a  circular  to  the  diplomatic  agents  of  Prussia  at  the 
courts  of  those  Powers,  giving  an  expose,  of  secret  negotia¬ 
tions  made  by  Napoleon  III.  to  Prussia  in  May,  1866,  and 
renewed  several  times  since  that  date.  The  following  is  an 
abstract  of  the  circular : 

“  Before  the  Danish  war,  says  Count  Bismarck,  the  French 
legation  at  Berlin  urged  an  alliance  between  France  and 
Prussia  for  the  purpose  of  mutual  aggrandizement.  France,  an¬ 
ticipating  war  with  Austria  as  a  consequence  of  the  Danish 
war,  made  overtures  relative  to  the  restoration  of  the  Luxem¬ 
bourg  frontier  of  1814,  the  acquisition  of  Saarburg  and  Lan¬ 
dau,  while  a  broader  settlement  of  the  boundary  question  on 
the  basis  of  language  was  not  to  be  excluded.  These  propo¬ 
sitions  in  May,  1866,  took  the  form  of  propositions  for  an 
alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  the  manuscript  of  the  origi¬ 
nal  of  which  is  in  the  foreign  office  here.  These  propositions 
are  as  follows : 

First.  Should  the  Congress  of  the  powers  assemble,  Italy  to  have 
Yenetia  and  Prussia  the  Duchies. 

Second.  Should  the  Congress  disagree,  alliance  offensive  and  de¬ 
fensive  will  be  made  between  France  and  Prussia. 

Third.  Prussia  to  open  hostilities  within  ten  days  after  the  disso¬ 
lution  of  the  Congress. 

Fourth.  Should  no  Congress  meet,  Prussia  to  attack  Austria  with¬ 
in  thirty  days  after  the  signature  of  the  present  treaty. 

Fifth.  Napoleon  to  begin  hostilities  against  Austria  as  soon  as  Prus¬ 
sia  begins,  despatching  300,000  men  during  the  first  month  across  the 
Rhine. 

Sixth.  No  separate  treaty  shall  be  made  by  either  Power  with  Aus¬ 
tria.  When  a  joint  treaty  is  made  the  following  are  to  be  the  conditions  : 
1.  Yenetia  to  go  to  Italy  ;  2.  Prussia  to  select  German  territory  at  will  for 
annexation,  the  number  of  inhabitants  not  to  exceed  eight  millions  of 
souls,  the  territory  thus  acquired  to  become  a  part  of  the  kingdom  of 
Prussia  without  federal  rights ;  3.  France  to  have  a  liberal  share  of  the 
Rhine  provinces^ 

Seventh.  A  military  and  maritime  alliance  to  be  made  between 
France  and  Prussia,  to  which  Italy  may  become  a  party  should  she 
so  desire. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


65 


“This  programme  (the  circular  states)  was  rejected  in  June, 
1866,  in  spite  of  the  threatening  urgency  of  France.  The 
proposals  were  incessantly  renewed,  with  modifications  sacri¬ 
ficing  Belgium  and  South  Germany,  but  they  were  never 
seriously  entertained  by  Prussia.  For  the  sake  of  peace, 
however,  it  was  thought  best  to  leave  Napoleon  to  his  delu¬ 
sions.  No  word  implying  approval  was  returned  ;  time  was 
counted  on  to  revolutionize  France  and  extinguish  the  scheme  ; 
hence  the  long  delay  and  silence.  The  attempt  against  Luxem¬ 
bourg  failing,  France  repeated  her  former  propositions, 
making  the  specifications  clear  in  regard  to  the  acquisition 
of  Belgium  by  France  and  South  Germany  by  Prussia. 
These  last  propositions  were  formulated  by  Count  Benedetti 
himself;  and  it  is  improbable  that  he  wrote  them  without 
the  authority  of  the  Emperor,  as  they  are  the  same  which 
were  made  four  years  ago,  under  threat  of  war  as  the  alterna¬ 
tive  of  their  refusal.  Any  one  acquainted  with  these  ante¬ 
cedents  must  have  known  that  had  Prussia  acquiesced  in  the 
seizure  of  Belgium,  France  would  soon  have  found  another 
Belgium  in  Prussian  territory.” 

The  publication  of  this  document  was  followed  by  the 
general  circulation  of  photographic  copies  of  the  manuscript 
of  the  secret  treaty.  The  French  Government  emphatically 
denied  that  it  had  ever  made  such  proposals  to  Prussia.  On 
the  morning  after  the  publication  of  the  treaty,  M.  Ollivier, 
the  French  Prime  Minister,  had  an  interview  with  the  prin¬ 
cipal  editors  of  Paris,  during  which  he  explained  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  Government  on  several  questions  relating  to 
Prussia. 

He  gave  the  same  explanation  of  the  secret  treaty  project 
that  Count  Benedetti  had  previously  given  relative  to  the 
measures  taken  by  the  French  Cabinet  some  time  previous  to 
affect  a  general  disarmament,  which  measures,  he  said,  were 
merely  intermediary  to  those  of  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  the 
British  Premier,  for  a  like  purpose.  Counti  von  Bismarck 
replied  to  the  Earl  of  Clarendon  that  King  Will  iam  refused 
absolutely  to  disarm.  M.  Ollivier  said  he  gave  the  honor  of 


66 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


his  name  and  that  of  his  colleagues  that  no  offer  was  made 
to  Prussia  other  than  that  made  by  the  Earl  of  Clarendon. 

M.  Benedetti  published  an  explanation  of  his  part  in  the 
transaction.  He  said  it  was  well  known  that  Count  von 
Bismarck  made  “  France  an  offer  both  before  and  after  the  war 
with  Austria.  The  substance  of  this  offer  was  that  France 
should  take  Belgium  as  compensation  for  the  aggrandizement 
of  Prussia.  The  Emperor  in  all  cases  declined  the  proposi¬ 
tion.  The  very  moment  the  treaty  of  Prague  was  concluded, 
Count  von  Bismarck  again  betrayed  his  desire  to  ‘restore  the 
equilibrium,’  and  made  several  proposals  looking  to  combina¬ 
tions  affecting  the  integrity  of  States  bordering  on  France. 
During  one  of  these  conversations  Count  von  Bismarck  dic¬ 
tated  to  Count  Benedetti  this  secret  treaty  project  which  has 
just  been  made  public,  and  which  Count  von  Bismarck  has 
kept  ever  since.  This  accounts  for  the  handwriting.  Count 
Benedetti  gave  notice  of  the  contents  of  the  proposed  treaty  to 
the  Emperor’s  Government  at  the  time,  but  the  proposition 
was  promptly  rejected.”  Count  Benedetti  added  that  the  King 
of  Prussia  was  not  favorable  to  Count  Bismarck’s  plans. 

Count  Bismarck,  upon  the  publication  of  M.  Benedetti’s 
letter,  again  addressed  the  Prussian  representatives  at  foreign 
courts,  insisting  upon  the  correctness  of  his  statements.  He 
gave  a  circumstantial  account  of  the  manner  in  which  M. 
Benedetti  drew  up  the  treaty,  and  added  that  he  had  reason  to 
believe  that  the  proposition  would  have  been  renewed  as  soon 
as  the  preparations  for  war  were  complete,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  publication  of  the  text.* 


*  The  exact  language  of  the  treaty  and  the  letters  concerning  it  are  here 
given : 

Draught  Treaty. 

“His  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia  and  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the 
French,  judging  it  useful  to  bind  closer  the  ties  of  friendship  which  unite 
them,  and  so  confirm  the  relations  of  good  neighborhood  which  happily  exist 
between  the  two  countries,  and  being  beside  convinced  that  to  attain  this 
result,  which  is,  moreover,  of  a  kind  to  insure  the  maintenance  of  the  general 
peace,  it  is  for  their  interest  to  come  to  an  understanding  on  the  questions 
concerning  their  future  relations,  have  resolved  to  conclude  a  treaty  to  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


67 


The  effect  of  this  discussion  upon  the  neutral  nations  is 
thus  stated  by  one  of  the  leading  journals  of  Europe  : 

“  The  controversy  between  the  diplomatists  of  France  and 
Germany  as  to  which  of  their  bodies  is  guilty  of  the  concoc¬ 
tion,  and  which  of  the  concealment,  of  the  design  to  seize  on 
Belgium,  has  almost  burnt  itself  out,  so  intense  has  been  its 
fire.  The  resources  of  diplomacy  are  exhausted  when  each 
combatant  has  accused  the  other  of  direct  falsehood.  Among 
all  the  clouds  of  assertion  and  denial  it  remains  clear  that 
Count  Benedetti  wrote  out  the  terms  of  a  treaty  for  the  appro- 


following  effect,  and  have,  in  consequence,  nominated  as  their  representatives 
the  following  persons,  viz. : 

Ilis  Majesty,  etc. 

His  Majesty,  etc. 

Who,  after  exchanging  their  full  powers,  which  have  been  found  in  good  and 
due  form,  have  agreed  on  the  following  Articles : 

Art.  I.  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the  French  acquiesces  in  and  recog¬ 
nizes  the  gains  made  by  Prussia  in  the  course  of  the  last  war  waged  by  her 
against  Austria,  and  that  Power’s  allies. 

Art.  II.  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia  engages  to  facilitate  the  acquisi¬ 
tion  by  France  of  Luxembourg  ;  and  for  this  purpose  His  Majesty  will  enter  into 
negotiations  with  His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Netherlands,  with  the  view  of 
inducing  him  to  cede  his  sovereign  rights  over  the  Duchy  to  the  Emperor  of 
the  French,  on  the  terms  of  such  compensation  as  shall  be  judged  adequate 
or  otherwise.  The  Emperor  of  the  French,  on  his  side,  engages  to  assume 
whatever  pecuniary  charges  this  arrangement  may  involve. 

Art.  III.  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the  French  shall  raise  no  opposition 
to  a  federal  union  of  the  Confederation  of  North  Germany  with  the  States 
of  South  Germany,  excepting  Austria,  and  this  federal  union  may  be  based 
on  one  common  Parliament;  due  reservation,  however,  being  made  of  the 
sovereignty  of  the  said  States. 

Art.  IV.  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia,  on  his  side,  in  case  His  Majesty 
the  Emperor  of  the  French  should  be  led  by  circumstances  to  cause  his  troops 
to  enter  Belgium  or  to  conquer  it,  shall  grant  armed  aid  to  France,  and  shall 
support  her  with  all  his  forces,  military  and  naval,  in  the  face  of  and  against 
every  Power  which  should,  in  this  eventuality,  declare  war. 

Art.  V.  To  insure  the  complete  execution  of  the  preceding  conditions,  His 
Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia  and  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  the  French  con¬ 
tract,  by  the  present  treaty,  an  alliance  offensive  and  defensive,  which  they 
solemnly  engage  to  maintain.  Their  Majesties  bind  themselves,  besides  and 
in  particular,  to  observe  its  terms  in  all  cases  when  their  respective  States, 
the  integrity  of  which  they  reciprocally  guarantee,  may  be  threatened  with 


08 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


priation  of  the  country  of  an  unoffending  neighbor,  whose 
neutrality  and  independence  the  State  he  represented  had  gua¬ 
ranteed.  It  is  equally  clear  that  Count  Bismarck  either  sug¬ 
gested  such  a  project,  or,  as  he  says,  permitted  it  to  remain 
unknown  to  the  friendly  States,  and  especially  to  England,  on 
whom  it  was  an  attack.  When  Count  Bismarck  refused  the 
Emperor  an  inch  of  German  soil  after  Sadowa,  he  took  care  to 
let  it  be  known  to  all  the  world  that  France  had  made  the  de¬ 
mand  and  had  been  refused.  But  when  Belgium  was  in  ques¬ 
tion,  he  at  least,  to  use  his  own  words,  let  France  suppose  he 


attack;  and  they  shall  hold  themselves  bound,  in  any  like  conjuncture,  to 
undertake  without  delay,  and  under  no  pretext  to  decline,  whatever  military 
arrangements  may  be  enjoined  by  their  common  interest  conformably  to  the 
terms  and  provisions  above  declared.'’ 

French  Denials. 

Paris,  July  29,  1810. 

To  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs : 

Monsieur  le  Due:  However  unjust  may  have  been  the  criticisms  of  which  I 
was  personally  the  object  when  the  fact  became  known  in  France  that  the 
Prince  of  Hohenzollern  had  accepted  the  crown  of  Spain,  I  did  not  feel  called 
on  to  notice  them,  and,  as  was  my  duty,  I  left  to  His  Majesty’s  Government 
the  care  of  rectifying  them.  I  cannot  maintain  the  same  silence  in  presence 
of  the  use  which  Count  Bismarck  has  made  of  a  document  to  which  he  seeks 
to  assign  a  value  it  never  possessed,  and  I  ask  permission  from  your  Ex¬ 
cellency  to  re-establish  the  facts  in  all  their  exactitude.  It  is  a  matter  of 
public  notoriety  that  the  Chancellor  offered  to  us,  before  and  during  the  last 
war,  to  assist  in  re-uniting  Belgium  to  France,  in  compensation  for  the 
aggrandizements  which  he  aimed  at,  and  which  he  has  obtained  for  Prussia. 
I  might  on  this  point  invoke  the  testimony  of  the  whole  diplomacy  of  Europe, 
which  was  aware  of  everything  that  was  going  on.  The  French  Government 
constantly  declined  those  overtures,  and  one  of  your  predecessors,  M.  Drouyn 
de  Lhuys,  is  in  a  position  to  give  on  this  point  explanations  which  would 
not  leave  any  doubt  subsisting.  At  the  moment  when  the  peace  of  Prague 
was  concluded,  and  in  presence  of  the  excitement  raised  in  France  by  the 
annexation  of  Hanover,  Electoral  Hesse,  and  the  City  of  Frankfort  to  Prussia, 
Count  Bismarck  again  testified  the  most  ardent  desire  to  re-establish  the 
equilibrium  broken  by  these  acquisitions.  Various  combinations  respecting 
the  integrity  of  the  States  bordering  on  France  and  Germany  were  suggested  ; 
they  became  the  object  of  several  interviews,  during  which  the  Count  always 
endeavored  to  make  his  personal  ideas  prevail.  In  one  of  those  conversa¬ 
tions,  and  in  order  to  form  a  thorough  comprehension  of  his  intentions,  I  con¬ 
sented  to  transcribe  them,  in  some  sort,  under  his  dictation.  The  form,  no 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  G9 

might  agree  to  an  extension  of  territory  in  that  quarter,  with¬ 
out  making  any  express  promise.  Nothing  will  shake  the  con¬ 
viction  of  most  Englishmen  that  France  and  Prussia  have  on 
many  occasions  in  the  last  four  years  discussed  the  appropria¬ 
tion  of  Belgium  by  France,  in  defiance  of  England,  as  a  thing 
having  so  much  to  recommend  it  as  to  make  it  worth  serious 
discussion.  That  Count  Benedetti  and  Prince  Napoleon 
entered  on  such  discussions  without  knowing  very  well  that 
the  Emperor  would  approve  of  their  doing  so,  is  totally  in¬ 
credible.  Count  Bismarck  may  perhaps  have  never  let  his 


less  than  the  substance,  clearly  demonstrates  that  I  confined  myself  to  re¬ 
producing  a  project  conceived  and  developed  by  him.  Count  Bismarck  kept 
the  paper,  desiring  to  submit  it  to  the  King.  On  my  side,  I  reported  to  the 
Imperial  Government  the  communications  which  had  been  made  to  me.  The 
Emperor  rejected  them  as  soon  as  they  were  brought  to  his  knowledge.  I 
ought  to  say  that  the  King  of  Prussia  himself  appeared  unwilling  to  accept 
the  basis  suggested,  and  since  that  period — that  is  to  say,  during  the  last  four 
years — I  have  had  no  further  exchange  of  ideas  with  Count  Bismarck  on  the 
subject.  If  the  initiation  of  such  a  treaty  had  been  taken  by  the  Emperor’s 
Government  the  draft  would  have  been  prepared  at  the  Ministry,  and  I  should 
not  have  had  to  produce  a  copy  in  my  own  handwriting;  besides,  it  would 
have  been  differently  worded,  and  negotiations  would  have  been  carried  on 
simultaneously  in  Paris  and  Berlin.  In  that  case  the  Prussian  Minister 
would  not  have  contented  himself  with  handing,  indirectly,  the  text  over  to 
publication,  especially  at  the  moment  when  your  Excellency  was  rectifying 
in  the  despatches  which  were  inserted  in  the  Journal  Officiel ,  other  errors 
which  attempts  were  being  made  to  propagate.  But  to  attain  his  aim — that 
of  misleading  public  opinion  and  forestalling  any  indiscretions  which  we 
might  ourselves  commit — he  has  adopted  this  expedient,  which  dispensed 
him  from  specifying  at  what  moment,  under  what  circumstances,  and  in  what 
manner,  that  document  was  written.  He  evidently  entertained  the  idea  of 
suggesting,  owing  to  those  omissions,  conjectures  wrhich,  while  disengaging 
his  personal  responsibility,  would  compromise  that  of  the  Emperor’s  Govern¬ 
ment.  There  is  no  need  to  qualify  such  proceedings ;  to  point  them  out  and 
deliver  them  to  the  judgment  of  the  public  in  Europe,  is  sufficient.  Accept,  etc. 

V.  Benedetti. 

Emile  Ollivier’s  Denial. 

Paris,  July  26,  1870 

My  Dear  Friend  : — How  could  you  believe  there  was  any  truth  in  the 
Treaty  the  Times  has  published?  I  assure  you  that  the  Cabinet  of  the  2d  of 
January  never  negotiated  or  concluded  anything  of  the  kind  with  Prussia 


70 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Royal  master  into  the  secret.  But  the  fact  remains  that  those 
who  were  then  masters  of  France  and  Prussia  consulted  as  to 
the  advisableness  of  extinguishing  Belgium  by  sheer  force. 
We  cannot  feel  as  partisans  of  one  more  than  of  the  other 
side.  But  now  that  the  whole  truth  is  known,  we  are  obliged 
to  look  our  position  in  the  face,  and  see  what  we  can  do  and 
ought  to  do,  and  what  turn  of  events  will  be  most  advanta¬ 
geous  to  us.  Obviously  it  is  France,  not  Germany,  that  wants 


I  will  even  tell  you  that  it  has  negotiated  nothing  at  all  with  her.  The  only 
negotiations  that  have  existed  between  us  have  been  indirect,  confidential, 
and  had  Lord  Clarendon  for  their  intermediary.  Since  Mr.  Gladstone 
slightly  raised  the  veil  in  one  of  his  speeches,  we  may  allow  ourselves  to  say, 
that  the  object  of  those  negotiations,  so  honorable  to  Lord  Clarendon,  was  to 
assure  the  peace  of  Europe  by  a  reciprocal  disarmament.  You  will  admit 
that  this  does  not  much  resemble  the  conduct  of  Ministers  who  seek  a  pre¬ 
text  for  war.  You  know  the  value  I  set  upon  the  confidence  and  friendship 
of  the  great  English  nation.  The  union  of  the  two  countries  has  always 
seemed  to  me  the  most  essential  condition  of  the  world’s  progress.  And  for 
that  reason  I  earnestly  beg  you  to  contradict  all  those  false  reports,  spread 
by  persons  who  have  an  interest  in  dividing  us.  We  have  no  secret  policy 
hidden  behind  our  avowed  policy.  Our  policy  is  single,  public,  loyal,  with¬ 
out  arri&res  penstes  ;  we  do  not  belong  to  the  school  of  those  who  think  might 
is  superior  to  right ;  we  believe,  on  the  contrary,  that  right  will  always  pre¬ 
vail  in  the  end  ;  and  it  is  because  the  right  is  on  our  side  in  the  war  now 
beginning,  that,  with  the  help  of  God,  we  reckon  upon  victory.  Affectionate 
salutations  from  your  servant.  (Signed)  Emile  Ollivier. 

Bismarck’s  Rejoinder. 

Berlin,  July  29. 

To  Count  Bernstorff  : — Your  Excellency  will  be  good  enough  to  commu¬ 
nicate  the  following  to  Lord  Granville  :  The  document  published  by  the 
Times  contains  one  of  the  proposals  which  have  been  made  to  us  since  the 
Danish  war,  by  official  and  unofficial  French  agents,  with  the  object  of  estab¬ 
lishing  an  alliance  between  Prussia  and  France  for  their  mutual  aggrandize¬ 
ment.  I  will  send  the  text  of  an  offer  made  in  1866,  according  to  which 
France  proposed  to  aid  Prussia  with  300,000  men  against  Austria,  and  to 
permit  Prussia’s  aggrandizement  by  six  or  eight  millions  of  subjects,  in  re¬ 
turn  for  the  cession  to  France  of  the  district  between  the  Rhine  and  the 
Moselle.  The  impossibility  of  agreeing  to  this  course  was  clear  to  all  except 
French  diplomatists.  On  this  proposition  being  rejected,  the  French  Gov¬ 
ernment  began  to  calculate  upon  our  defeat.  France  has  not  ceased  to 
tempt  us  with  offers,  to  be  carried  out  at  the  cost  of  Germany  and  Belgium. 
In  the  interests  of  peace  I  kept  them  secret.  After  the  Luxembourg  affair, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


71 


Belgium.  It  is  a  great  object  to  Germany  that  France  should 
not  have  Belgium,  and  a  strong  united  Germany  is  likely  to 
secure  this  object  as  nothing  else  could  do.  If  Germany  holds 
her  own  against  France,  and  if  it  is  thoroughly  understood 
that  England  means  to  go  to  war  if  Belgium  is  seized,  the 
independence  of  Belgium  is  placed  on  its  only  possible  per¬ 
manent  basis.  It  is  strange,  however,  how  even  now  the 
French  official  press  and  the  proclamations  and  manifestoes 


the  proposals  dealing  with  Belgium  and  South  Germany  were  renewed.  M. 
Benedetti’s  manuscript  belongs  to  this  period.  It  is  not  likely  that  M.  Bene- 
detti  acted  without  the  Emperor’s  sanction.  Finally,  the  conviction  that  no 
extension  of  territory  was  attainable  in  conjunction  with  us,  must  have  matured 
the  resolve  to  obtain  it  by  fighting  us.  I  have  even  grounds  for  believing  that, 
had  not  this  project  been  made  public  after  our  armaments  on  both  sides 
were  complete,  France  would  have  proposed  to  us  jointly  to  carry  out  M. 
Benedetti’s  programme  against  unarmed  Europe,  and  to  conclude  peace  at 
Belgium's  cost.  If  the  French  Cabinet  now  repudiates  aims  for  our  participa¬ 
tion  in  which  it  has  uninterruptedly  labored  since  1864,  either  by  demands  or 
promises,  this  is  easily  to  be  explained  by  the  present  political  situation. 

I  enclose  to  you,  for  Lord  Granville,  the  original  copy  of  Benedetti’s  pro¬ 
posed  second  secret  treaty,  referred  to,  presented  in  his  own  handwriting: 

Secret  Treaty  No.  2. 

Art.  I.  The  French  empire  again  assumes  possession  of  the  territory  which 
belonged  to  France  in  1814,  and  is  now  part  of  the  dominions  of  Prussia. 

Art.  II.  If  Prussia  pledges  herself  to  obtain  from  the  King  of  Bavaria  and 
the  Grand  Duke  of  Hesse  the  cession  of  the  territory  which  they  possess  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine,  and  to  transfer  its  possession  to  France,  an  indem¬ 
nification  of  the  two  German  Princes  is  reserved. 

Art.  III.  All  the  provisions  uniting  the  territory  which  is  under  the  sover¬ 
eignty  of  the  King  of  the  Netherlands  to  the  Germanic  Confederation,  as  well 
as  those  which  refer  to  the  rights  of  garrison  in  the  fortress  of  Luxembourg, 
are  annulled. 

The  following  letter,  referring  to  the  above  treaty,  is  likewise  preserved  in 
Berlin  in  Benedetti’s  own  handwriting  : 

“  My  Dear  President  : — In  reply  to  your  communications  which  I  have  sent 
from  Nicholsburg  to  Paris,  in  consequence  of  our  interview  of  the  26th  ult., 
I  have  received  from  Vichy  the  copy  of  a  secret  treaty,  of  which  I  enclose  a 
copy.  I  hasten  to  communicate  it  to  you,  in  order  that  you  may  be  able  to 
examine  it  at  your  leisure.  I  am  at  your  disposition  to  confer  with  you 
about  it  whenever  you  think  the  right  moment  to  have  come.  Yours, 

“  Sunday,  Aug.  5,  1866.  Benedetti.* 1' 


72 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


of  the  French  Government  persist  in  ignoring  the  fact  that  it 
is  Germany  that  France  is  opposing,  and  not  Prussia,  and 
that  the  Germans  resent  French  interference  in  their  affairs 
quite  as  much  as  they  resent  French  intrusion  into  their  ter¬ 
ritory.  The  Emperor  will  have  it  that  he  goes  to  save  Ger¬ 
many  from  despotism,  and  the  Journal  Officiel  recounts  the 
efforts  of  French  diplomacy  to  keep  Germany  weak  and  divi¬ 
ded,  as  if  these  efforts  deserved  the  utmost  gratitude  from 
Germans,  and  as  if  their  failure  ought  to  justify  even  in  Ger¬ 
man  eyes  the  waging  of  war  against  that  odious  Power  who 
made  them  fail.”* 

Having  failed  in  their  efforts  to  secure  peace,  the  neutral 
Powers,  including  the  United  States  of  America,  declared  a 
strict  neutrality  between  the  combatants,  and  forbade  the 
people  of  their  respective  countries  from  unlawfully  assisting 
either  party.  Thus  the  conflict  was  narrowed  down  to  France 
and  Germany,  the  rest  of  the  world  remaining  as  spectators 
of  the  dreadful  struggle. 

Here,  just  on  the  eve  of  the  war,  we  may  pause  to  notice  a 
feature  of  the  conflict  which  has  produced  endless  discussion. 
It  has  been  charged,  on  the  one  hand,  by  the  enemies  of  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  III.,  that  he  dragged  the  French  nation 
into  the  war  in  opposition  to  its  wishes,  and  asserted,  on  the 
other  baud,  by  his  friends,  that  he  was  forced  into  it  against 
his  better  judgment  by  the  popular  will.  A  clearer  under¬ 
standing  of  this  question  will  be  of  infinite  service  to  us  in 
discussing  the  events  of  the  war. 

In  the  opening  pages  of  this  work  we  have  shown  the  state 
of  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  French  people  towards  Germany, 
and  have  argued  from  it  that  war  was  certain  at  some  future 
time.  M.  Prevost  Paradol,  than  whom  no  better  exponent 
of  the  sentiment  of  the  French  Liberals  (the  opponents  of  the 
Empire)  can  be  found,  has  said  in  the  concluding  chapter  of 
his  “  La  France  Nouvelle,”  in  reviewing  the  events  of  1866  : 

“  It  remains  for  us  to  examine  the  hypothesis  of  peace,  that 
is,  systematic  and  prolonged  inactivity  of  France,  while  wit- 


*  The  London  Saturday  Review. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


73 


nessing  the  continual  aggrandizement  of  Prussia  and  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  German  unity. 

“  We  do  not  need  to  dissimulate  that  this  is  the  least  probable 
hypothesis  of  a ll,  for  every  chance  indicates  that  war  must  burst 
out  from  the  actual  situation.  It  is  not  that  the  Prussian  Gov¬ 
ernment  means  to  provoke  it,  nor  that  the  French  Govern¬ 
ment  desires  it :  on  the  contrary,  it  is  well  known  that,  by 
different  reasons,  the  rulers  of  these  two  States  are  sincerely 
attached  to  peace  ;  but  in  spite  of  the  will  of  men  the  situation 
is  for  war.  It  is  almost  an  impossibility  that  Prussia,  with 
all  her  prudence,  should  not  threaten  once  more  to  absorb 
Germany ;  and  is  it  impossible  that  the  French  Government, 
with  all  their  forbearance,  should  let  Prussia  go  on  without 
resisting  it,  sword  in  hand  ?” 

Alexis  de  Tocqueville  invariably  declared  that  whenever 
any  ruler  of  France  should  give  the  word  to  march  on  the 
Rhine  with  a  definite  aim  of  reconquest,  the  whole  nation 
would  rise  and  march  on  the  Rhine  as  it  had  done  before. 

As  we  have  already  shown,  there  were  two  strong  feelings 
influencing  the  people  of  France;  the  one  a  desire  to  regain 
the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine,  and  the  other  a  desire  to  prevent 
the  consolidation  of  Germany,  because  of  its  danger  to  France. 
If  the  Empire  encouraged  these  feelings,  its  antagonists  were 
no  less  guilty.  M.  Thiers,  the  ablest  of  all  the  opponents  of 
the  Empire,  and  at  one  time  the  Prime  Minister  of  France 
under  Louis  Philippe,  had  always  maintained  during  his 
whole  political  career  the  proposition  that  it  was  the  right 
and  the  interest  of  France  to  prevent,  by  diplomacy  or  if  ne¬ 
cessary  by  force,  the  consolidation  abroad  of  the  national 
unity  which  constitutes  her  own  greatness  and  pride.  Of  late 
years  the  chief  weight  of  the  attacks  of  this  veteran  statesman 
upon  the  political  system  of  France  has  been  rested  upon  its 
neglect  to  prevent  the  unification  of  Italy’-  and  Germany.  He 
has  always  maintained  that  France  should  have  exerted  her 
whole  force  to  keep  the  Italian  states  and  those  of  Germany 
as  widely  separated  as  possible.  His  bitter  remark  that  the 
Second  Empire  had  made  two  great  statesmen  in  Europe, 


74 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Cavour  and  Bismarck,  is  well  known,  and  did  no  little  dam¬ 
age  to  the  peace  of  Europe  by  fanning  the  French  opposition 
to  Germany  to  a  still  greater  heat. 

The  attacks  of  the  leading  French  Republicans  upon  the 
Emperor,  upon  this  very  ground,  were  even  more  bitter.  M. 
Prevost  Paradol,  one  of  the  most  brilliant,  as  well  as  one  of 
the  most  thoroughly  informed  as  to  the  national  feeling,  shall 
serve  as  a  specimen  of  his  colleagues,  since  we  have  not  space 
for  other  citations.  In  a  letter  to  the  Courrier  da  Dimanche ,  in 
1866,  he  said  :  “  They  talk  to  us  of  compensation  for  the  ap¬ 
proaching  completion  of  German  unity.  Sir,  I  know  of  no  com¬ 
pensation  but  one,  which  can  be  worthy  of  the  head  of  a  Gov¬ 
ernment  of  France,  whatever  may  be  his  name,  or  origin,  or 
title — whether  he  calls  himself  King,  President,  or  Emperor — 
and  that  is  to  die  fighting  sword  in  hand,  to  prevent  it.” 

An  English  writer,  commenting  on  the  course  of  M.  Para¬ 
dol  and  his  colleagues,  says:  “It  would  be  unjust  to  the  un¬ 
fortunate  ruler  of  France — whose  declaration  of  war  against 
Prussia  rekindled  into  so  fierce  a  blaze  from  their  embers  of 
1813-14  all  those  national  animosities  which  still  smouldered 
in  the  German  heart — to  forget  that  politicians  claiming  the 
title  of  Moderate  on  all  other  questions,  and  exercising  such 
influence  as  that  of  Thiers  in  the  legislative  body  and  Prevost 
Paradol  in  the  press,  had  been  declaring  war,  so  far  as  words 
went,  these  four  years  on  the  whole  German  nation,  if  it 
should  dare  to  complete  its  union  under  Prussian  leadership 
or  in  Prussian  alliance.  It  was  casus  belli  enough  that  an 
united  German  nation  should  presume  to  form  itself  beside 
an  united  French  nation  ;  and  it  could  only  be  a  question  of 
time,  prudence,  and  preparation,  when  the  Rhine  should  be 
crossed  to  crush  such  insolent  pretensions  with  the  armed 
force  of  France.”  The  writer  before  us,  indeed,  shows  the 
shrinking  of  humanity  from  the  horrors  of  the  coming  con¬ 
flict,  and  the  presentiment  of  genius  of  the  doubtful  prospect 
of  success.  But  in  his  view  the  mere  fact  that  Germany  pre¬ 
tended  to  national  unity  would  justify  France  in  drawing  the 
sword  to  keep  her,  perforce,  divided.  “And  the  very  doubt 


l’ont  au  Change,  showing  the  Theatres  on  the  North  Side  :  Paris. 


75 


76 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


of  victory  exasperated  tire  feverish  impatience  which  expected 
the  combat.” 

Having  done  all  in  their  power  to  make  the  country  wish 
for  war,  having  brought  public  opinion  to  such  a  state  that 
peace  was  impossible  and  war  a  question  of  time  only,  having- 
held  up  the  Emperor  to  popular  execration  because  he  would 
not  make  war  to  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  the  German 
wish,  one  might  suppose  that  these  gentlemen  would  be  the 
warmest  supporters  of  the  Government  when  the  war  did 
come.  Not  so.  Having  driven  the  Emperor  into  the  war, 
they,  to  serve  their  own  ends,  began  a  fierce  opposition  to 
him,  alleging  as  their  excuse  that  the  occasion  of  the  rupture 
was  ill  chosen  ;  and  in  the  hour  of  their  country’s  supreme 
peril  they  applied  themselves  with  unpatriotic  energy  to  the 
task  of  weakening  and  overthrowing  the  Government  of  the 
Emperor.  AVhen  all  France  should  have  presented  a  solid 
front  to  the  foe,  these  Moderate  gentlemen  could  find  no  more 
heroic  employment  than  distressing  and  embarrassing  the 
Administration  to  which  the  country  looked  for  the  prosecu¬ 
tion  of  what  all  parties  knew  to  be  a  death  struggle.  The 
plea  upon  which  they  based  their  opposition  was  as  unpatri¬ 
otic  as  their  conduct.  It  was  more— it  was  untrue.  The 
war  not  their  work,  indeed  !  Who  but  they  had  maddened 
France?  Who  but  they  had  driven  public  opinion  to  such 
an  extreme  that  the  Government  could  see  no  other  course 
to  satisfy  it  but  war  ?  History  will  do  these  Moderate  gen¬ 
tlemen  justice,  and  will  stamp  them  as  men  who  shrank  from 
the  consequences  of  their  own  acts,  as  men  whose  patriotism 
could  rise  no  higher  than  a  selfish  opposition  to  a  dynasty. 

The  Emperor  Napoleon,  from  his  place  of  captivity,  has 
just  given  to  the  world  his  defence  of  his  course,  and  the  rea¬ 
sons  which  drove  him  into  the  war.  It  is  so  important  a 
part  of  the  history  of  the  struggle,  that  I  give  it  here  entire. 
It  is  as  follows  : 

“  The  policy  of  the  Second  Empire  has  been  the  subject 
of  violent  attacks.  It  has  been  reproached  with  uncertainty 
and  the  absence  of  frankness.  The  Emperor  Napoleon  III. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


77 


has  been  represented  as  a  cunning,  false  man,  without  defined 
principles,  acting  contrary  to  his  promises,  without  other 
motive  than  a  vulgar  ambition.  It  becomes  those  who  have 
served  both  the  sovereign  and  his  policy  to  present  the  truth. 
We  will  endeavor  to  prove,  in  recalling  facts  too  much  for¬ 
gotten,  that,  since  1852,  the  acts  of  the  Cabinet  of  the 
Tuileries  have  always  had  the  same  end — the  grandeur  of 
France,  a  better  reconstruction  of  Europe.  So  long  as  the 
authority  of  the  Emperor  was  powerful  and  respected,  the 
country  was  calm  and  respected,  our  exterior  relations  in¬ 
spired  no  alarm.  Under  that  far  seeing  and  moderate  regime 
that  has  been  called  the  personal  government,  we  have  en¬ 
joyed  eighteen  years  of  security  and  prosperity.  The 
embarrassments  and  misfortunes  have  only  fallen  upon 
France  since  the  establishment  of  the  Parliamentary  system, 
that  so  much  vaunted  form  of  government,  where  the  re¬ 
sponsible  ministers  create  the  catastrophes,  and  retire  from 
them  as  they  arrive  in  order  to  let  all  their  responsibility 
and  weight  fall  upon  the  head  of  the  State. 

“  Let  us  begin  at  the  commencement  of  his  reign.  When 
Napoleon  III.  ascended  the  throne,  he  found  himself,  by  the 
force  of  things,  called  to  realize  a  second  time,  although  in  a 
much  smaller  proportion,  the  mission  of  the  Emperor  Napo¬ 
leon  I..  who  explained  at  St.  Helena  his  work  in  the  world 
by  these  words :  ‘ 1  have  conquered  revolution,  ennobled  the 
people,  and  reestablished  kings.’  The  Revolution  of  Febru¬ 
ary  (1818)  had  shaken  many  thrones.  To  consolidate  them 
it  was  necessary  to  reestablish  in  France  order  and  the 
principle  of  authority.  Europe,  like  France,  was  tried  by 
subversive  passions,  foolish  theories,  as  well  as  by  imperative 
wants  and  legitimate  aspirations.  It  was  necessary  to  sup¬ 
press  the  former,  and  give  to  the  latter  a  rapid  impulse — 
taking  from  the  revolution  all  that  there  was  of  good,  aiding 
the  moral  and  material  advancement  of  all  classes  of  society 
in  elevating  the  people  to  a  higher  degree  of  civilization. 
Carried  to  the  highest  power  by  the  free  will  of  the  people, 
the  Emperor  had  no  need,  in  order  to  sustain  an  incontested 


78 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


authority,  to  have  recourse  to  expedients,  neither  to  seek  a 
vain  military  g'lory.  His  first  thoughts  were  solely  turned 
towards  internal  improvements,  and  as  to  foreign  questions, 
he  hoped  that  in  the  times  in  which  we  live,  they  would  be 
settled  without  contention,  without  violence,  by  the  accord 
of  enlightened  men  who  were  at  the  head  of  the  governments. 
Also,  when  in  his  address  at  Bordeaux  he  pronounced  the 
sentiment:  ‘The  Empire  is  Peace,’ he  expressed  a  sincere 
desire,  a  profound  conviction.  Events  that  are  in  the  hands 
of  God  were  soon  to  awaken  him  from  illusions  that  had 
birth  in  an  elevated  mind  and  an  honest  soul.  At  the 
moment  when  Napoleon  III.  was  engaged  with  M.  Bineau, 
then  Minister  of  Finance,  on  a  project  for  the  reduction  of 
taxes,  affecting  more  particularly  the  poorer  classes,  the 
Eastern  Question  suddenly  sprang  up  like  a  scarecrow  in  th( 
midst  of  golden  dreams  of  a  Government  that  began  with  a 
firm  hope  of  inaugurating  in  France  the  era  de  la  poule  au 
pot ,  the  dream  of  Henry  IY.  This  was  a  cruel  disappoint¬ 
ment  to  the  Emperor  to  be  obliged  to  adjourn  his  projects  of 
internal  reform  in  order  to  apply  all  his  solicitude  to  prepara 
tions  for  war.  It  became  his  duty  to  sustain  in  the  East 
with  the  aid  of  two  free  nations,  the  traditional  policy  of 
France.  The  Crimean  War,  the  cause  and  ending  of  which 
are  unnecessary  to  relate  here,  resulted  in  cementing  the 
alliance  of  France  and  Great  Britain.  By  the  moderation 
exemplified  by  France,  during  the  discussion  of  the  condi¬ 
tions  of  peace,  she  gained  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  Russia. 
From  that  epoch  the  relations  between  the  two  Governments 
have  always  been  marked  by  the  most  entire  frankness  and 
the  greatest  cordiality;  and  thus,  while  the  alliance  with 
England  remained  so  intimate,  the  local  hatred  that  had  so 
long  divided  the  two  countries  weakened  more  and  more. 
Napoleon  III.  never  ceased  to  be  faithful  to  that  alliance,  and 
repulsed  far  from  him  every  suggestion  that  invited  him  to 
profit  by  the  embarrassments  of  the  United  Kingdom  that 
might  create  great  difficulties  and  trouble  a  rival  Power. 
The  Emperor  resisted  with  firmness  these  temptations,  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


79 


never  hesitated  to  place  his  sympathies  on  the  side  of  his  ally, 
whether  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  revolt,  during  the 
war  of  Secession  in  America,  in  the  affair  of  the  steamer 
Trent,  at  the  time  of  the  Abyssinian  expedition,  and  in  other 
as  critical  circumstances. 

“  But  it  was  not  only  England  and  Russia  that  the  Empe¬ 
ror  conciliated  by  his  conduct,  frank  and  honest,  in  1856. 
It  gained  also  the  gratitude  of  Prussia  by  the  haste  with 
which  he  responded  to  a  desire  of  the  King.  Here  are  the 
circumstances:  The  belligerent  Powers  only,  that  is  to  say, 
Russia,  England,  France,  Turkey,  and  Piedmont,  were  con¬ 
voked  at  the  Paris  Peace  Congress.  The  King  of  Prussia 
was  extremely  offended  at  not  being  invited  to  that  Confer¬ 
ence,  which  was  to  regulate  the  peace  of  Europe.  England 
energetically  opposed  the  admission  of  one  of  his  representa¬ 
tives.  She  showed  herself  still  much  irritated  at  the  conduct 
of  the  Cabinet  of  Berlin,  which  had  not  concealed  its  sympa¬ 
thies  for  Russia  during  the  campaign.  The  King,  Frederick 
William  IV.,  brother  of  the  actual  King,  then  wrote  to  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  a  letter  expressive  of  the  profound 
mortification  that  he  experienced  by  an  exclusion,  which  he 
regarded  as  injurious  to  him,  and  full  of  confidence  in  the 
justice  and  friendship  of  the  Emperor.  He  solicited  him  to 
interfere  and  break  down  the  opposition  of  Great  Britain, 
adding  how  much  he  would  owe  to  him  his  entrance  to 
that  Congress,  which  he  regarded  as  a  personal  service  to 
him,  and  of  which  he  would  preserve  an  ineffaceable  grati¬ 
tude. 

“The  Emperor,  moved  by  his  chivalrous  appeal  to  his  good 
faith,  impressed  besides  with  the  propriety  of  Prussia’s  parti¬ 
cipation  in  the  great  European  deliberations,  insisted  upon 
her  admission  and  obtained  it.  The  year  1856  marked,  with¬ 
out  contradiction,  one  of  the  most  glorious  epochs  of  the 
Second  Empire.  Peace  was  to  be  signed  by  the  belligerent 
Powers,  and  the  birth  of  an  heir  to  the  crown  of  France  gave 
a  new  pledge  of  security  for  the  future.  By  a  happy  coinci¬ 
dence,  the  birth  of  the  Prince  Imperial  was  feted  on  the 


80 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


shores  of  the  Black  Sea  by  the  French,  Russian,  English, 
Italian,  and  Turkish  armies. 

“The  profound  calm  that  France  enjoyed  after  the  Crimean 
war  continued  only  for  three  years.  In  1859,  grave  events 
forced  again  the  sovereign  of  France  to  make  war.  At  this 
epoch  the  troubles  of  Austria  and  Piedmont  occupied  the  at¬ 
tention  of  Europe.  They  could  not  be  indifferent  to  us,  for 
Piedmont  once  conquered,  Austria  would  have  become  mis¬ 
tress  of  all  Italy,  and  extended  her  rule  to  our  frontiers.  The 
Emperor  therefore  resolved  to  sustain  the  pretensions  of  Pied¬ 
mont,  and  to  declare  that  he  took  up  arms  to  free  the  peninsula 
from  the  Alps  to  the  Adriatic.  He  raised  the  flag  of  nation¬ 
alities.  In  two  months  Austria  was  forced  beyond  the  Min- 
cio.  Peace  was  concluded  before  the  Emperor’s  programme 
had  been  fully  executed.  The  disturbed  attitude  of  Germany 
caused  the  suspension  of  our  victorious  march.  It  would 
have  been  unwise  not  to  suppose,  during  the  progress  of  the 
siege  of  Yerona,  that  another  war  would  have  to  be  sustained 
on  the  Rhine.  In  this  conjuncture  the  Emperor  acted  with  a 
prudence  which  the  Italians  could  reproach,  but  which  the 
French  ought  to  approve ;  he  had  no  right,  for  a  foreign 
cause,  however  much  he  might  sympathize  with  it,  to  peril 
the  destinies  of  his  own  country.  The  success  obtained  by 
France  had  not,  however,  settled  any  of  the  external  ques¬ 
tions. 

“  In  Italy,  Venice  remained  still  under  the  rule  of  Aus¬ 
tria,  who  preserved  her  formidable  quadrilateral  of  fortresses. 
In  Germany,  while  Austria  and  Prussia  disputed  for  supre¬ 
macy,  the  ideas  of  nationality  fermented,  and  in  their  name 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Germanic  race  in  the  duchies  of  Hol¬ 
stein  and  Schleswig  were  claimed  for  the  German  nationality. 
Poland  moved  again  in  a  weak  effort  to  recover  her  indepen¬ 
dence.  Affairs  in  Greece  were  alarming.  The  Danubian 
principalities  were  seeking  to  establish  their  independence  by 
invoking  the  aid  of  the  Eastern  powers.  Finally,  the  grave 
question  of  the  temporal  power  of  the  Pope  divided  the  con¬ 
sciences  of  the  people. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


81 


“  In  the  presence  of  these  discordant  elements  agitating  Eu¬ 
rope,  Napoleon  III.  proposed  to  the  great  Powers  to  meet  in 
Congress  in  order  to  terminate  in  common  accord  the  ques¬ 
tions  which,  remaining  unsolved,  would  one  day  menace  the 
peace  of  the  world.  In  opening  the  legislative  session  of  1864 
he  expressed  himself  in  these  terms  : 

Has  not  the  moment  arrived  for  the  reconstruction  upon  new  founda¬ 
tions,  of  the  edifice  mined  by  time,  and  destroyed,  piece  by  piece,  by 
revolutions  ?  Is  it  not  urgent  to  recognize  by  new  conventions  what  is 
irrevocably  accomplished,  and  accomplish  by  a  common  accord  that 
which  the  peace  of  the  world  demands  ?  The  treaties  of  1815  have 
ceased  to  exist.  The  force  of  things  has  overthrown  them,  or  tends  to 
overthrow  them  almost  everywhere.  They  have  been  broken  in  Bel¬ 
gium,  in  France,  as  upon  the  Danube.  Germany  moves  to  change 
them ;  England  has  generously  modified  them  by  the  cession  of  the 
Ionian  Isles,  and  Russia  tramples  them  under  foot  at  Warsaw.  In  the 
midst  of  this  continued  rending  of  the  fundamental  European  pact  vio¬ 
lent  passions  are  excited,  and  in  the  South  as  well  as  in  the  North, 
powerful  interests  demand  a  solution.  What  is,  therefore,  more  legiti¬ 
mate  and  more  prudent  than  the  convocation  of  the  Powers  of  Europe 
in  congress,  where  personal  pride  and  resistance  would  disappear  before 
a  supreme  arbitration  ?  What  is  more  harmonious  with  the  ideas  of 
the  age,  with  the  wishes  of  the  greatest  number,  than  an  appeal  to  the 
conscience,  to  the  reason  of  every  country,  and  say  to  them,  “  Have  not 
the  prejudices,  bitterness  which  divide  us,  existed  already  too  long?” 
Shall  the  jealous  rivalry  of  great  Powers  forever  hinder  the  progress  of 
civilization  ?  Shall  we  forever  occupy  each  other  with  mutual  defiance 
by  exaggerated  armaments  ?  Must  the  most  precious  resources  be  in¬ 
definitely  ruined  in  the  vain  ostentation  of  our  forces  ?  Shall  we  osten¬ 
sibly  maintain  a  state  of  things  that  is  neither  peace  with  its  security, 
nor  war  with  its  chances  of  fortune  ?  Let  us  give  no  longer  a  fraction’s 
importance  to  that  contentious  spirit  of  extreme  parties  in  arraying  our¬ 
selves  by  narrow  calculations  to  the  legitimate  aspirations  of  the  nations. 
Let  us  have  the  courage  to  substitute  a  sickly  and  precarious  condition, 
a  stable  and  regulated  situation,  should  it  have  to  cost  some  sacrifices. 
Let  us  meet  without  a  preconceived  system,  without  an  exclusive  ambi¬ 
tion,  animated  by  the  single  thought  of  establishing  an  order  of  things 
henceforth  founded  upon  the  well-understood  interests  of  both  sovereigns 
and  peoples.  This  appeal,  I  believe  would  be  understood  by  all.  A  re¬ 
fusal  would  lead  to  support  of  secret  projects  that  dread  the  light  of  day ; 
but  even  when  the  proposition  is  not  unanimously  accepted,  it  would 
have  the  immense  advantage  of  having  signalled  to  Europe  where  is  the 
danger  and  where  the  safety.  Two  ways  are  open  :  The  one  leads  to 
6 


82 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


progress  by  conciliation  and  peace  ;  the  other,  sooner  or  later,  leads 
fatally  to  war  by  the  obstinacy  to  maintain  a  part  that  crumbles  away. 

“  The  Powers,  particularly  England,  received  with  disdain 
this  proposition.  Whether  she  was  wounded  in  seeing  the 
initiative  taken  by  the  head  of  the  French  Government, 
whether  she  did  not  believe  it  possible  to  give  satisfaction  to 
the  different  interests  present,  she  rejected  this  means  of  paci¬ 
fication.  However  the  mode  of  solution  and  understanding 
counselled  by  the  Emperor  might  have,  perhaps,  prevented 
the  complications  that  were  soon  to  arise.  The  death  of  the 
King  of  Denmark  had  rendered  precarious  the  duchies  of  the 
Elbe,  and  the  national  Germanic  sentiment  was  so  excited 
that  Austria,  in  order  not  to  lose  her  situation  in  Germany, 
decided  to  join  Prussia  in  a  war  of  nationality  against  Den¬ 
mark.  England  proposed  to  France  to  join  her  in  opposing 
this  movement  that  was  leading  the  whole  of  Germany.  In 
spite  of  its  sympathy  for  Denmark,  the  French  Cabinet  ex¬ 
pressed  to  that  of  St.  James  that  an  energetic  protestation 
would  lead  fatally  to  war,  which  France  would  have  almost 
alone  to  meet ;  for  if  England  had  only  to  send  her  fleet  and 
troops  to  the  Baltic,  France  was  exposing  herself  to  fight 
upon  the  Rhine  the  combined  forces  of  Germany  and  Austria. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Emperor,  after  having  openly  pro¬ 
claimed  the  principle  of  nationalities,  could  he  maintain  upon 
the  shores  of  the  Elbe  another  course  to  that  he  had  followed 
on  the  shores  of  the  Adige  ?  He  was,  besides,  very  far  from 
supposing  that  a  war,  the  avowed  object  of  which  was  to  de¬ 
liver  the  Germans  from  Danish  rule,  would  result  in  putting 
the  Danes  under  German  rule.  This  understanding  between 
Prussia  and  Austria  was  not  of  long  duration,  and  soon  rival 
pretensions  led  to  a  critical  situation,  the  consequences  of 
which  were  easily  foreseen.  Europe  was  excited  by  the  anta¬ 
gonism  of  the  two  German  Powers.  A  conference  was  pro¬ 
posed  in  order  to  prevent  the  explosion.  It  was  to  circum¬ 
scribe  our  action  in  the  limits  of  the  threatening  quarrel;  but 
Austria  refusing  to  take  part  in  it,  the  conference  did  not  take 
place.  The  E  :;peror  Napoleon,  however,  made  known  his 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


83 


understanding  of  the  questions  at  issue,  and  to  this  end  he  ad¬ 
dressed  to  M.  Drouyn  de  Lhuys,  his  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  the  following  letter,  which  was  published  in  the  Mon- 
iteur : 

[Here  follows  a  letter  from  Napoleon,  dated  June  11,  1866,  addressed 
to  his  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  in  which  the  Emperor  gives  the  points 
he  desires  to  dwell  upon  in  a  circular  to  be  addressed  to  the  diplomatic 
agents  abroad  in  regard  to  the  events  then  clearly  foreseen  at  the  Tuile- 
ries.  In  this  letter  the  Emperor  emphatically  repels  all  idea  to  extend 
the  French  frontiers  without  consulting  the  wishes  of  the  people  to  be 
annexed,  to  be  by  them  “  freely  expressed.”  He  desires  to  live  in  peace 
with  Prussia,  but  acknowledges  the  necessity  of  German  reconstruction. 
He  fears,  however,  that  war  alone  can  decide  the  questions  at  issue,  and 
trusts  that  France  will  not  be  compelled  to  be  the  first  to  disturb  the 
European  equilibrium.] 

“  It  was  evident  that  diplomacy  was  henceforth  powerless 
to  arrest  the  conflict  that  menaced  the  centre  of  Europe,  and 
the  interest  of  France  was  to  preserve  such  an  attitude  that 
would  permit  her,  according  to  circumstances,  to  urge  the 
principles  of  justice  and  moderation.  Before  engaging  in  a 
struggle,  the  issues  of  which  were  difficult  to  see,  Prussia  un¬ 
derstood  that  she  could  do  nothing  without  assuring  herself 
of  the  co-operation  of  France,  or  at  least  her  neutrality,  for  it 
was  of  the  highest  importance  to  her  not  to  array  against  her 
at  the  same  time  both  the  French  and  the  Austrian  armies. 
The  Count  de  Goltz,  Prussian  Ambassador  at  Paris,  was 
charged  to  sound  the  intentions  of  the  Emperor :  several  in¬ 
terviews  were  had  towards  the  commencement  of  1866.  The 
King  of  Prussia  wrote  to  the  Emperor  to  inform  him  that,  in 
view  of  the  events  looming  up,  he  had  charged  his  Ambassa¬ 
dor  to  ask  him  what  were  his  intentions,  and  to  come  to  an 
understanding  with  him.  The  Emperor  replied  to  the  King 
that  it  was  difficult  for  him  to  see  the  results  of  the  conflict 
about  to  commence ;  but  the  two  sovereigns  might  count  re¬ 
ciprocally  upon  their  sincerity  and  their  desire  to  maintain 
between  them,  whatever  might  occur,  the  most  amicable  rela¬ 
tions.  The  interviews  were  oft  repeated,  and  the  neutrality 
of  France  was  declared.  This  neutrality,  very  favorable  for 


84 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Prussia,  permitted  her  to  enter  upon  the  campaign.  At  this 
time  they  were  so  sure  at  Berlin  of  the  kindly  attitude  of 
France  that  the  Count  de  Bismarck  said  one  day  to  M.  Bene- 
detti :  1  Our  confidence  in  your  Government  is  so  great  that  we  do 
not  leave  a  soldier  on  the  left  hank  of  the  Rhine.', 

“  The  rapid  success  of  Prussia  astonished  the  world,  and  pro¬ 
duced  a  profound  impression  in  France.  The  organs  of  the 
Government,  it  is  true,  stated  that,  thanks  to  her  moderation 
and  the  effect  of  her  influence  alone,  France  had  stopped  a 
victorious  army  at  the  very  gates  of  Vienna,  had  contributed 
to  preserve  the  integrity  of  Austrian  territory,  and  had  facili¬ 
tated  the  reunion  of  Venice  with  Italy,  had  maintained  the 
independence  of  the  small  states  of  Southern  Germany,  had 
obtained  concessions  for  Denmark ;  yet  all  these  clauses  of  the 
Treaty  of  Prague  did  not  satisfy  public  opinion.  Then  might 
be  seen  men,  who  were  formerly  the  most  pacific,  surround¬ 
ing  the  Emperor  to  engage  him  to  convoke  the  Corps  Legis- 
latif,  to  call  the  reserves  under  arms,  and  to  declare  war  to 
Prussia  while  her  principal  forces  were  still  engaged  on  the 
Danube.  The  Emperor  refused  to  follow  the  counsel  that 
Frederick  the  Great  gave  in  his  Memoirs,  when  he  pretended 
that  a  sovereign  was  not  like  a  simple  private  individual  un¬ 
der  obligation  to  keep  his  word,  and  that  he  was  authorized 
to  break  it  when  the  interest  of  his  country  required  it.  Per¬ 
sisting  in  the  line  of  conduct  that  he  had  traced  for  himself, 
Napoleon  aroused  himself  and  combated  what  he  regarded 
an  error  of  public  opinion.  For  this  honorable  policy,  that 
is  proper  to  recall  in  the  present  circumstance,  he  was  bit¬ 
terly  reproached.  All  the  deputies  of  the  opposition,  like¬ 
wise  all  the  journals  of  that  shade  have  never  ceased  since 
that  time  to  represent  the  Government  of  France  as  feeble 
and  pusillanimous,  charging  it  with  not  daring  to  maintain 
and  defend  by  arms  the  true  interests  of  France.  To  put  an 
end  to  these  accusations  and  to  give  a  clear  and  precise  direc¬ 
tion  to  public  opinion,  the  Emperor  invited  the  Marquis  de 
Lavalette,  then  Minister  pro  temps  of  Foreign  Affairs,  in  the 
absence  of  the  Marquis  de  Moustier,  to  address  to  our  repre- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


85 


•  sentatives  abroad  a  circular  that  would  indicate,  in  order  that 
no  one  might  be  deceived,  the  intentions  of  the  Government. 
As  ordinarily  such  documents  are  written  by  the  responsible 
Minister,  and  not  by  any  one  who  might  hold  provisionally 
the  portfolio,  there  need  be  no  misunderstanding  as  to  their 
origin.  It  was  known  that  it  was  not  only  inspired  by  the 
Emperor,  but  that  it  was  almost  entirely  written  by  his  hand. 
Here  are  the  most  important  passages  of  this  circular : 

Paris,  September  16. 

Sir:  —  The  Imperial  Government  can  no  longer  suppress  its  opinion 
in  regard  to  the  events  taking  place  in  Germany.  As  M.  de  Moustier 
will  be  absent  for  some  time  to  come,  His  Majesty  has  ordered  me  to  lay 
before  his  diplomatic  agents  the  motives  which  control  his  policy.  The 
war  which  has  raged  from  the  centre  to  the  south  of  Europe  has  de¬ 
stroyed  the  Germanic  Confederation  and  definitely  established  Italian 
nationality.  Prussia,  whose  boundaries  have  been  extended  by  victory, 
rules  to  the  Main.  Austria  has  lost  Venice;  it  is  separated  from  Ger- 
may.  In  view  of  these  great  changes,  all  the  Powers  arc  thinking  of  what 
to  do;  they  ask  themselves  what  is  the  import  of  the  peace  lately  made, 
what  will  be  its  influence  on  European  affairs  and  the  international  posi¬ 
tion  of  each  power.  Public  opinion  is  aroused  in  France.  It  hovers 
between  joy  at  the  destruction  of  the  treaties  of  1815,  and  fear  lest  the 
power  of  Prussia  shall  become  excessive,  between  the  desire  of  maintain¬ 
ing  peace  and  the  hope  of  extending  its  territory  by  war.  It  applauds 
the  complete  enfranchisement  of  Italy,  but  would  be  assured  that  no 
danger  menaces  the  Pope.  The  perplexities  which  trouble  our  minds 
and  have  their  echo  abroad,  oblige  the  Government  to  state  its  views 
precisely.  France  can  have  no  equivocal  policy.  If  she  is  affected  by 
these  important  changes  which  are  taking  place  in  Germany,  she  should 
frankly  say  so,  and  take  measures  necessary  to  guarantee  her  security. 
If  she  loses  nothing  by  the  changes  she  should  honestly  say  so,  and 
meet  exaggerated  apprehensions  and  ardent  views  which,  by  exciting 
international  jealousies,  would  draw  her  from  the  path  she  should  follow. 
To  dispel  uncertainty  and  establish  conviction  it  is  necessary  to  notice 
the  past  and  the  future.  What  do  we  see  in  the  past  ?  About  1815  the 
Holy  Alliance  united  all  peoples  against  France  from  the  Ural  to  the 
Rhine,  'l'he  German  Confederation  comprised,  with  Prussia  and  Aus¬ 
tria,  80,000,000  of  inhabitants  ;  it  extended  from  Luxembourg  to  Trieste, 
from  the  Baltic  to  the  Trent,  and  girdled  us  with  the  steel  of  five  forti¬ 
fied  federated  places  ;  our  strategic  position  was  confined  by  five  most 
sudden  territorial  combinations  ;  the  least  difficulty  we  might  have  with 
Holland  or  Prussia  about  the  Moselle,  with  Germany  about  the  Rhine. 


86 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


with  Austria  about  the  Tyrol  or  the  Frioul,  could  combine  against  us  all 
the  united  Powers  of  the  Federation.  Austrian  Germany,  inexpugnable 
at  the  Adige,  could  advance,  when  the  time  had  come,  to  the  Alps. 
Prussian  Germany  had  as  avant-garde  on  the  Rhine  all  those  secondary 
States  unceasingly  troubled  by  desire  for  political  change,  and  disposed 
to  consider  France  the  enemy  of  their  existence  and  aspirations.  If 
Spain  be  excepted,  there  was  no  Continental  power  with  which  we  could 
form  an  alliance.  Italy  was  parted  and  powerless,  and  did  not  rank  as  a 
nation.  Prussia  was  neither  sufficiently  compact  nor  independent  to  sever 
itself  from  its  traditions.  Austria  was  too  much  occupied  with  her 
Italian  posessions  to  arrange  matters  with  us.  Doubtless,  the  long 
peace  has  been  able  to  obscure  the  remembrance  of  those  political 
organizations  and  these  alliances,  for  they  seem  formidable  only  in  case 
of  war ;  but  that  precarious  security  France  obtained  only  at  the  price 
of  her  role  among  the  nations.  It  is  indisputable  that  for  about  forty 
years  she  has  met  the  coalition  of  the  three  Northern  Courts,  united  by 
the  memory  of  defeats  and  common  victories,  by  analogous  principles 
of  government,  and  by  solemn  leagues  and  feelings  of  hatred  towards  our 
liberal  and  civilizing  action.  If  now  we  examine  the  future  of  Europe 
transformed,  what  guarantees  does  it  offer  to  France  and  the  peace  of 
the  world  ?  The  coalition  of  the  three  Northern  powers  is  broken  ;  the 
new  principle  which  reigns  in  Europe  is  freedom  from  alliances  ;  all  the 
great  Powers  are  placed  in  full  independence,  and  left  to  the  development 
of  their  destinies.  Prussia  aggrandized,  free  henceforth  from  all  soli¬ 
darity,  assures  the  independence  of  Germany.  France  need  take  no 
umbrage.  Proud  of  her  wondrous  unity,  of  her  imperishable  nation¬ 
ality,  she  can  neither  oppose  nor  regret  the  work  of  assimilation  which 
has  ended  jealousies  and  placed  them  under  the  control  of  those  princi¬ 
ples  of  nationality  which  she  pofesses  to  the  world.  The  national  pride 
of  Germany  is  appeased  ;  its  inquietude  is  disappearing,  its  enmities 
gone.  By  imitating  France  it  has  taken  a  step  which  assimilates  it  to, 
not  differences  her  from  France. 

In  the  south,  Italy,  whose  long  slavery  had  not  blotted  out  her  patriot¬ 
ism,  has  taken  all  the  elements  of  national  grandeur.  Its  existence  greatly 
modified  the  political  conditions  of  Europe.  But  in  spite  of  thoughtless 
susceptibilities,  or  transient  injudiciousness,  its  ideas,  its  principles,  its 
interests,  are  coincident  with  those  of  the  nation  which  gave  its  blood 
to  achieve  its  independence.  Austria,  freed  from  its  Italian  and  German 
preoccupations,  does  not  exhaust  its  power  in  barren  rivalry,  but,  con¬ 
centrating  it  in  the  East  of  Europe,  yet  represents  a  power  of  thirty 
millions  of  souls,  separated  from  France  by  no  interest,  no  hostile  feel¬ 
ing.  By  what  singular  reaction  from  the  past  upon  the  future  shall 
public  opinion  see  not  the  allies,  but  the  enemies  of  France  in  these 
nations  freed  from  a  past  hostile  to  us,  called  to  a  new  life,  directed  by 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


87 


principles  which  are  ours,  and  animated  by  those  sentiments  of  progress 
which  form  the  pacific  bond  of  union  in  modern  society  ?  A  Europe 
more  firmly  established  rendered  more  homogeneous  by  more  precise 
territorial  divisions,  is  a  guarantee  for  the  peace  of  the  Continent,  and 
is  neither  perilous  nor  detrimental  to  our  nature.  This,  with  Algeria, 
will  number  forty  millions  of  inhabitants  ;  Germany,  37,000,000,  of  which 
20,000,000  are  in  the  Confederation  of  the  North,  and  8,000,000  in  that 
of  the  South;  Austria,  35,000,000;  Italy,  26,000,000;  Spain,  18,000,000. 
What  is  there  in  this  distribution  of  European  Power  which  should  dis¬ 
quiet  us  ?  Must  an  irresistible  power  be  regretted  ?  could  the  nations 
unite  in  great  agglomerations  by  making  secondary  states  disappear  ? 
That  tendency  is  born  of  the  desire  to  secure  to  general  interests  the 
most  efficacious  guarantees.  Perhaps  it  is  inspired  by  a  sort  of  provi¬ 
dential  foresight  of  the  destinies  of  the  world.  While  the  old  popula¬ 
tions  of  the  continent  in  their  territorial  restrictions  can  increase  but 
slowly,  Russia  and  the  United  States  will  be  able  before  a  century  has 
passed  to  number  one  hundred  millions  each.  Although  the  growth  of 
these  two  great  empires  may  be  no  source  of  disquietude  to  us,  and,  on 
the  contrary  we  may  applaud  their  generous  efforts  in  behalf  of  oppressed 
races,  it  is  to  the  interest  of  the  nations  of  Central  Europe  wisely  to  see 
that  they  remain  not  parted  into  so  many  States  without  force  and  with¬ 
out  public  spirit.  Politics  should  rise  above  the  mean  and  narrow  pre¬ 
judices  of  a  past  age.  The  Emperor  does  not  believe  that  the  great¬ 
ness  of  a  country  depends  on  the  enfeenling  of  nations  around  it,  and 
sees  no  true  balance  but  in  the  consummated  wishes  of  the  nations  of 
Europe.  In  this  he  follows  the  old  convictions  and  traditions  of  his 
family.  Napoleon  I.  foresaw  the  changes  now  taking  place  on  the  Conti¬ 
nent  of  Europe.  He  deposited  the  seeds  of  new  nationalists  in  the 
peninsula  by  creating  the  Kingdom  of  Italy  ;  in  Germany  by  destroying 
253  independent  states.  If  these  remarks  are  just,  the  Emperor,  who 
was  right  in  accepting  that  role  of  mediator,  was  not  inglorious,  in  which 
he  could  arrest  the  tide  of  blood,  moderate  the  conqueror  by  his  friendly 
intervention,  lessen  the  consequences  of  reverse,  and  seek  through  so 
many  obstacles  the  re-establishment  of  peace.  He  would  have  miscon¬ 
ceived  his  high  responsibility  if,  on  the  other  hand,  by  violating  pro¬ 
claimed  and  promised  neutrality  he  had  plunged  headlong  into  the 
dangers  of  a  great  war,  of  one  of  those  wars  which  revive  the  hatred  of 
nations,  and  in  which  entire  nations  are  enforced  to  engage. 

“  It  was  impossible  to  use  more  apt  and  favorable  language 
m  regard  to  what  has  just  taken  place  in  Germany.  And  yet 
this  circular  did  not  produce  the  effect  which  might  have 
been  expected.  But  a  few  months  had  passed  before  the 
same  accusations  were  brought  against  the  Government,  and 


88 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


everybody  was  excited  by  the  noise  of  war,  which  obliged 
the  Emperor,  on  opening  a  new  session  on  the  18th  of  Novem¬ 
ber,  1867,  to  repeat  what  he  had  said : 

In  spite  of  the  declarations  of  my  Government,  which  has  never 
changed  its  peaceful  attitude,  said  he,  the  belief  has  reappeared  that 
every  change  in  the  internal  regulations  of  Germany  should  be  a  casus 
belli.  This  state  of  uncertainty  cannot  long  continue.  We  must  freely 
accept  the  changes  on  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine,  and  proclaim  that  so 
long  as  our  dignity  and  interests  are  not  threatened,  we  will  not  inter¬ 
fere  with  changes  taking  place  in  accordance  with  the  people’s  will. 

“  In  view  of  all  these  facts  one  must  acknowledge  that  the 
conduct  of  the  Emperor  towards  Germany  has  been  marked 
by  loyalty  and  good-feeling.  But  while  he  sought  by  every 
means  in  his  power  to  sanction  the  truth  that  the  greatness 
and  prosperity  of  neighboring  states  are  no  obstacle  to  the 
greatness  and  prosperity  of  France,  the  opposition  continued 
its  work  of  demolition  and  detraction. 

“  M.  Thiers  in  his  famous  speech  of  March,  1867,  declared 
that  the  victory  of  Koniggratz  was  the  most  deadly  blow 
given  to  the  influence  of  France ;  that  its  greatness  was  in¬ 
compatible  with  the  existence  of  other  great  States  on  its 
frontiers,  and  that  having  made  the  unpardonable  blunder  of 
creating  on  the  other  side  of  the  Alps  a  nation  of  23,000,000 
of  men,  it  had  again  egregiously  blundered  in  permitting 
Prussia  thus  to  extend  its  territory  and  develop  its  power ; 
that  the  Germanic  Confederation  was  the  best  possible  com¬ 
bination,  that  it  was  to  be  regretted,  and  that  now  France 
must  arm  herself  to  defend  the  autonomy  of  the  lesser  Ger¬ 
man  Powers,  who  should  be  her  satellites.  The  whole  Cham¬ 
ber,  even  the  Right,  applauded  this  speech. 

“  In  his  turn  M.  Jules  Favre  savagely  attacked  the  foreign 
policy  of  the  Government.  1  It  was  not  only  in  1866,’  said 
he,  ‘  that  Prussia  should  have  been  opposed ;  it  is  first  and 
foremost  against  Prussia  and  Austria  together  that  we  should 
have  proceeded,  when  they  in  concert  undertook  to  make  war 
against  Denmark.’  Thus,  according  to  the  chief  of  the  radi¬ 
cal  opposition,  France  should  have  arrayed  herself  at  one 
and  the  same  time  against  the  two  most  powerful  countries  of 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


89 


Central  Europe.  And  later  he  never  ceased  to  reproach  the 
Government  for  not  haughtily  insisting  upon  the  execution  of 
the  treaty  of  Prague. 

“And  now  these  two  orators  intrench  themselves  behind 
their  last  speeches  and  maintain  that  they  have  constantly 
wished  for  peace.  Especially  is  this  untrue  in  the  case  of 
M.  Thiers,  who  never  made  the  war  aught  else  than  a  question 
of  opportunity,  believing  it  inevitable.  But  what  shall  be 
said  of  that  sort  of  tactics  which  consists  in  making  the 
country  believe  that  it  has  been  greatly  debased,  that  the  day 
of  Sadowa  was  for  it  a  second  Waterloo,  and  that  it  has  hesi¬ 
tated  to  use  means  to  raise  itself  in  the  world’s  opinion  ? 
Would  it  were  possible  to  place  before  the  reader  these  end¬ 
less  harangues  in  which  the  conduct  of  Prussia  was  repre¬ 
sented  as  a  perpetual  menace  against  the  security  of  our 
frontiers.  One  knows  little  of  the  temperament  of  France, 
who  would  excite  that  fibre  to  paroxysm  and  pretend  that  it 
should  suppress  its  indignation  and  power,  or  else  such  action 
is  to  play  with  opposition  imprudently  and  faithlessly. 

“In  this  burning,  provoking,  unjust  polemic  the  press  united 
with  the  tribune.  In  1868,  M.  Provost  Paradol,  one  of  its 
most  powerful  organs,  although  on  the  Orleanist  side,  pub¬ 
lished  a  book  called  “  La  France  Nouvelle.”  He  severely 
blamed  the  tardy  policy  of  France.  He  pronounced  the 
principle  of  nationalities  opposed  to  its  interests,  and  regarded 
war  with  Germany  as  having  already  broken  out  in  spite  of 
the  efforts  of  both  countries  to  retard  it.  1  The  more  one 
thinks,’  said  he,  ‘  the  more  one  is  convinced  that  the  love  of 
peace,  the  philosophy,  the  settled  determination  of  the  Govern¬ 
ments  cannot  prevent  a  collision  between  Prussia  growing 
and  France  shut  up  within  her  ancient  boundaries  and 
deprived  of  all  hope.  Such  a  forfeiture  as  that  is  too  strong 
a  trial  for  our  political  and  military  pride.  Still,  as  the 
things  of  this  world  are  prolific  of  surprises  and  prophecies, 
the  least  likely  to  come  true  are  sometimes  worked  out  by 
chance,  it  is  not  absolutely  impossible  that  peace  may  con¬ 
tinue.  It  is  sad  to  say,  but  reason  and  truth  force  me  to  say, 


90 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


that  the  consequences  of  this  inaction  will  be  nearly  the  same 
to  us  as  those  of  a  defeat,  but  with  this  difference — that  they 
will  take  more  time  to  appear,  and  will  necessarily  be  not  so 
bitter,  but  at  bottom  they  will  be  the  same.  Is  an  invasion 
necessary  to  make  a  nation  disappear  from  the  political  stage 
and  fall  into  moral  dependence  upon  a  foreign  power?  Was 
Portugal  invaded  ?  Was  it  necessary  for  us  to  invade  it  when 
we  had  a  quarrel  with  Portugal  some  years  since  on  the 
question  of  a  French  slaver  whom  they  refused  to  return  to 
us  ?  A  French  vessel  simply  went  and  cut  the  cables  of  the 
contested  boat  in  the  Tagus,  and  sailed  away  untouched 
beneath  the  Portuguese  batteries.  Are  you  disposed  to  see 
the  same  thing  re-enacted  at  the  mouth  of  the  Seine  upon 
the  least  disagreement  with  the  new  arbiters  of  Europe  ?’ 

“  Thus,  the  writer  who  represented  with  most  truth  and 
talent  the  spirit  of  the  bourgeois,  laid  down  this  dilemma  for 
his  countrymen.  Either  France  will  resign  herself  to  being 
nothing  more  than  a  second-class  power,  or  she  will  resolve 
on  war. 

“  The  national  honor  is  the  sentiment  which  stirs  the  popu¬ 
lar  fibre  of  France.  All  these  diatribes  threw  a  disfavor 
around  the  governmental  policy  which  did  not  escape  the 
Emperor’s  attention.  Then  he  sought  with  solicitude  the 
means  of  removing  the  complaints,  unjust  though  they  were, 
of  the  opposition,  and  of  giving  satisfaction  to  public  opinion. 
Any  step  by  Prussia,  attesting  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  that 
her  aggrandizement  was  not  made  in  a  spirit  of  hostility 
against  France,  an  act  cementing  the  good  relations  between 
the  two  countries,  would  have  been  in  the  Emperor’s  eyes  a 
most  happy  event,  and  would  have  assured  peace  throughout 
a  long  future.  The  annexation  of  Luxembourg  to  France 
seemed  to  him  precisely  one  of  those  acts  capable  of  bringing 
about  real  reconciliation — the  cession  of  a  country  which 
asked  for  nothing  better  than  to  be  French,  would  have  si¬ 
lenced  for  ever  all  recrimination.  We  believe  this  opinion 
all  the  more  well-founded  as  we  find  it  developed  by  a  pub¬ 
licist,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  a  German  savant,  and  concluded 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


91 


iii  these  words:  ‘One  of  your  countrymen,  who  displays 
more  passion  than  I  like  to  see  in  a  man  of  sense,  said  to  me, 
at  the  epoch  in  question,  that  Germany  owed  to  France  a 
great  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  real,  though  negative,  part  the 
latter  had  taken  in  her  foundation.  Led  on  by  a  principle 
of  pride,  which  will  be  followed  in  the  future  by  sad  conse¬ 
quences,  the  Cabinet  of  Berlin  did  not  so  understand  it.  Ad¬ 
mitted,  that  territorial  aggrandizement,  when  it  is  a  question 
of  a  nation  already  thirty  or  forty  millions  strong,  are  not  of 
much  importance;  the  acquisition  of  Savoy  and  Nice  have 
been  more  troublesome  than  useful  to  France.  We  must  re¬ 
gret,  however,  that  the  Prussian  Government  did  not  yield 
the  rigor  of  its  pretensions  in  the  Luxembourg  affair.  Luxem¬ 
bourg,  once  ceded  to  France,  France  would  not  have  been 
greater  nor  Germany  smaller ;  but  this  insignificant  concession 
would  have  sufficed  to  satisfy  the  superficial  opinion  which  in  a 
country  of  universal  suffrage  must  be  managed ,  and  would  have 
permitted  the  French  Government  to  mask  its  retreat.’ 

“The  great  Minister  who  exercises  an  influence  and  pre¬ 
ponderance  in  the  affairs  of  Germany,  and  who,  when  he  is 
left  to  himself,  looks  questions  broadly  in  the  face,  had,  as 
we  believe,  comprehended  all  the  advantages  this  combination 
might  offer  to  create  good  relations  between  France  and  Ger¬ 
many,  and  he  would  have  consented  to  it  had  circumstances 
independent,  perhaps,  of  his  will,  not  intervened  to  overturn 
his  projects.  The  most  skilful  statesmen  are  often  obliged  to 
bend  before  the  inflexibility  of  unforeseen  incidents,  and  by 
a  fatality  which  it  is  not  possible  not  to  bitterly  deplore,  the 
Luxembourg  question,  which  might  have  served  as  a  bond  of 
urjion  between  France  and  Germany,  dissipating  unjust  sus¬ 
picion  and  extinguishing  petty  jealousies,  became,  on  the  con¬ 
trary,  a  new  cause  of  irritation,  as  well  as  a  new  element  of 
conflict.  From  this  instant  all  was  changed.  The  lever  was, 
so  to  say,  shattered  in  the  Emperor’s  hands  wherewith  he  had 
hoped  to  bring  the  two  countries  together,  and  the  opponents 
had  the  game  in  their  own  hands.  ‘  See,’  they  exclaimed, 
‘see  the  fruits  of  your  condescension  towards  Prussia.  You 


92 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


have  helped  her  to  aggrandize  herself,  to  absorb  for  her  own 
profit  the  major  part  of  Germanjq  and  when  you  express  a 
wish  to  annex  to  our  country  a  limited  territory  whose  popu¬ 
lation  is  French  already  in  sentiment  and  interest,  you  meet 
at  Berlin  nothing  but  hostility  and  ill-will.’*  The  Emperor 
underwent  this  check  with  profound  disappointment.  He  felt 
that  the  policy  he  had  followed  towards  Germany  had  just 
received  a  blow*  difficult  of  reparation.  The  opposition 
seemed  altogether  in  the  right,  M.  Thiers  was  triumphant, 
and  it  became  more  difficult  to  prove  to  him  that  his  sinister 
prejudices  had  been  unjust  or  illfounded.  Foreign  relations 
have  always  in  France  exercised  great  influence  over  the  af¬ 
fairs  of  the  interior.  It  is  vain  for  a  Government  to  spread 
public  education,  to  protect  agriculture,  industry,  and  com¬ 
merce,  to  make  arts  and  sciences  flourish  ;  if  the  country  feels 
that  the  national  flag  is  not  held  firmly  aloft,  a  general  dis¬ 
quietude  paralyzes  all  the  elements  of  prosperity.  The  fall 
of  both  branches  of  the  Bourbons  had  no  other  cause.  The 
opposition  knew  full  well  that  the  most  effective  army  to  op¬ 
pose  against  the  Government  were  to  represent  it  to  the 
country  as  not  defending  national  interest  with  sufficient  en¬ 
ergy.  To-day  numbers  of  people  are  levelling  against  the 
policy  of  the  Second  Empire,  this  reproach,  which  at  the  first 
glance  seems  justified  by  events  that  the  unfortunate  war 
whose  severities  we  experience,  is  the  result  of  the  culpable 
improvidence  which  has  permitted  Prussia  to  become  so 
puissant  a  power.  This  question  is  worthy  of  a  profound  ex¬ 
amination.  We  must  sometimes  judge  of  things  not  as  they 
are,  but  as  they  might  have  been.  It  is  true  that  since 
Koeniggratz,  the  power  of  Prussia  is  increased,  not  that  she 
has  crushed  us  with  her  powerful  forces  joined  to  those  of 
South  Germany ;  but  let  us  suppose  that  before  1866  we 
should  have  been  at  war  with  her,  in  what  position  would 
France  have  been,  in  virtue  of  the  treaties  which  bound  all 
the  members  of  the  Germanic  Confederation  together?  We 
should  have  had  against  us,  in  case  of  war,  all  the  forces  of 
Germany,  together  with  those  of  Austria.  People  imagine  in 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


93 


France  that  the  Germanic  Confederation  was  one  of  the  com¬ 
plicated  machines  difficult  to  set  in  motion.  That  was  true 
enough  in  all  internal  questions  of  Germany ;  but  against  the 
foreigner,  the  Confederation  presented  military  organized 
unity,  very  compact  and  very  solid.  If,  during  the  war 
against  Austria,  in  1859,  a  single  French  battalion  had  set 
foot  on  territory  belonging  to  the  Confederation,  like  the 
Tyrol,  the  whole  country,  from  the  Alps  to  the  Baltic,  would 
have  risen  in  array.  Before  1866  there  was  no  possibility  of 
a  serious  alliance  in  the  centre  of  Europe.  Austria  was  irre¬ 
vocably  bound  to  Germany,  and  Italy  did  not  exist  as  a 
power.  It  will  be  said  that  in  1870  we  ourselves  stand  alone 
without  allies. 

“That  is  true:  but  the  reconstruction  of  Central  Europe 
since  1866  permitted  us  to  have  them.  No  treaty  hindered 
the  Austro-Hungarian  Empire  from  alliance  with  us,  and  re¬ 
constituted  Italy  might  have  come  to  our  aid.  Had  this 
event  taken  place,  and  it  was  in  the  possibility  of  things,  the 
policy  of  the  empire  would  have  triumphed,  for  the  facts 
would  then  have  proved  that,  in  spite  of  the  augmentation  of 
Prussia,  there  existed  a  serious  counterpoise  to  her  power. 
Because  we  have  been  isolated,  it  does  not  follow  that  we 
might  not  have  had  700,000  Austro-Hungarians  and  400,000 
Italians  as  our  allies.  Before  1866,  on  the  other  hand,  it  was 
utterly  impossible  for  us  to  hope  for  any  effective  alliance  in 
the  centre  of  Europe.  These  considerations,  which  lose  their 
value  to-day  because  facts  have  not  happened  to  justify  them, 
were  then  so  controverted  by  the  opposition  that  public 
opinion  was  completely  misled.  Since  1867  an  uneasiness 
resulting  from  uncertain  external  relations  made  itself  felt; 
we  were  at  peace  without  enjoying  the  real  benefits  of  peace  ; 
and  the  Emperor,  who  saw  his  policy  disturbed,  his  laudable 
intentions  misunderstood,  and  by  that  same  his  own  impor¬ 
tance  weakened,  determined  to  increase  the  powers  of  the 
deliberative  bodies  in  order  to  give  them  a  greater  share  of 
responsibility  in  the  conduct  of  affairs.  We  know  the  series 
of  gradual  concessions  by  which  the  Imperial  Government 


94 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


became  a  purely  constitutional  Government,  assuredly  the  most 
liberal  that  has  ever  existed  in  France  ;  deputies  elected  by 
universal  suffrage;  a  Corps  Legislatif  with  full  liberty  of  de¬ 
bate,  all  the  rights  of  control  of  interpellation  and  of  amend¬ 
ment,  the  Senate  transformed  into  a  chamber  of  peers,  respon¬ 
sible  ministers,  liberty  of  the  press,  and  the  right  of  public 
meetings — such  was  the  complete  scheme  of  January,  1870. 
The  nation,  it  may  be  said,  is  entirely  mistress  of  her  own 
destinies.  What  use  is  she  going  to  make  of  the  liberty  thus 
largely  conceded  to  her  ?  The  country  wants  peace ;  the 
Chambers,  the  Government  want  peace,  and  yet  the  issue  out 
of  this  situation  will  be  war. 

“  When  M.  Emile  Ollivier  accepted  the  formation  of  a  Min¬ 
istry,  he  laid  before  the  Emperor  his  programme,  in  which  he 
frankly  accepted  the  principle  of  nationalities,  acknowledged 
the  right  of  Germany  to  constitute  herself,  as  might  seem 
good  to  her,  and  manifested  the  most  pacific  intentions.  A 
little  after  the  installation  of  the  Ministry  of  the  2d  January, 
Count  Daru,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  proposed  to  Prus¬ 
sia,  through  the  medium  of  England,  a  general  disarmament. 
To  support  this  demand  by  a  significant  act,  it  was  at  the 
same  time  proposed  to  the  Chambers  to  reduce  the  annual 
contingent  to  10,000  men.  This  latter  measure  was  carried ; 
but  the  proposal  of  disarmament  only  met  with  a  cold  recep¬ 
tion  and  evasive  answer  at  Berlin.  Nevertheless,  it  may  be 
said  that  1870  began  under  the  most  favorable  auspices. 
Nothing  seemed  to  break  the  repose  that  Europe  was  enjoy¬ 
ing,  and  in  France  we  only  thought  of  developing,  under  a 
liberal  rule,  the  country’s  moral  and  material  resources.  But, 
as  has  been  often  said,  1  he  who  sows  the  wind  reaps  the  tem¬ 
pest.’  It  was  not  in  vain  that  for  four  years  the  opposition 
of  every  shade  had  been  making  the  tribune  and  the  press 
resound  with  the  most  bitter  complaints  of  the  increase  of 
Prussian  power.  It  was  not  in  vain  that  it  had  accused  the 
government  of  betraying  the  true  interests  of  France  by  dis¬ 
playing  so  much  indecision  and  longanimity  towards  Ger¬ 
many.  All  these  declamations,  all  these  attacks  had  pene- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


95 


trated  to  the  very  heart  of  the  country  ;  the  army  itself,  which 
always  reflects  the  national  sentiment,  did  not  remain  insensi¬ 
ble  to  the  reproaches  of  weakness  hurled  at  the  Government ; 
it  felt  itself  humiliated  by  the  success  of  Prussia,  as  though 
this  success  had  been  won  from  itself. 

Thus,  when  the  news  of  the  candidateship  of  a  Prussian 
prince  for  the  throne  of  Spain  arrived  in  France,  it  had  the 
effect  of  a  spark  falling  on  inflammable  material.  All  the 
hates,  all  the  jealousies,  all  the  enmities  burst  out  at  once, 
and  this  incident,  which  at  any  other  time  would  have  pro¬ 
voked  diplomatic  notes,  roused  the  whole  country.  The 
Ministry,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  committed  the  grave 
fault  of  offering  at  the  tribune  a  sort  of  defiance  which 
rendered  diplomatic  accommodation  difficult.  Nevertheless, 
when  it  was  announced  that  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern  had 
retired,  for  his  son,  from  the  candidateship  of  the  Spanish 
throne,  we  might  hope  that  peace  would  be  maintained.  But 
public  opinion  was  so  excited  that  all  measures  of  conciliation 
were  repulsed.  The  journals  of  all  shades  urged  war.  The 
provinces  partook  of  the  exultation  of  the  capital.  What¬ 
ever  may  be  said  about  the  reports  sent  by  the  prefects,  and 
of  which  only  mutilated  passages  have  been  put  forth,  the 
greater  part  of  these  high  functionaries  announced  substan¬ 
tially  that  in  the  departments  people’s  minds  were  very  lively, 
and  that  even  honorable  conditions  of  peace  would  scarcely 
satisfy  them.  We  desire  no  other  proof  than  the  following 
despatches,  found  by  the  Prussians  in  the  Chateau  of  St. 
Cloud,  and  published  by  the  North  German  Gazette: 

Perpignan,  July  15. 

The  Prefect  to  the  Minister  of  the  Interior  at  Paris  : — Great  animation 
reigns  here  over  the  last  news.  War  with  Prussia  is  warmly  welcomed 
by  the  whole  population.  The  Republicans  themselves  say  that  in  a 
week  hostilities  will  have  commenced,  and  that  on  the  15th  of  next 
August,  our  soldiers  will  keep  the  Emperor’s  fete  day  in  Berlin.  No 
one  doubts  the  happy  issue  of  the  war. 

Marseilles,  July  1G. 

The  Prefect,  etc. — A  grand  manifestation  is  taking  place.  The  torch¬ 
light  procession  of  15,000  persons  singing  ‘La  Reine  llortense’  and  the 


98 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


‘  Marseillaise.’  Cries  of  ‘ Vive  l’Empereur  !’  ‘A  Bas  la  Prusse  !’  ‘A  Berlin  1’ 
The  crowd  is  full  of  enthusiasm.  No  disorder. 

“  These  sentiments  found  an  expression  almost  as  energeti¬ 
cally  enunciated  in  the  language  of  the  representatives.  The 
wishes  of  the  Corps  Legislatif  were  nowise  doubtful.  There 
was  a  moment  when  the  Ministers  seemed  inclined  to  peace. 
An  order  of  the  day  by  Clement  Duvernois  and  Jerome 
David  (the  last  vice-president  of  the  Chamber)  had  nearly 
thrown  the  Cabinet  out.  This  was  on  July  13.  Two  days 
afterward  the  Chamber  was  called  on  to  pronounce  in  a  more 
direct  manner  on  the  report  of  a  committee  of  which  M. 
Keratry  was  a  member.  The  conclusion  was  unanimous,  war 
by  a  majority  of  247  to  10.  Seven  members  were  absent; 
the  Radical  opposition  were  divided.  To  repeat  M.  Thiers’ 
words,  the  whole  nation  was  carried  away. 

“When  in  his  proclamation  to  the  army,  the  Emperor 
pointed  out  the  difficulties  of  the  enterprise,  so  assured  were 
people  of  success  that  the  Journal  des  Debats  itself  expressed 
an  opinion  that  the  Emperor’s  modesty  was  too  great  in  his 
address  to  his  troops.  Every  soldier  on  the  streets  was  the 
object  of  a  popular  ovation.  In  the  theatres  the  public 
sentiment  was  manifested  by  the  noisiest  demonstrations ;  we 
can  never  forget  the  night  at  the  Opera  when  the  house  rose, 
as  one  man.  in  boxes,  parquette  and  gallery,  and  thundered 
1  La  Marseillaise.’ 

“  Such  was  the  enthusiasm  at  Paris,  that  the  Emperor  could 
not  go  out  without  being  saluted  by  crowds  shouting  ‘Vive 
La  Guerre.’ 

“At  the  moment  of  his  departure  for  the  army,  he  did  not 
want  to  go  through  the  city,  because,  by  all  accounts,  the 
populace  were  inclined  to  abandon  themselves  to  violent 
demonstrations :  they  intended  to  unharness  the  horses  and 
to  carry  him  in  triumph  to  the  railroad  depot.  This  same 
populace,  a  month  later,  was  destroying  the  emblems  of  the 
empire,  and  was  breaking  down  the  statues  of  the  Emperor ! 

“If  we  have  recalled  these  well-known  facts,  it  is  not  to 
exonerate  the  Emperor  from  any  responsibility,  but  only  to 


Font  des  Arts,  showing  the  Louvre  and  the  Tuileries :  Paris. 

Vciit=bcS=‘Mrt3  ntit  tcm  ttouorc  unt  6cn  Xuilcricu :  tlhiria. 


■ 

■  i,  ’  '■  - 


...  M, 


IS 


■ 


- 


' 

:  -/  •  ;  • 


'I: 


r; 


v 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


97 


show  the  public  opinion  of  France.  Sunday,  July  19th,  Na¬ 
poleon  III.  went  from  St.  Cloud  to  the  Tuileries  to  hold  a 
council  that  lasted  several  hours.  In  this  council  the  Em¬ 
peror  and  all  the  ministers  settled,  after  grave  deliberation, 
that  a  declaration  would  be  made  that  would  render  peace 
impossible.  But  in  the  evening  the  ministers  returned  to  St. 
Cloud  and  reconsidered  their  morning’s  determination.  Olli- 
vier  declared  to  the  Emperor  that  if  the  documents  decided 
on  in  the  last  meeting  were  now  published,  such  would  have 
been  the  disappointment  that  the  ministers  would  have  been 
hooted  and  their  carriages  smothered  with  mud. 

“  Of  course,  as  a  constitutional  monarch,  the  Emperor  might 
have  prevented  the  war,  but  at  the  loss  of  his  popularity.  He 
would  have  been  reproached  with  being  humble  to  the  strong 
and  bold  with  the  weak ;  his  conduct  would  have  been  de¬ 
nounced  as  culpable  condescension  to  the  foreigner  —  an  inex¬ 
haustible  theme  for  the  opposition.  We  say  honestly  that  it 
was  the  Emperor’s  duty  to  be  more  wise  than  the  nation,  even 
at  the  cost  of  his  crown.  His  excuse  is  that  he  accepted  the 
contest  with  ardor,  as  a  man  who  is  going  to  fight  a  duel,  be¬ 
cause  honor  demands,  not  considering  his  adversary’s  strength. 
Without  doubt  he  let  himself  be  borne  away  by  the  national 
rush,  by  his  limitless  confidence  in  the  power  of  the  army, 
and  because  dreams  of  military  glory,  even  of  territorial  ag¬ 
grandizement,  smothered  in  his  soul  the  cold  reason  of  the 
statesman. 

“  Without  releasing  the  Emperor  from  the  responsibility  of 
latter  events,  we  must  admit,  as  Jules  Favre  recently  affirmed, 
that  he  made  war  with  his  full  consent  and  in  a  dynastic 
interest.  Who  could  imagine  that  in  two  months  after  a  new 
consecration  by  universal  suffrage,  ‘  seven  millions  of  votes  ’ 
confirming  the  previous  plebiscites,  and  demonstrating  to  the 
most  incredulous  how  deep-reaching  were  the  roots  of  the 
empire,  who  could  imagine  that  Napoleon  III.  would  have 
been  obliged  to  adopt  the  terrible  expedient  of  war  to  sustain 
his  power  and  confirm  his  dynasty  ? 

“  But  war  successful  would  have  added  nothing  to  the  im- 
7 


98 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


perial  establishment ;  unsuccessful,  it  must  compromise  and 
overturn  everything.  The  Emperor,  taking  with  him  the 
elite  of  his  army,  left  behind  him  a  wife  and  child.  No  armed 
force,  no  military  chief,  trusty  and  brave  ;  an  immense  capital 
always  in  agitation,  saturated  with  republican  ideas,  permeated 
by  socialism,  a  prey  to  seven  hundred  journals,  and  with  the 
right  to  hold  meetings  ;  at  the  least  reverse  disorder  and  tu¬ 
mult  were  to  be  expected,  perhaps  revolution.  It  is  quite 
evident  that  war  was,  once  for  all,  in  opposition  to  dynastic 
interests,  and  it  is  not  just  to  say  that  the  Emperor  desired  it 
or  imposed  it  on  the  country. 

“  Besides,  did  not  the  Vice-President  of  National  Defence 
always  praise  ministerial  responsibility  as  a  salutary  and  effi¬ 
cacious  institution  ?  Why  now,  unfaithful  to  his  own  princi¬ 
ples,  does  he  impute  to  the  Emperor  alone,  and  not  to  his 
ministers,  all  the  faults  and  failures  ?  The  truth  is  that  the 
country  cried  for  war,  and  the  Emperor  did  not  resist  the  gen¬ 
eral  enthusiasm. 

“In  conclusion,  let  us  remark  with  what  care  Napoleon 
III.,  whenever  he  spoke  to  the  public,  sought  to  prove  that 
his  line  of  conduct  was  traced  out  by  national  sentiment.  In 
his  proclamation  he  says : 

Frenchmen  :  —  There  are  solemn  moments  in  the  lives  of  people  when 
national  honor  violently  excited  imposes  itself  like  a  resistless  force  and 
takes  into  its  own  hands  the  guidance  of  the  country’s  destiny.  One  of 
these  decisive  hours  has  just  struck  for  France.  Our  remonstrances  have 
gone  forth  against  the  new  demands  of  Prussia.  She  has  eluded  them 
and  followed  disdainful  courses.  Our  country  feels  a  profound  irritation, 
and  a  cry  of  war  resounds  throughout  all  France.  Nothing  is  left  but 
to  trust  our  destiny  to  the  lot  of  arms. 

“  On  the  23d  of  July  he  replied  to  the  Corps  Legislatif,  on 
their  taking  leave  at  the  Tuileries  : 

We  have  done  all  that  depended  on  us  to  avoid  war,  and  I  can  say 
that  the  whole  nation,  with  an  irresistible  rush,  has  dictated  our  reso¬ 
lution. 

“Thus,  then,  accepting  the  responsibility,  the  Emperor  be¬ 
fore  and  since  his  defeat  has  sought  to  make  it  clear  that  he 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


99 


bad  not  launched  the  country  into  a  perilous  enterprise  for 
mean  motives  or  dynastic  interest,  but  was  actively  encour¬ 
aged,  if  not  compelled,  by  the  manifestations  of  public  feeling. 

“The  reader  who  has  followed  this  recital  of  the  principal 
events  of  Napoleon  III.’s  reign  will  have  been  convinced  that 
this  man  who  is  now  a  captive  at  Wilhelmshohe  employed 
eighteen  years  of  undisputed  power  to  make  France  the  most 
flourishing  country  of  Europe,  to  assuage  international  enmi¬ 
ties,  and  to  protect  the  independence  of  foreign  people.  When 
his  personal  efforts  appeared  insufficient  to  realize  all  that  he 
meditated  for  the  general  good,  he  disseized  himself  volun 
tarily  of  authority,  he  called  the  representatives  of  the  nation 
to  take  part  in  the  direction  of  affairs,  and  established  in 
France  a  system  of  the  widest  and  most  complete  liberty. 
And  now,  because  fortune  has  abandoned  him,  is  this  man 
nothing  but  a  tyrant  who  has  of  his  own  motion  plunged  his 
country  into  the  horrors  of  a  merciless  war? 

“We  have  given  the  facts.  Let  posterity  decide.”  * 

Let  us  not  be  misunderstood.  We  are  not  seeking  to 
screen  the  Emperor  Napoleon  from  the  responsibility  for  his 
acts.  We  simply  wish  to  refute  the  assertion  that  the  war 
was  solely  the  fault  of  the  Emperor,  and  to  establish  the  fact 
that  the  whole  French  nation  shared  with  him  the  fault  of 
bringing  on  hostilities.  The  quarrel  of  Germany,  therefore, 
was  not  with  Napoleon  alone,  but  with  France.  That  the  war 
was  begun  upon  a  pretext  insufficient  to  justify  it,  we  frankly 
admit,  but  we  maintain  that  the  Emperor  had  been  forced  by 
his  people  into  such  a  position  that  he  felt  himself  obliged  to 
go  to  war  to  satisfy  them.  Let  us  blame  his  lack  of  firmness, 
let  us  censure  his  terrible  blunder  as  we  may,  but  let  us  not 
hold  him  alone  guilty.  This  is  simple  justice. 


*  We  have  given  this  lengthy  defence  entire,  because  of  its  value  to  the 
reader,  and  because  of  our  desire  to  bring  to  his  notice  every  justification 
offered  by  either  of  the  combatants. 


100 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Review  of  the  condition  of  the  Prussian  army — education  com¬ 
pulsory — THE  PRUSSIAN  MILITARY  SYSTEM — THE  CAREER  OF  A  CON¬ 
SCRIPT — THE  TERM  OF  MILITARY  SERVICE — STRENGTH  OF  THE  ARMY 
— THE  PROVINCIAL  SYSTEM — THE  NEEDLE  GUN— KRUPP’S  CANNON — 
TnE  STAFF  CORPS— HOW  OFFICERS  ARE  TRAINED  IN  PRUSSIA — FIELD 
INSTRUCTION  OF  THE  TROOPS — THE  NEW  TACTICS — DETAILED  STATE¬ 
MENT  OF  THE  ARMY — THE  PRUSSIAN  NAVY — FINANCIAL  CONDITION  OF 
PRUSSIA  AND  GERMANY — THE  FRENCH  MILITARY  SYSTEM— ITS  DEFECTS — 
REORGANIZATION  IN  18G8 — THE  NEW  SYSTEM  EXPLAINED — FAILURE  TO 
FURNISH  SUBSTITUTES— CONDITION  OF  THE  GARDE  MOBILE —INFERIOR¬ 
ITY  TO  THE  PRUSSIAN  SYSTEM — DEFECTIVE  CONDITION  OF  THE  INTEN¬ 
DANCE — LAX  DISCIPLINE  -  THE  CHASSEPOT  RIFLE — THE  FRENCH  ARTIL¬ 
LERY — THE  MITRAILLEUSE — DETAILED  STATEMENT  OF  THE  ARMY — 
THE  FRENCH  NAVY— FINANCIAL  CONDITION  OF  FRANCE 


Q^j^EFORE  entering  upon  the  narrative  of  the  war  let  us 
glance  at  the  military  and  financial  strength  of  Ger¬ 
many  and  France,  as  such  a  view  will  enable  us  to 
comprehend  the  conditions  upon  which  each  entered 
upon  the  struggle. 

The  war  between  Prussia  and  Austria  in  1866  revealed  to 
the  world  the  excellence  of  the  Prussian  military  system, 
which  until  then  had  not  been  understood  in  Europe,  and 
which,  indeed,  the  Prussian  Government  had  endeavored  to 
keep  as  secret  as  possible.  Since  the  formation  of  the  North 
German  Confederation,  Prussia  has  introduced  the  same  sys¬ 
tem  into  the  States  of  the  Confederation  with  perfect  success. 

This  military  system  was  devised  by  Scharnhorst  after  the 
humbling  of  the  monarchy  by  the  First  Napoleon.  It  has 
been  perfected  by  Yon  Moltke  and  Bismarck,  and  is  now  con¬ 
fessedly  the  most  admirable  in  the  world.  We  have  not  the 
space  here  to  relate  the  history  of  the  reforms  in  the  Prussian 
system,  but  must  content  ourselves  with  offering  to  the  reader 
a  brief  account  of  it  as  it  exists  to-day. 


101 


Boulevard  Montmartre:  Paris. 


102 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


In  the  first  place,  education  is  compulsory  in  most  of  the 
German  States,  and  the  men  who  make  up  the  rank  and  file 
of  the  army  are,  with  but  few  exceptions,  possessed  of  at  least 
a  plain  practical  education.  The  men  are  intelligent  and  of  a 
better  grade  intellectually  than  those  of  any  other  European 
army,  and  it  is  upon  their  superior  intelligence  that  the  whole 
system  rests.  The  Prussian  leaders  wisely  appreciate  the 
fact  that  it  is  not  brute  courage  alone  which  makes  a  good 
soldier.  Their  men  are  capable  of  thinking,  and  are  taught 
to  do  so,  and  thus  they  follow  their  colors  from  deliberate 
conviction  as  well  as  from  mere  enthusiasm.  Apart  from  this, 
an  intelligent  army  is  always  easier  managed,  and  indeed 
can  manage  itself  better,  than  a  mass  of  ignorant  men.  War 
is  every  year  becoming  more  an  affair  of  science,  and  the 
day  has  already  come  when  victory  is  as  much  due  to  the 
labors  of  the  schoolmaster,  as  of  the  drill  sergeant* 

After  leaving  school,  and  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  every  young  man  in  Prussia,  unless  physically  dis- 


*  Says  an  English  writer,  “  The  Prussians,  even  more  than  other  sections 
of  the  German  race,  are  an  educated  people.  Children  are  nowhere  permit¬ 
ted  among  them  to  grow  up  in  ignorance  and  savagery.  Each  township  and 
parish  has  its  national  school,  from  attendance  upon  which  no  exemption  is 
permitted,  except  to  children  whose  parents  are  able  to  satisfy  the  proper 
authorities  that  they  are  providing  elsewhere  for  the  elementary  instruction 
of  their  sons  and  daughters.  Now  it  is  at  least  as  much  in  the  habit  of  re¬ 
spect  for  law  and  order  which  the  careful  training  of  children  induces,  as 
from  the  amount  of  intellectual  culture  elaborated  in  these  national  schools, 
that  the  State  in  Prussia  is  the  gainer  from  the  care  which  it  bestows  upon 
the  education  of  its  younger  members.  There  may  be  street  Arabs — we  dare 
say  there  are — in  Berlin  and  other  great  towns,  though  they  elude  the  obser¬ 
vation  of  strangers  ;  but  you  may  search  Prussia  through,  and  you  will  not 
find  in  the  whole  kingdom  as  many  ruffians  living  in  antagonism  to  the  law, 
and  therefore  at  the  beck  and  call  of  every  demagogue  who  thinks  it  worth 
while  to  get  up  a  street  row,  as  swarm,  we  do  not  say  in  all  London,  but 
within  the  liberties  of  the  city  of  Westminster,  or  in  Whitechapel,  or  even  in 
Southwark.  And  as  the  discipline  of  the  school  is  followed  and  improved  by 
the  discipline  of  the  military  service,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  if  the  Ger¬ 
mans  in  general,  and  the  Prussians  in  particular,  prove  to  be,  when  occasion 
arises,  the  most  easily  managed  in  the  face  of  dangers  and  difficulties  of  any 
people  in  the  world.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


103 


qualified,  whatever  his  social  position,  must  hold  himself  in 
readiness  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  army  if  called  upon,  as  a 
private  soldier,  and  to  serve  for  one  or  for  three  years,  as  the 
case  may  be.  Young  men  of  wealth  and  position  are  allowed 
to  serve  only  one  year  in  the  ranks.  They  receive  no  pay 
from  the  Government  during  this  period,  their  arms  alone 
being  furnished  them  at  public  expense;  but  must  provide 
their  uniforms,  horses,  quarters,  and  other  necessities,  at  their 
own  charge.  During  this  year  they  are  masters  of  their  own 
time,  except  when  required  for  military  instruction,  and  are 
not  obliged  to  live  in  barracks,  but  may  pursue  their  studies 
or  occupations  in  their  own  way.  Out  of  this  class  the  offi¬ 
cers  of  the  Landwehr,  or  militia,  are  formed  by  a  process 
which  carries  the  cadet  through  the  intermediate  grades  of 
corporal  and  sergeant  to  an  ensigncy.  The  three  years’  men, 
on  the  other  hand,  take  up  their  quarters  in  barracks,  and 
constitute,  till  the  term  of  their  service  expires,  the  rank  and 
file  of  the  Prussian  regular  army.  When  the  three  years 
are  out,  they  pass  into  the  first  class  of  reserve,  upon  which 
the  first  call  is  made  to  fill  up  the  regiments  to  their  war 
strength  upon  the  outbreak  of  hostilities.  This  class  is  sub¬ 
ject  to  constant  Government  inspection,  and  its  members 
may  be  called  upon  at  any  moment  to  return  to  the  regiments 
in  which  they  originally  served.  After  serving  in  this  re¬ 
serve  four  years,  the  men  pass  to  the  Landwehr,  or  militia, 
of  their  district.  The  term  of  service  in  this  branch  is  five 
years.  The  Landwehr  are  called  up  by  battalions  and  regi¬ 
ments,  and  only  after  war  has  broken  out.  At  the  expiration 
of  this  last  term  of  service,  making  twelve  years  in  all,  the 
men  pass  to  the  Landsturm,  or  third  class  of  reserves.  This 
branch  is  expected  to  garrison  the  fortresses  and  protect  the 
country  in  case  the  Landwehr  should  be  compelled  to  cross 
the  frontier;  but  as  this  has  never  happened  until  the  present 
war,  the  men  of  the  Landsturm  are  usually  allowed  to  pursue 
their  ordinary  occupations  in  quiet.  The  population  of  North 
Germany  is  about  30,000,000  in  round  numbers.  Out  of  this 
100,000  recruits  are  raised  annually  by  conscription,  or  about 


104 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


one  in  every  300  of  the  population.  All  men  who  attain  the 
age  of  conscription  in  any  one  year,  and  are  not  drawn  for 
the  army,  are  exempt  from  military  service,  except  in  case 
of  war.  The  peace  footing  of  the  infantry  is  one  half  of  the 
war  strength,  so  that  on  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  the 
regiments  are  raised  to  double  their  number  during  peace,  by 
recalling  an  equal  number  of  men  from  the  reserve ;  and  each 
reserve  man  so  recalled  returns  not  only  to  the  same  battal¬ 
ion,  but  to  the  very  same  company  in  which  he  served  during 
his  first  enlistment.  The  infantry  company  is  250  strong, 
with  a  captain  and  three  lieutenants ;  the  battalion,  with  one 
major,  is  1000  strong;  and  the  regiment,  under  the  command 
of  the  colonel,  consists  of  three  battalions.  The  cavalry  and 
artillery  are  kept  either  at  or  very  near  their  Avar  strength 
in  time  of  peace.  The  Avhole  Kingdom  of  Prussia  is  divided 
into  provinces,  within  each  of  which  an  army  corps  is  sta¬ 
tioned,  complete  in  all  parts ;  complete  in  its  commissariat  or 
intendance;  complete  in  its  generals  of  division  and  their  staff, 
and  is  presided  over  and  controlled  by  a  General-in-Chief  in 
command  of  the  whole,  with  a  full  and  efficient  staff.  Be¬ 
yond  the  limits  of  its  own  province  the  army  corps  seldom 
moves,  except  in  war.  It  draws  all  its  recruits  from  the  in¬ 
habitants  of  the  province,  just  as  each  particular  regiment  re¬ 
cruits  from  that  particular  town  and  its  neighborhood  in 
which  its  headquarters  are  fixed.  In  like  manner,  the  men 
Avho  have  served  out  their  terms  return  to  their  homes  in  the 
same  province,  whence  they  can  be  recalled  in  case  of  need. 
Everything  needed  by  the  corps,  arms,  munitions,  supplies 
of  all  kinds,  are  stored  in  or  provided  by  the  province,  so  that 
the  army  can  take  the  field  fully  equipped  and  ready 
to  march  immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  the  order  to  mo- 
bolize. 

Such  is  the  system  upon  which  the  German  army  is  orga¬ 
nized.  The  reader  will  see  that  a  more  perfect  organization, 
from  a  purely  military  point  of  view,  could  not  be  designed. 

The  infantry  are  armed  with  an  improved  breech-loading 
rifle,  known  as  the  needle  gun.  This  weapon  is  the  inven- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


105 


tion  of  Mr.  Dreyse,  a  manufacturer  of  arms  at  Sommerda,  who 
spent  over  thirty  years  in  trying  to  construct  a  perfect  breech¬ 
loading  rifle.  The  cartridge  is  inserted  at  the  rear,  and  the 
ignition  is  produced  by  the  intrusion  of  a  needle  into  the  ful 
minate  attached  to  the  cartridge.  The  barrel  is  36.06  inches 
long,  and  is  rifled  with  four  grooves  down  to  the  breech, 
where  the  chamber,  or  bed  for  the  cartridge,  is  smooth  apd  a 
little  larger  than  the  bore.  The  bed  enlarges  slightly  to  the 
rear  so  as  to  admit  the  cartridge  freely,  and  the  lower  part  of 
the  bore  for  a  distance  of  6.17  inches  is  enlarged  so  that  the 
ball  is  gradually  compressed  into  the  grooves.  The  rear  of 
the  barrel  is  conical,  and  is  called  the  mouth-piece.  Over 
this  part  there  is  a  six-sided  cylinder,  which  holds  all  the 
mechanism  of  the  piece.  The  air-chamber,  next  to  the  cylin¬ 
der,  has  the  needle  pipe  screwed  into  its  breech. 

The  gun  is  loaded  in  this  way:  After  it  has  been  brought 
to  a  nearly  horizontal  position,  with  the  butt  resting  on  the 
right  hip,  and  the  left  hand  at  the  lower  band,  and  the  cham¬ 
ber  drawn  back  from  the  mouth-piece,  the  cartridge  is  inserted 
through  the  opening  in  the  cylinder  into  its  place,  the  cham¬ 
ber  again  brought  up  to  the  mouth-piece  by  means  of  the 
handle,  and  turned  to  the  right.  The  locket  is  shoved  up, 
and  the  notch  of  the  main  spring  engages  the  catch  at  the 
inner  rear  end  of  the  chamber.  At  the  same  time  the  middle 
offset  of  the  needle-bolt  is  pressed  against  the  trigger-stop, 
thus  compressing  the  spiral  spring. 

Now  let  the  trigger-stop  be  drawn  down  by  pressure  on 
the  trigger  so  as  to  clear  the  offset  of  the  needle-bolt.  The 
bolt  will  dart  forward  from  the  effect  of  the  spring,  and  will 
strike  the  square  end  of  the  needle-pipe,  which  projects  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  pass  through  the  powder  of  the  charge,  and  inflame 
the  fulminate. 

At  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  new  gun  the  cartridge 
was  altered,  the  sabot  being  enlarged  and  placed  between  the 
powder  and  the  ball. 

The  ball  is  spherio-conical.  The  charge  of  powder  is  56 
grains.  The  weight  of  the  Prussian  needle  gun  is  10.27 


106 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


pounds  to  11.3  pounds.  The  mechanism  can  be  taken  apart 
without  screw-driver,  vice,  etc.  It  can  be  safely  and  easily 
cleaned,  and  the  gun  being  small  is  particularly  adapted  for 
use  in  the  contracted  space  of  loopholes,  on  horseback,  etc. 
The  objections  to  the  Prussian  needle-gun  are  the  danger  of  a 
weakening  of  the  spiral  spring,  and  the  possibility  that  the 
needle  may  not  be  propelled  with  sufficient  force  to  pierce 
the  cartridge.  On  account  of  the  ease  and  rapidity  with 
which  it  is  loaded,  there  is  also  danger  of  a  waste  of  ammuni¬ 
tion,  as  the  soldier,  in  the  heat  of  battle,  will  often  fire  his 
piece  as  fast  as  possible,  even  when  he  knows  the  firing  has 
no  effect.  To  make  the  best  use  of  the  needle-gun,  the  soldier 
requires  special  training.  The  Prussian  army  in  this  respect, 
had  a  decided  advantage  over  their  enemy.  The  war  of  1866 
had  taught  them  thoroughly  the  use  of  their  weapon,  while 
the  French  army  had  never  used  the  Chassepot  in  battle. 

The  cannon  used  by  the  German  army  are  mostly  of  steel, 
breech-loaders,  of  various  sizes,  according  to  the  service  re¬ 
quired  of  them.  They  are  principally  of  one  general  pattern, 
devised  by  Herr  Krupp,  a  Prussian  founder,  by  whom  the 
greater  number  were  made.  The  steel  of  which  they  are 
composed  is  of  the  low  but  malleable  grade  produced  by  the 
Bessemer  and  other  kindred  processes.  They  are  nearly  all 
rifled,  and  possess  a  range  and  accuracy  which  are  very  for¬ 
midable.  They  have  proved  vastly  superior  to  the  French 
guns  during  the  war,  and  it  has  been  a  noticeable  feature  of 
every  French  reverse,  that  both  officers  and  men  have  attri¬ 
buted  their  disasters  in  no  small  degree  to  the  terrible  fire  of 
the  German  artillery.  Frequently,  while  exposed  to  a  severe 
cannonade,  the  French  have  found  it  impossible  even  to  reach 
the  enemj'-’s  position  with  their  best  guns.  The  Germans  use 
the  percussion  shell  almost  altogether,  rarely  firing  solid  shot 
in  battle,  and  utterly  abandoning  the  time  fuze.  An  officer 
of  the  English  artillery  was  told  by  the  chief  of  artillery  of 
the  army  besieging  Verdun,  that  the  Prussians  considered 
time  fuzes  as  “  worthless  and  worse  than  worthless,  because 
from  their  uncertainty  they  give  rise  to  disgust.  In  the  re- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


107 


cent  battles  the  French  at  first  used  them  largely,  and  at 
least  four  out  of  five  shells  fired  with  them  burst  ineffectually, 
until  after  a  short  time  our  men  began  to  despise  them,  and 
the  moral  effect  of  their  artillery  was  in  consequence  greatly 
weakened.  They  are  gradually  falling  into  disuse  among  our 
opponents.”  * 

But  it  was  not  alone  the  intelligence  of  the  men,  the  excel¬ 
lence  of  the  arms,  or  the  perfection  of  the  discipline  of  her 
army,  that  enabled  Germany  to  enter  upon  the  war  with  con¬ 
fidence.  Added  to  all  these  is  a  feature  which  made  her  mili¬ 
tary  force  the  most  perfectly  officered  in  the  world.  This  is 
the  staff  system.  AVithout  a  proper  understanding  of  it, 
the  reader  will  be  unable  to  comprehend  man)’-  of  the  most 
interesting  portions  of  the  war.  The  following  description 
of  it  is  from  the  pen  of  a  prominent  officer  of  the  English 
army :  f 

“  Prussia,  like  France,  has  what  is  called  a  staff  corps  ;  but 
the  two  corps  are  constructed  on  different  principles.  In 
France,  officers  who  join  the  staff  corps  continue  to  serve 
with  it  till  they  become  generals  of  brigade.  In  Prussia,  all 
the  branches  of  the  service  feed  the  staff  corps;  such  officers 
as  exhibit  the  surest  signs  of  talent,  energy,  and  powers  of 
application  being  permitted,  after  mastering  their  regimental 
duties,  to  enter  in  certain  numbers  and  at  certain  fixed  inter¬ 
vals  what  is  called  the  AVAar  Academy.  This  they  do,  not  by 
going  through  a  pass-examination,  and  studying  in  the 
Academy  itself  the  elements  out  of  which  knowledge  in  the 
art  of  war  is  built  up,  but  by  proving  in  one  or  other  of  the 
general  war  schools,  of  which  there  are  seven,  that  they  are 
already  masters  of  these  things,  and  have  the  capacity  of 
taking  in  much  more,  as  well  as  of  applying  it  to  practical 

*  From  Sedan  to  Saarbruck ,  via  Verdun,  Gravelotte,  and  Metz.  By  an  officer 
of  the  royal  artillery.  P.  120. 

f  This  system  of  staff  instruction  is  distinct  from  that  designed  for  the 
education  of  the  line  and  non-commissioned  officers,  and  for  the  artillery  and 
engineers,  to  each  of  which  the  greatest  care  is  given  in  schools  provided  for 
each  branch. 


108 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


purposes.  The  War  Academy  has  been  since  1850  under 
the  special  direction  of  Count  Moltke,  who,  as  chief  of  the 
staff  of  the  Prussian  army,  prescribes  the  course  of  study,  and 
gives  to  it  a  wider  and  more  practical  range  than  is  dreamed 
of  either  with  us,  or  with  France,  or  with  Austria.  Every 
art,  every  science  which  can  in  any  way  bear  upon  the  con¬ 
ditions  of  armies,  receives  due  attention  in  that  school.  Great 
stress  is  also  laid  upon  the  acquisition  of  foreign  languages, 
particularly  of  French,  Italian,  and  English— a  more  than 
tolerable  proficiency  in  which  is  held  essential  to  being  posted 
to  what  is  called  the  higher  staff".  As  to  plan-drawing  and 
surveying,  they  are  carried  to  perfection.  For,  not  content 
with  making  military  surveys  of  some  few  miles  of  country 
around  the  Staff  College,  the  etives  are  sent  miles  and  miles 
away,  and  expected  to  bring  home  with  them  against  a  day 
specified  reports  of  the  condition  of  the  country  traversed,  its 
roads,  its  villages,  its  towns,  its  rivers,  its  plains,  its  hills,  its 
aptitude  for  the  movements  of  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery, 
separately,  and  of  all  three  in  combination — in  a  word,  all  its 
military  features,  not  forgetting  its  capabilities  of  furnishing 
means  of  subsistence  both  to  man  and  horse.  They  who  give 
proof  of  more  than  ordinary  aptitude  in  this  matter  are  then 
sent  into  foreign  countries,  through  which  they  move  with 
their  eyes  and  ears  open,  and  upon  which  they  make,  in  the 
guise  of  travellers’  notes,  memoranda  that  are  of  the  greatest 
possible  use  for  war  purposes.  It  was,  indeed,  from  the  trav¬ 
elling  notes  of  staff  officers  that  the  Prussians  acquired  that 
intimate  acquaintance  with  all  the  lines  of  railway  in  France, 
the  high-roads,  b}r-paths,  tracks  through  forests,  fords,  and 
bridges,  and  the  localities  of  towns  and  villages,  which  so 
much  astonished  the  French  people  in  the  present  campaign, 
and  gave  to  the  invaders  such  a  prodigious  superiority 
over  the  French  armies.  Nor  has  their  attention  in  this  re¬ 
spect  been  given  more  carefully  to  France  than  to  other 
countries.  We  have  been  assured  by  one  of  the  most  distin¬ 
guished  officers  on  the  Prussian  staff  that  at  this  moment  the 
military  capabilities  of  Austria  are  better  known  in  Berlin 


riiiinte-Genevifeve.  (  The  Pantheon.)  :  Paris. 


toy 


110 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


than  in  Vienna;  that  the  Prussians  know  more  of  Italy  than 
the  Italians  themselves ;  and  that  with  every  pathway  in 
England,  every  hedgerow  and  village,  not  to  speak  of  forts, 
arsenals,  and  dockyards,  they  are  familiarly  acquainted.  And 
wc  must  add,  that  of  this  latter  fact  he  gave  us  such  evidence 
as  set  doubt  at  defiance. 

“  The  officers  who  most  establish  a  character  for  themselves 
in  all  these  respects,  having  studied  and  understood  in  theory 
the  mysteries  of  transport  and  supply,  and  further,  given  evi¬ 
dence  that  they  can  handle  the  three  arms,  separately  and.  in 
combination,  are  appointed  to  what  is  called  the  upper  staff. 
They  who  fall  short  or  come  behind  their  comrades,  yet  ex¬ 
hibit  talent  above  the  average,  are  appointed  to  the  lower 
staff.  When  pronounced  qualified,  both  classes  are  passed  on 
to  one  or  other  of  the  several  army  corps  into  which  the 
Prussian  forces  are,  both  in  peace  and  war,  distributed. 
Every  one  of  these  corps,  be  it  remembered,  with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  the  guard— and  the  guard  also,  in  one  sense — looks, 
so  to  speak,  outward.  They  thus  severally  guard  their  own 
portions  of  the  national  frontier,  and  face  a  State  with  which 
the  Government  assumes  that  one  day  or  another  there  may 
be  war.  How  do  the  officers  of  the  upper  staff  fill  up  their 
time  when  allocated  to  corps?  Leaving  the  routine  of  disci¬ 
pline  and  returns  to  the  lower  staff,  who  become  adjutants, 
or,  as  we  should  call  them,  officers  of  their  personal  staff  to 
the  generals  of  division,  and  to  the  corps-commander,  the 
members  of  the  upper  staff  give  themselves  up  to  planning 
campaigns,  both  defensive  and  offensive.  Beginning  with  an 
imaginary  war  of  defence,  they  study  the  country,  from  the 
frontier  backwards,  making  notes  of  the  positions  which  may 
be  taken  up  on  every  road  leading  to  the  capital.  They 
satisfy  themselves  also  as  to  the  supplies  to  be  had — as  to  the 
amount  of  wagons  and  draught  animals  that  may  be  required 
and  procured  on  the  frontier  to  attend  their  corps,  both  col¬ 
lectively  and  in  detachments  ;  in  a  word  they  arrange  in  their 
own  minds,  and  make  notes  of  every  point  which  can  by  pos¬ 
sibility  conduce  to  render  operations  of  retreat  and  of  check 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


Ill 


to  the  enemy  successful.  But  their  labors  do  not  end  there. 
They  travel  through  the  State  that  confronts  them  ;  and  in 
the  same  way,  though  more  leisurely,  and  in  order  not  to 
create  alarm  or  excite  jealousy,  by  short  tours  made  in  suc¬ 
cessive  summers,  they  make  themselves  as  completely  masters 
of  its  military  features  and  capabilities  as  they  are  of  the 
military  features  and  capabilities  of  their  own  province.  Nor 
are  these  gentlemen  suffered  to  grow  old,  and  therefore  care¬ 
less  and  indifferent,  in  this  important  work.  After  serving 
on  the  staff  a  certain  number  of  years,  they  return  to  their 
regiments,  when  their  places  are  taken  by  younger  men,  who 
labor  like  them,  and  not  less  successfully,  to  make  themselves 
accomplished  strategists  and  tacticians.  .  .  . 

“  Again,  the  Prussian  mode  of  exercising  their  troops  in 
manoeuvres  has  taught  them  in  time  of  peace  almost  every¬ 
thing  that  they  can  be  required  both  to  do,  and  to  suffer,  and 

to  provide  against  in  war . Year  by  year,  when  the 

crops  are  gathered  in,  and  comparatively  little  damage  can 
be  done  to  the  fields  by  marching  over  them,  the  weather 
being  yet  mild  and  the  days  not  short,  the  Prussian  Govern¬ 
ment  assembles  in  various  parts  of  the  country  two  complete 
armies,  of  which  the  commands  are  intrusted  to  different 
generals,  and  which  are  expected  to  operate  one  against 
another,  as  if  they  belonged  to  different  nations..  One  army 
is  instructed  to  protect,  say  a  certain  fortress  or  a  town ;  the 
other  is  to  manoeuvre  for  the  occupation  of  it.  Neither  com¬ 
mander  knows  where  his  adversary  is  placed,  but  both  being 
desired  to  take  up  certain  positions,  they  both  receive,  when 
their  troops  are  brought  together,  general  instructions  as  to 
what  they  are  expected  to  do.  The  rival  armies  consist  of 
all  the  three  arms.  They  carry  with  them  everything  that 
would  be  needed  in  real  war;  their  transport  follows  them, 
their  provisions,  medical  stores,  spare  ammunition,  and  what 
not.  No  tents  cumber  them,  for  the  Prussians  always  bivouac, 
both  in  manoeuvres  and  in  actual  warfare ;  and  the  chiefs  on 
both  sides  with  the  staff,  are  left  to  their  own  devices.  These 
two  armies  may  open  the  mock  campaign,  and  generally  do 


112 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


so,  at  a  distance  of  several  days’  march  from  each  other ;  and 
the}7-  are  thus  constrained  to  feel  their  way,  one  acting  on  the 
offensive,  the  other  on  the  defensive,  just  as  if  the  sham  were 
a  reality.  The  campaign  never  lasts  fc  a  shorter  time  than 
a  fortnight — it  sometimes  occupies  three  weeks ;  and  while  it 
goes  on  everything  is  done,  whether  in  moving  or  halting, 
whether  in  searching  the  front  and  flanks  with  patrols,  or  in 
covering  the  place  of  rest  with  outline  pickets,  that  would 
he  done  in  an  enemy’s  presence.  From  such  manoeuvres 
men  and  officers  alike  learn  as  much  as  they  would  do  in 
actual  war.  For  they  cross  rivers  upon  bridges  of  their  own 
construction,  they  occupy  villages,  they  make  sketches  of 
the  terrain  as  they  pass  along,  they  bake  their  bread  and  cook 
as  they  march,  and  at  last  come  to  blows  with  blank  cart¬ 
ridges — some  high  military  authority  giving  to  one  or  the 
other  the  palm  of  victory,  according  to  the  skilfulness  of  his 
dispositions. 

“It  was  in  these  fields  of  mimic  war  that  the  Prussians 
elaborated  that  new  system  of  tactics,  their  application  of 
which  to  real  warfare  gave  them  such  a  decided  superiority 
over  the  French.  They  tried  its  worth  first  in  the  Bohemian 
campaign,  very  much  to  the  surprise  and  scandal  of  strate¬ 
gists  of  the  old  school . 

“  The  Prussian  tactics  are  these.  Instead  of  moving  a  vast 
army — say  of  two  or  three  hundred  thousand  men — -by  two 
or  three,  or  at  the  most,  four  great  roads,  keeping  open  by 
patrols  the  communication  between  the  heads  of  the  several 
columns,  they  spread  out  the  whole  into  as  many  columns  of 
march  as  possible — into  as  many  as  would  enable  them,  were 
the  country  open  and  free  from  obstacles,  to  form  their  line 
of  battle  in  half  an  hour.  It  may  indeed  be  said  that  they 
move  in  order  of  battle,  perfectly  well  aware  that  an  adhe¬ 
rence  to  the  old  rule  of  covering  each  separate  column  of 
march  with  its  own  advanced-guard  and  its  own  flankers 
would  expose  them  at  any  moment  to  be  cut  asunder  by  an 
enemy  falling  upon  them  in  force.  But  the  Prussians  do  not 
adhere  to  this  rule.  They  have  their  advanced-guards  cov- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


113 


ering  every  column,  and  the  flankers  too;  but  in  front  of 
their  advanced-guards,  properly  so  called,  and  far  wide  of 
either  flank,  they  send  out  swarms  of  light  cavalry  well 
mounted,  led  by  intelligent  officers  and  made  up  of  men  all 
of  them  more  or  less  educated,  and  carefully  prepared  in 
peace  for  the  parts  that  will  be  assigned  to  them  in  war. 
These  cover  the  entire  army  as  with  a  zone,  within  which  the 
columns  pursue  their  way  comparatively  at  ease,  well  know¬ 
ing  that  any  such  force  as  would  give  serious  cause  of  alarm 
to  any  one  of  them,  could  not  approach  within  miles  of  their 
front  or  flank  without  due  notice  given  of  the  danger.  Nor 
is  this  all.  These  swarms  of  intelligent  horsemen  find  out 
where  the  enemy  are — not  where  the  main  force  is  exclu¬ 
sively,  but  where  every  detachment  is  stationed,  every  picket 
placed,  every  sentry  and  vedette  planted.  The  intelligence 
thus  acquired  they  carry  back  to  the  head-quarters  of  the 
corps  or  division  to  which  they  belong ;  while  the  enemy, 
who  have  taken  no  such  precautions,  remain  profoundly  igno¬ 
rant,  either  that  their  dispositions  have  been  looked  into,  or 
that  they  are  about  to  be  assailed  where,  perhaps,  they  least 
expected  danger.  Just  observe  how  the  campaign  opened, 
and  judge  from  that  whether  or  no  we  attribute  more  praise 
than  is  due  either  to  the  Prussian  tactics  or  to  their  stra¬ 
tegy- 

“  There  is  no  mystery  in  the  case.  The  Prussian  army  owes 
the  conception  of  this  novel  mode  of  handling  troops,  and  the 
complete  success  which  attended  it,  mainly,  we  might  almost 
say  exclusively,  to  the  admirable  training  of  their  staff.  They 
owe  it,  at  least  in  part,  to  the  circumstance  that  the  effect  of 
the  training  is  felt  throughout  the  whole  army;  because  theirs 
is  not  a  staff  corps  isolated  and  apart,  but  a  body  composed 
of  regimental  officers,  trained,  so  to  speak,  in  successive 
waves,  and  after  their  training  absorbed  again  into  the  ranks- 
Hence  every  regiment  in  the  Prussian  service — cavalry, 
infantry,  and  artillery — has  officers  serving  in  it  who  studied 
and  served  as  officers  of  the  higher  staff;  and  hence,  too, 
there  are  never  wanting  men  qualified,  when  the  occasion 
8 


114 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


arises,  to  take  the  lead  in  carrying  into  execution  the  plans 
of  the  General-in-Chief  down  to  the  most  minute  detail.” 

The  foresight  with  which  this  magnificent  army,  thus  offi¬ 
cered  and  equipped  was  sent  into  the  field,  seems  little  short 
of  marvellous.  Nothing  seems  too  minute  to  escape  their 
attention.  The  men  were  not  only  supplied  with  everything 
needed  in  a  military  point  of  view,  but  maps  of  the  seat  of 
war  were  distributed  among  them,  so  that  they  might  never 
be  at  a  loss  to  know  their  exact  position  in  the  country  in 
which  they  were  operating.  Each  soldier  was  provided  with 
a  ticket,  or  card,  marked  with  his  name,  regiment  and  com¬ 
pany,  which  he  was  compelled  to  wear  on  his  person,  as  a 
means  of  identification  in  case  of  his  being  killed  or  wounded. 
The  supply  system  was  arranged  on  the  most  perfect  plan, 
and  throughout  the  whole  campaign  the  Germans  have  been 
well  fed,  except  in  a  few  cases,  where  no  trains  could  have 
kept  pace  with  the  speed  of  the  army,  and  well  clothed  ;  and 
we  have  yet  to  hear  of  the  first  instance  of  the  German  am¬ 
munition  giving  out,  with  no  more  at  hand,  at  critical  mo¬ 
ments.  The  field  telegraph  system  has  kept  the  headquarters 
in  constant  communication  with  all  parts  of  the  army,  and 
there  has  been  present  always  a  full  corps  of  artisans  with 
ample  materials,  forges,  etc.,  for  the  reconstruction  of  destroyed 
railroads  and  bridges. 

The  forces  of  the  North  German  Confederation  are  as  fol¬ 
lows  : 

Line. — Infantry :  4  Prussian  regiments  of  Foot  Guards,  4  Prussian 
regiments  of  Grenadier  Guards,  1  Prussian  regiment  of  Fusilier  Guards, 
15  regiments  of  Grenadiers  of  the  line,  77  regiments  of  Infantry,  13 
regiments  of  Fusiliers,  4  Hessian  regiments  of  2  battalions  each,  1  Prus¬ 
sian  battalion  of  Chasseurs  of  the  Guard,  1  battalion  Sharpshooters,  16 
battalions  of  Chasseurs  ;  total  Infantry,  118  regiments  and  18  battalions 
— 368  battalions  in  all. 

Cavalry :  10  regiments  Cuirassiers  (including  two  regiments  of  Guards), 
11  regiments  Dragoons  (including  2  regiments  of  Guards),  18  regiments 
Hussars  (including  1  regiment  of  Guards),  21  regiments  Lancers  (Uhla- 
nen),  (including  3  regiments  of  Guards),  6  regiments  Light  Cavalry  (in¬ 
cluding  2  regiments  of  Guards).  Total  Cavalry,  76  regiments. 

Artillery :  1  regiment  of  Field  Artillery  (Guards),  12  regiments  of 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


115 


Field  Artillery,  1  Hessian  division  of  Field  Artillery,  1  regiment  of 
Siege  Artillery  (Festungs-Artillerie),  (Guards),  8  regiments  of  Siege  Ar¬ 
tillery,  4  divisions  of  Siege  Artillery,  1  division  Rocket  Train ;  in  all,  13 
regiments  and  1  division  Field  Artillery,  and  9  regiments  and  1  division 
of  Siege  Artillery. 

Engineers :  1  battalion  of  Pioneers  of  the  Guard,  12'  battalions  of  Pio¬ 
neers,  1  Hessian  company  of  Pioneers. 

Train:  13  battalions  and  1  division  of  Baggage,  Ammunition,  &c., 
Train. 

Landwehr. — 97  regiments  of  Infantry,  two  battalions  each — 194  bat¬ 
talions  ;  12  reserve  battalions — 12  battalions  ;  4  regiments  of  the  Guard, 
three  battalions  each — 12  battalions.  Total,  218  battalions. 

If  we  summarize  the  foregoing,  we  have  the  following  result : 

Field-Army. — Infantry,  394,310  men  ;  Cavalry,  53,528  men  ;  Artillery, 
1,212  pieces. 

Reserve. — Infantry,  145,944  men  ;  Cavalry,  18,991  men ;  Artillery, 
234  pieces. 

Garrison  Troops. — Infantry,  143,924  men ;  Cavalry,  10,208  men ; 
Artillery,  234  pieces. 

In  the  above  computation  are  not  reckoned  the  armies  of  the  allied 
South  German  States,  which  now  follow : 

Bavaria. — 16  regiments  of  Infantry  of  3  battalions  each  ;  10  battal¬ 
ions  Chasseurs ;  10  regiments  of  Cavalry ;  2  brigades  of  Artillery ; 
which  give  69,064  men  in  Field  troops,  25,757  men  reserve,  and  22,614 
Garrison  troops;  making,  in  all,  117,435  men  and  240  guns. 

Wurtemberg. — 8  regiments  of  Infantry  of  2  battalions  each  ;  2  battal¬ 
ions  of  Chasseurs ;  4  regiments  of  Cavalry ;  2  regiments  of  Artillery ; 
which  give,  in  Field  troops,  22,076  men;  Reserve,  6,540;  Garrison 
troops,  5,064;  making,  in  all,  34,680  men  and  66  guns. 

Baden. — 6  regiments  of  Infantry  of  3  battalions  each  ;  3  regiments  of 
Cavalry ;  3  Field  divisions  of  Artillery ;  giving  16,656  Field  troops  ; 
3,995  Reserve,  and  9,640  Garrison  troops ;  making,  in  all,  30,291  men 
and  64  guns. 

Thus  the  auxiliary  troops  which  the  three  South  German  States 
would  bring  to  the  aid  of  the  North  German  Confederation,  amount  to 
169,802  men,  and  370  guns. 

The  aggregates  are :  Field  Army,  555,634  men,  and  1,584  guns ;  Re¬ 
serves  {Landwehr),  201,207  men,  and  234  field-pieces  ;  Garrison  Troops, 
192,450  men,  and  234  pieces  of  artillery.  Grand  total,  949,291  men  and 
2,052  guns. 

The  Prussian  Navy  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Its  vessels  are 
well  constructed,  and  among  the  finest  and  most  powerful  of 
their  class. 


116 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Number.  Guns, 

Iron  clads  . .  6  TO 

Frigates  and  corvettes .  9  202 

Gunboats .  23  54 

Yachts .  1  2 

Paddle  corvettes .  3  15 

Sailing  vessels .  59  315 

Total . 101  658 


The  steam  fleet  had  an  aggregate  of  7,020  horse  power. 
It  was  not  expected  that  Prussia  would  make  any  effort  to 
conduct  the  war  on  the  ocean,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the 
French  fleet  would  hermetically  seal  the  German  ports. 

Financially,  Germany  was  in  good  condition  for  the  war. 
The  revenue  and  expenditure  of  the  North  German  Con 
federation  for  Federal  purposes  is  small.  In  April,  1869,  the 
Federal  Diet  voted  a  budget  of  $56,000,000  for  Federal  pur¬ 
poses.  Of  this  sum  Prussia  was  to  contribute  $39,000,000, 
and  the  other  States  of  the  Confederation  the  rest.  The  total 
expenditure  for  the  year  1869  was  calculated  at  72,734,601 
thalers,  or  about  $54,550,950,  of  which  the  ordinary  and 
extraordinary  disbursements  were  as  follows : 


For  the  Federal  Chancellery,  etc .  $145,435 

For  Consulates .  206,738 

For  the  Federal  Army .  49,755,206 

For  the  Federal  Navy .  1,401,734 

Extraordinary  Expenditure. 

For  the  Federal  Chancellery .  $112,500 

For  the  General  Post  Administration .  21,000 

For  Telegraphs .  242,085 

For  the  Federal  Navy .  2,662,500 


In  1869  the  revenue  of  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia  was 
$125,652,370,  and  the  expenditure  the  same.  Since  1865 
the  revenue  has  been  almost  stationary,  and  there  have  been 
no  annual  deficits — something  of  which  no  other  State  in 
Europe  can  boast.  This  revenue,  in  1869,  was  raised  to  the 
extent  of  $31,500,000,  from  direct  and  indirect  taxes,  to  the 
amount  of  $14,180,443,  which  includes  the  share  of  the 
Zollverein  customs. 

The  State  railroads,  mines,  forges,  and  other  Government 
monopolies  yielded  the  greater  part  of  the  balance.  The 
expenditures  for  1869  were  as  follows: 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


117 


Current  Expenditure. 


Thalers. 

Ministry  of  Finance .  17,617,117 

Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Public 

Works .  41,603,775 

Ministry  of  State .  73,256 


Total  current  expenditure .  59,294,148 

Administrative  Expenditure. 

Ministry  of  Finance .  32,026,658 

Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Public 

Works .  9,018,874 

Ministry  of  Justice .  15,943,780 

Ministry  of  the  Interior .  8,242,488 

Ministry  of  Agriculture .  2,283,648 

Ministry  of  Public  Instruction  and 

Ecclesiastical  Affairs .  6,222,004 

Ministry  of  State .  394,659 

Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs .  914,630 

Charges  for  the  Hohenzollern  territory  220,628 


Total  administrative  expenditure. . .  75,267,369 


Charges  on  Consolidated  Fund. 


Addition  to  the  “  Krondotation  ”  of  the 


King . 

1,500,000 

Interest  on  Public  Debt,  including 

railway  debt . 

16,973,637 

Sinking  fund  of  debt . 

8,178,433 

Annuities . 

429,753 

Chamber  of  Lords . 

40,910 

Chamber  of  Deputies . 

243,000 

Miscellaneous . 

122,807 

Total  charges  on  Consolidated  Fund. 

27.488,540 

Total  ordinary  expenditure . 

162,050,057  = 

Extraordinary  expenditure . 

5,486,437  = 

$127,537,543 

4,114,828 


167,536,494  =  $131,652,371 
The  public  debt  of  Prussia  is  small.  The  total  debt  of  the 
Kingdom,  exclusive  of  the  liabilities  incurred  by  the  annexed 
provinces  for  the  establishment  of  State  railroads,  amounts  to 
$188,497,520. 

France,  since  the  establishment  of  the  second  Empire,  had 
held  the  first  place  in  Europe.  Her  army  was  considered  by 
the  world  the  most  superb  in  existence.  It  had  fought  suc¬ 
cessfully  two  great  European  wars,  had  conquered  Mexico, 
and  had  seen  hard  service  in  Algeria.  It  remained  for  the 
present  war,  however  to  show  grave  defects  in  the  French 


118 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


system,  and  to  deal  it  sucli  fatal  blows  that  it  will  probably 
be  reckoned  hereafter  as  a  thing  of  the  past. 

Until  1793,  the  French  army  was  officered  exclusively  by 
nobles,  commissions  being  bought  and  sold.  Enlistments 
were  voluntary.  The  Revolution  republicanized  both  the 
nation  and  the  army,  merit  was  recognized  as  the  sole  quali¬ 
fication  for  an  officer’s  commission,  and  every  conscript  car¬ 
ried  a  Marshal’s  baton  in  his  knapsack.  This  radical  change 
created  an  enthusiasm  among  the  rank  and  file  which  proved 
irrestible  under  the  First  Napoleon.  Since  the  Restoration, 
the  army  has  been  officered  on  a  mixed  system  of  promotion 
from  the  ranks  and  of  direct  appointments  from  the  military 
schools,  the  former  class  constituting  one-third  of  the  whole. 
Promotion  is  determined  by  selection,  or  nominally  by  merit. 
The  conscription,  which  places  the  whole  population  at  the 
service  of  the  State  as  each  generation  completes  its  twentieth 
year,  was  established  in  France  by  law  in  1798.  In  1818,  the 
annual  number  of  conscripts  was  fixed  at  40,000.  Under 
Louis  Philippe  this  number  was  raised  to  80,000.  Under  the 
Second  Empire  it  has  never  been  less  than  100,000  men,  and 
during  the  Crimean  and  Italian  wars  it  was  140,000.  A  sys¬ 
tem  of  exemptions,  by  which  drafted  men  could  by  the  pay¬ 
ment  of  a  sum  of  money  commute  their  personal  service,  did 
much  to  make  the  conscription  ineffective,  so  that  France  was 
very  far  from  having  in  actual  fact  the  army  represented  on 
paper.  In  the  Crimean  and  Italian  wars  the  country  could 
only  place  and  maintain  in  the  field  one  army,  not  much  ex¬ 
ceeding  one-fourth  of  her  effective  strength  on  paper.  The 
system  of  exemptions  was  accordingly  abandoned  in  1868, 
and  since  that  time  drafted  men  have  been  obliged  by  law 
either  to  serve  in  person  or  to  furnish  an  able-bodied  substi¬ 
tute.  This  law,  however,  was  not  rigidly  enforced,  and  the 
system  of  exemptions  by  a  fine  to  the  State  was  in  reality 
continued.  The  theory,  indeed,  was  that  the  fines  thus  levied 
were  to  be  applied  to  increasing  the  bounties  of  old  soldiers 
reenlisting  for  farther  service ;  but  the  war  disclosed  the  fact 
that  these  sums  were  retained  in  the  military  chest,  and  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


119 


ranks  remained  unfilled.  Of  the  288,000  men  who  should 
have  been  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  24  active  divisions  when 
the  war  broke  out,  not  much  more  than  200,000  were  actually 
with  the  colors. 

Warned  by  the  superior  excellence  of  the  Prussian  army, 
and  the  brilliant  success  won  by  it  in  the  war  of  1866,  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  resolved  upon  the  reorganization  of  his 
army.  This  task  was  entrusted  to  Marshal  Neil,  the  accom¬ 
plished  Minister  of  War.  The  law  for  the  necessary  changes 
was  carried  through  the  Chambers,  in  the  face  of  considerable 
opposition  from  the  Republicans,  in  February  1868.  Unfor¬ 
tunately  for  France,  Marshal  Neil  died  in  August  1869,  and 
the  war  of  1870  broke  out,  before  his  reforms  were  completed. 

The  reorganization  made  every  able-bodied  male  over  21 
subject  to  the  conscription.  The  army  was  to  consist  of  the 
regular  army  and  the  army  of  the  reserve,  the  strength  of 
each  was  to  be  400,000  men.  Besides  there  was  to  be  a 
standing  “National  Garde  Mobile,”  to  be  organized  to  the 
number  of  about  400,000  men,  destined  as  an  auxiliary  to  the 
active  army  in  the  defence  of  the  fortresses,  coasts,  and  fron¬ 
tiers  of  the  Empire.  The  total  strength  of  the  military  force 
was,  therefore,  to  be  1,200,000  men.  Every  man  drawn  for 
conscription  was  to  have  the  right  of  buying  a  substitute. 
The  right  to  furnish  substitutes  was  to  be  a  Government  mon¬ 
opoly,  the  Government  to  exert  itself  to  encourage  the  reen¬ 
listment  of  old  soldiers,  and  thus  to  give  the  standing  army  a 
nucleus  of  experienced  troops. 

The  number  of  recruits  to  be  raised  annually  by  the  con¬ 
scription  was  100,000,  or  about  one  in  every  370  of  the  popu¬ 
lation.  The  period  of  military  service  was  fixed  at  nine 
years,  of  which  five  were  to  be  passed  with  the  regimental 
colors  and  the  remaining  four  years  in  a  general  reserve, 
called  the  second  reserve.  There  was  to  be  no  territorial  con¬ 
nection  between  the  army  and  any  particular  districts ;  also 
none  between  the  regular  regiments  and  the  reserve  men  who 
have  passed  through  them.  All  males,  attaining  the  age  of 
twenty-one  in  a  given  year  and  not  included  among  the 


120 


HISTORY  OF  T11E  LATE  WAR 


100,000  drawn  for  the  army,  were  to  be  enrolled  in  the  Garde 
National  Mobile,  in  which  they  were  to  serve  for  five  years. 
These  were  to  remain  at  their  homes,  and  the  only  military 
duty  required  of  them  by  the  law  in  ordinary  times,  was 
attendance  upon  fifteen  drills  in  each  year,  it  being  provided 
that  no  drill  should  take  them  from  their  homes  for  more 
than  one  night.*  In  time  of  war  the  Garde  Mobile  were  to 
be  employed  in  garrison  duty,  in  guarding  communications, 
or  in  furnishing  reenforcements  to  the  regular  army  in  the 
field. 

Of  the  100,000  recruits  to  be  drawn  yearly  for  the  army, 
70,000  were  to  be  drafted  at  once  into  the  ranks,  while  the 
remaining  30, (U0  were  to  be  enrolled  in  the  first  reserve ,  in 
which  they  were  to  continue  for  nine  years.  No  military 
service  was  to  be  exacted  of  the  first  reserve  men  during 
peace,  except  that  they  were  to  be  drilled  for  five  months  in 
each  of  the  first  two  years.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  nine 
years  they  were  to  be  discharged.  Upon  the  outbreak  of 
war  the  regiments  of  the  army  in  the  field  were  to  be  raised  to 
double  their  peace  strength  by  drafts  upon  the  first  reserve. 
The  70,000  men  drafted  into  the  ranks,  after  completing  five 
years  of  service  with  the  colors,  were  to  be  enrolled  in  the 
second  reserve  and  continue  therein  for  four  years,  after 
which  they  were  to  be  finally  discharged. 

By  this  arrangement,  says  a  recent  writer,  “  France  can 
in  theory  furnish  a  larger  number  of  men  at  the  outset  of  a 
war,  in  proportion  to  population,  than  the  Prussians;  for 
whereas  in  North  Germany  all  men  attaining  the  military  age 
in  any  one  year,  who  may  not  be  drawn  for  the  army,  are  exempt 
from  military  service ;  in  France  all  men  attaining  that  age 
and  not  drawn  in  the  conscription  of  the  year,  are  enrolled  in 
the  Garde  Mobile — a  mere  nominal  advantage,  however,  since 
the  latter  force  is  totally  untrained.  Orie  defect  of  the  French 
system  seems  to  be  that  the  men  of  the  first  reserve ,  whoare  first 

taken  to  complete  regiments  to  their  war  strength,  have  under- 

- • - 

*  This  part  of  the  law  was  never  enforced,  so  that  the  present  war  found 

the  Garde  Mobile  entirely  untrained. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


121 


Rue  de  la  Paix  :  Paris. 


gone  no  military  training  worth  speaking  of,  while  the  men 
of  the  second  reserve  are  disciplined  soldiers,  who  have  passed 
five  years  in  regimental  duty.  Another  defect  as  compared 
with  the  Prussian  system  is,  that  while  the  French  conscript 
is  relieved  from  all  military  service  at  the  end  of  nine  years, 
the  Prussian  Government  never  relinquishes  its  hold  on  a 
man  once  drawn  for  the  army,  but  passes  him  from  regimen¬ 
tal  service  first  into  the  reserve,  next  into  the  Landwehr, 
finally  into  the  Landsturm. 

“  The  tendency  of  the  military  education  of  the  French 
army  has  been  to  give  it  an  overweening  idea  of  its  own 
superiority.  With  respect  to  Prussia,  as  we  learn  from  Gene¬ 
ral  Trochu.  the  doctrine  was  taught  officially  in  the  military 
schools  that  the  military  constitution  of  that  country,  which 
created  only  young  soldiers,  was  weak,  and  that  the  Prussian 
army  would  be  found  deficient  in  steadiness  in  the  day  of 
battle.  This  belief  was  shared  up  to  1866  by  the  public  and 
by  the  army  at  large.  Since  the  day  of  Sadowa,  French 
military  men  have  come  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  such 
teaching.”  Since  then  the  French  officers  have  acknowledged 
the  necessity  of  meeting  the  Prussian  reforms  by  similar 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


3  09 

d.£J  —J 

changes  in  their  own  system.  Marshal  Neil,  however,  did 
not  live  long  enough  to  carry  out  his  reforms  thoroughly,  and 
the  Emperor,  an  invalid  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time, 
was  obliged  to  trust  them  to  a  minister  who  ultimately  proved 
himself  unfit  for  the  task. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  admirable  sytem  of  supply  in  opera¬ 
tion  in  the  German  army.  In  the  French  service  this  de¬ 
partment  has  long  been  one  of  its  most  serious  defects.  The 
Intendance,  as  it  is  called,  is  entrusted  to  superannuated  gene¬ 
rals,  and  all  the  subordinate  officials  in  this  department  are 
chosen  from  the  officers  or  sub-officers  of  the  army.  It  fol¬ 
lows,  therefore,  that  the  Intendance  is  entrusted  to  men  who 
are  utterly  ignorant  of  the  operations  of  trade  by  which  alone 
supply  can  adjust  itself  to  demand.  During  the  Crimean  war, 
the  Intendance  proved  such  an  utter  failure,  that  the  Govern¬ 
ment  was  obliged  to  entrust  the  task  of  feeding  the  army  to  a 
commercial  house  in  Marseilles,  which  kept  an  abundance  of 
the  best  provisions  constantly  on  hand.  During  the  Italian 
war,  the  troops  were  often  without  bread  in  one  of  the  best 
grain  growing  countries  in  the  world.  Biscuits  were  equally 
scarce.  At  the  outset  of  the  present  war,  the  French  troops 
on  the  frontier  were  half  starved  in  their  own  country,  and 
with  their  railroads  in  perfect  operation.  Thus  several  weeks 
were  lost. 

Another  defect  in  the  French  system  was  the  maintenance 
of  corps  d' elite  at  the  expense  of  the  infantry  of  the  line. 
“  Of  the  100,000  conscripts  poured  yearly  into  the  ranks, 
the  strongest,  most  active  and  intelligent,  are  taken  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  order :  first  for  the  artillery,  next  for  the  cavalry,  next 
for  the  chasseurs-a-pied  or  light  infantry,  and  the  Imperial 
Guard.  The  residuum  compose  the  line  regiments,  which 
ought  to  be  the  backbone  of  an  army  in  battle.  By  this  unwise 
measure,  the  espi'it  de  corps  of  the  favored  few  is  greatly  ele¬ 
vated,  while  that  of  the  many  is  proportionately  depressed  ; 
and  it  has  always  been  the  case  in  late  years,  that  the  first 
have  had  to  atone  by  enormous  losses  in  battle  for  the  defi¬ 
ciencies  of  the  last.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


123 


Of  late  years  the  discipline  of  the  French  army  has  been 
terribly  relaxed,  to  what  extent  will  be  plainly  evident  when 
we  come  to  consider  the  events  of  the  war.  Another  defect 
was  the  deficient  education  of  the  men,  at  least  thirty  per 
cent,  of  whom  could  neither  read  nor  write.  The  staff  system, 
so  admirable  in  the  Prussian  service,  is  of  less  use  in  the 
French  army.  The  staff  corps  is  here  isolated  from  the  rest 
of  the  army.  Regimental  officers  are  trained  simply  in  the 
military  schools,  and  the  advantage  of  having  scattered 
through  the  various  branches  of  the  service  officers  tho 
roughly  instructed  in  every  department  of  the  profession  of 
arms  is  lost. 

The  fire-arm  used  by  the  French  army  is  the  celebrated 
Chassepot  rifle,  which  is  probably  the  most  efficient  weapon 
ever  put  into  the  hands  of  infantry.  It  resembles  the  Prussian 
needle-gun,  but  possesses  several  improvements.  The  success 
of  the  needle-gun  in  the  war  of  1866,  opened  the  eyes  of  the 
French  to  the  necessity  of  providing  an  equally  efficient,  if 
not  a  better  weapon,  for  their  army.  The  result  was  the  in 
vention  by  M.  Chassepot,  after  long  and  careful  study,  having 
the  Prussian  gun  to  aid  him  and  to  improve  upon.  Aftei 
the  new  rifle  had  been  tested  over  and  over  again,  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  Emperor  was  invited  to  it,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  was  convinced  of  its  superiority,  and  ordered  its 
adoption  in  the  army. 

One  of  the  principal  improvements  which  the  Chassepot 
has  over  the  needle-gun  of  Prussia  is,  that  its  movement  is 
simpler,  and  instead  of  being  tightly  enclosed  in  the  breech 
by  a  cylinder,  it  is  almost  fully  exposed,  and  the  employment 
of  India  rubber  as  an  obturator.  It  is  argued  that  the  Prus¬ 
sian  gun,  after  it  has  been  discharged  several  times  in  rapid 
succession,  becomes  hot  and  damp  in  the  chamber,  owing  to 
the  inability  of  the  gas  which  comes  back  after  the  explosion 
of  the  cartridge  to  escape.  The  inside  soon  becomes  dirty, 
and  the  soldier  is  required  to  take  his  piece  apart  and  clean 
it.  The  French  gun  is  always  open,  and  while  there  is  no 
gas  shut  up  in  a  chamber  to  corrode  the  metal,  it  can  in  a 


124 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


moment  be  cleansed  from  dirt  or  rust,  and  the  soldier  is 
always  able  to  quickly  discover  any  accident  to  his  rifle. 

The  mechanism  of  the  gun  is  simple.  An  opening  in  the 
right  hand  side  of  the  chamber  admits  the  cartridge.  This 
chamber  is  filled  by  a  moveable  cylinder,  worked  backward 
or  forward  by  a  handle.  The  cylinder  surrounds  the  shaft, 
and  contains  the  spring  by  which  the  needle  is  propelled. 
The  rear  end  of  the  shaft  is  made  in  the  shape  of  a  handle, 
and  the  spring  is  compressed  by  drawing  back  this  handle. 
The  shaft  also  serves  to  protect  the  needle,  which  is  sur¬ 
rounded  by  the  same,  and  is  forced  out  of  the  front  end  of 
the  shaft  as  soon  as  the  trigger  is  pulled.  In  loading,  the 
cylinder  is  drawn  back,  and  the  cartridge  inserted ;  the  knob 
is  then  pressed  forward,  and  laid  over  to  the  right  side.  The 
handle  used  in  cocking  is  then  pushed  up  against  the  knob. 
By  the  first  of  these  two  movements  the  cylinder  is  thrown 
forward,  thereby  pressing  the  cartridge  into  the  breech  ;  the 
second  movement  secures  the  cylinder  so  that  it  can  be 
thrown  back  by  the  force  of  the  explosion.  The  pulling  the 
trigger  releases  the  spiral  spring,  which  then  forces  the  needle 
through  the  percussion  wafer.  The  projectile  used  is  a  rather 
long  slug,  with  the  end  rounded  and  pointed  like  the  Ameri¬ 
can  rifle  ball.  The  charge,  which  is  attached  to  it  in  a  paper 
covering,  is  composed  of  a  peculiar  powder,  specially  manu¬ 
factured  for  the  purpose.  The  distance  at  which  this  gun 
may  be  used  with  certainty  is  very  great — over  1000  metres, 
or  more  than  3,280  English  feet. 

It  was  believed,  at  the  outset  of  the  war,  that  the  Chasse- 
pot  was  vastly  superior  to  the  needle-gun,  as  doubtless  it 
would  have  been  in  the  hands  of  troops  possessed  of  sufficient 
familiarity  with  it,  and  sufficient  steadiness  to  use  it  to  ad¬ 
vantage.*  But  the  superior  coolness  and  intelligence  of  the 


*  An  officer  of  the  English  Artillery  questioned  the  Prussian  officers  be¬ 
sieging  Verdun  upon  this  point.  He  says  :  “  It  was  asserted  (in  the  course 
of  the  conversation)  that  the  Prussians,  on  the  other  hand,  possessed  great 
rallying  powers,  and  were  very  silent  in  fighting,  either  in  attack  or  defence; 
at  most  giving  vent  to  three  distinct  ‘Ilourras  ’  before  closing  with  the  enemy. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


125 


Germans,  added  to  their  perfect  familiarity  with  their  weapon, 
more  than  counterbalanced  their  disadvantages. 

The  cannon  used  in  the  French  army  are  of  bronze,  and 
mostly  muzzle  loaders.  They  are  of  the  pattern  known  as 
the  Napoleon  gun — the  invention  of  the  Emperor  Napo¬ 
leon  III. 

A  new  weapon  was  introduced  into  this  war  by  the  French. 
This  was  the  now  famous  mitrailleuse ,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  the  milrailleur.  This  weapon  had  never  received  any 
practical  test  before,  but  was  expected  by  its  possessors  to 
accomplish  much  more  than  it  did.  The  reader  must  imagine 
a  many-barreled  gun,  thirty-seven  barrels  all  laid  together 
like  a  faggot  of  sticks,  and  soldered  fast  in  that  position 
They  are  open  at  both  ends,  and  behind  is  a  wrought  iron 
frame  work  to  support  the  breech-loading  apparatus.  A 
breech-block,  containing  a  separate  spiral  spring  and  steel 
piston  for  each  barrel,  slides  backwards  and  forwards  behind 
the  barrels,  worked  by  a  lever.  When  the  breech-block  is 
drawn  back,  there  is  space  sufficient  between  it  and  the  bar¬ 
rels  to  slip  down  vertically  a  plate  pierced  with  holes  contain¬ 
ing  cartridges,  one  for  each  barrel.  Then  the  breech-block 
is  pressed  forward  by  means  of  the  lever,  and  this  action  both 
closes  fast  the  back  of  all  the  barrels  and  compresses  the  spi¬ 
ral  springs,  so  that  they  are  ready  to  thrust  their  pistons  for¬ 
ward  suddenly  against  their  corresponding  cartridges  and  so 
ignite  them  but  for  a  certain  hindrance.  This  hindrance  is 
a  thin  steel  plate  in  front  of  the  pistons,  but  it  is  moveable 
out  of  the  way  by  the  action  of  a  handle.  As  the  handle  is 
turned  fast  or  slow,  the  plate  slides  out  of  the  way  quickly 
or  slowly  in  proportion,  and  permits  one  piston  after  another 

The  great  drawback  they  had  to  contend  with  was  the  inferiority  of  the  needle-gun 
to  the  Chassepot.  The  former  was  said  to  be  effective  at  1000  yards  at  most,  while 
men  began  to  drop  from  the  effects  of  the  latter  at  a  distance  even  of  1800  yards ; 
though  at  such  a  range  the  French  could  only  fire  at  haphazard  into  the  mass,  and 
the  Prussians  were  obliged  to  advance  for  800  yards  under  fire  without  returning  a 
shot — a  trial  so  great  that  they  longed  eagerly  for  the  possession  of  the  Chassepots.” 
— From  Sedan  to  Saarbruck,  via  Verdun,  Gravelotte  and  Metz.  By  an  Officer  of 
the  Royal  Artillery.  Pp.  126,  127. 


126 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


to  strike  and  discharge  its  cartridge  at  intervals  of  any  dura¬ 
tion  ;  or,  by  rapid  turning  of  the  handle,  all  the  pistons  strike 
their  cartridges  so  rapidly  that  the  thirty-seven  barrels  are 
discharged  almost  simultaneously — as  nearly  so  as  the  rifles 
of  a  company  of  infantry  ordered  to  fire  a  volley.  The  bar¬ 
rels  being  practically  parallel,  the  bullets  fly  very  closely, 
and  great  destruction  must  ensue  if  the  aim  be  true.  The 
mitrailleuse  is  mounted  on  wheels  somewhat  like  the  carriage 
of  a  boat  howitzer,  and  can  be  easily  worked  by  two  men.  It 
was  not  expected  to  take  the  place  of  field  artillery,  but  was 
designed  to  occupy  a  middle  place  between  the  artillery  and 
the  infantry.  It  is  capable  of  discharging  370  cartridges  per 
minute,  and  within  the  range  of  a  mile  its  fire  is  very  de¬ 
structive. 

The  French  army  at  the  beginning  of  the  summer  of  1870 
was  supposed  to  be  constituted  as  follows : 

Peace  Footing. 

Three  regiments  of  Imperial  Grenadier  Guards  ;  4  regiments  of  Volti- 
geurs  ;  1 00  regiments  of  Infantry  of  the  line ;  7  regiments  of  Chasseurs  ;  4 
regiments  of  Zouaves  ;  1  regiment  of  African  light  Infantry  ;  1  regiment  of 
Foreign  Legion  ;  3  regiments  of  Tirailleurs  of  Algeria  ;  67  regiments  of 
Cavalry;  18  regiments  of  Artillery;  2  regiments  of  Artificers;  3  regi¬ 
ments  of  Train  ;  2  regiments  of  Armorers,  Gunmakers,  &c. 

The  summary  is  as  follows : 

Peace  Footing.  War  Footing. 


Staff .  1,845  men  1,914  men 

Gendarmes .  24,548  “  25,688  “ 

Infantry....  . 265,397  “  515,035  “ 

Cavalry .  60,641  “  100,221  “ 

Artillery .  38,496  “  66,132.  “ 

Engineers .  8,000  “  15,443  “ 

Other  troops .  15,705  “  33,365  “ 


Total . 414,632  “  757,798 


In  addition  to  these  were  the  Garde  Mobile,  supposed  to 
number  400,000  men.  The  artillery  consisted  of  125  batteries. 

We  shall  soon  see  how  much  of  this  force  was  simply  on 
paper.  That  it  was  as  efficient  as  it  was,  was  due  mainly  to 
Marshal  Neil,  first,  and  to  the  Emperor.  The  Marshal  ha- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


127 


hard  work  to  carry  his  reforms  in  the  face  of  the  opposition 
of  the  very  men  who,  after  Sedan,  denounced  the  Emperor 
for  his  neglect  of  the  army ;  but,  as  we  have  said,  he  died  be¬ 
fore  his  measures  could  be  fairly  adopted  in  the  service,  and 
was  succeeded  by  a  War  minister  who  had  neither  his  genius, 
foresight,  independence,  nor  firmness. 

The  French  navy,  of  which  good  service  was  expected  at 
the  outset,  was  next  to  that  of  Great  Britain,  the  finest  and 
most  powerful  in  the  world.  In  January  1870,  it  consisted 
of  74,661  officers  and  men.  There  were  2  admirals,  6  active 
vice-admirals,  and  30  active  counter-admirals.  The  fleet  was 
composed  as  follows : 

No.  of  Vessels.  Gcns. 


Screw  Steamers,  iron-clad .  55  1,032 

Screw  Steamers,  non-iron-clad . 233  2,618 

Wheel  Steamers .  51  116 

Sailing  Vessels . 100  914 


Total . 439  4,680 


The  total  revenue  of  the  Empire  in  1869  was  $425,744,860. 
This  sum  was  raised  by  custom  duties  and  an  elaborate  sys¬ 
tem  of  inland  revenue.  It  was  distributed  among  these  vari¬ 
ous  sources  as  follows : 


Direct  taxes . $65,903,732 

Registration  duties  and  stamps .  86,789,200 

Customs  and  salt  duties .  20,724,600 

Departmental  and  Communal  taxes .  45,649,166 

Wine  and  spirit  duties .  46,943,200 

Tobacco  monopoly .  49,531,600 


The  estimated  expenditures  for  the  same  period  were 
$440,668,130,  and  were  distributed  as  follows: 

Interests  on  the  funded  and  floating  debt.  .$74,449,153 


Ministry  of  the  Interior .  40,049,587 

Ministry  of  War .  74,172,155 

Ministry  of  Finance . 23,889,565 

Ministry  of  Marine  and  Colonies .  32,267,684 

Collection  of  Revenue .  46,855,022 


The  public  debt  of  France  was  in  1853  $1,103,238,940.  In 
1868  it  had  grown  to  $2,766,344,622.  This  is  exclusive  of  a 


128 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


floating  debt  amounting  to  about  $173,200,000,  which  con¬ 
sists  of  treasury  bills,  funds  from  the  saving  banks,  the  army 
dotation  fund,  and  other  liabilities.  In  the  face  of  this  in¬ 
crease  in  the  public  debt  the  credit  of  France  rose  steadily 
under  the  Empire.  On  the  29th  of  June  1870,  rentes  bearing 
4£  per  cent,  interest  sold  for  104,  and  3  per  cents,  for  72-65. 
The  following  statement  will  show  the  general  prosperity  of 
the  Empire : 

Imports.  Exports.  Total.  ■ 

1860 . $379,466,965  $455,425,223  $834,892,188 

1868 .  679,714,400  581,358,000  1,261,072,400 

The  estimated  value  of  property  in  France  is  as  follows : 


Real  property . $16,000,000,000 

Rural  properties .  10,000,000,000 

Town  properties  and  buildings .  6,000,000,000 


Total . $32,000,000,000 


The  wars  of  France  have  entailed  a  heavy  expense  upon 
the  country.  Those  under  the  Empire  may  be  set  down  as 
follows : 


Cost.  Loss  op  Men. 


Crimean  War . $1,700,000,000  80,000 

Italian  War .  300,000,000  60,000 

Chinese  and  Mexican  Wars  200,000,000  65,000 


Total . $2,200,000,000  205,000 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


129 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Arrival  of  napoleon  at  metz — position  of  the  french  army  on 

THE  FRONTIER  — DETAILED  STATEMENT  OF  ITS  STRENGTH — THE  SCENE 
OF  OPERATIONS — STRATEGIC  VALUE  OF  RAILROADS  ON  THE  FRENCH 
FRONTIER — MARSHAL  LEBCEUF — DISSENSIONS  AMONG  THE  OFFICERS — 
FATAL  SELF-CONFIDENCE — THE  EMPEROR  FINDS  TnE  ARMY  UNPRE¬ 
PARED  FOR  WAR — LACK  OF  SUPPLIES — THE  EMPEROR’S  PLAN  OF  OPERA¬ 
TIONS — CAUSES  OF  THE  FRENCH  DELAY — THE  PRUSSIANS  ON  THE 
FRONTIER — CAPTURE  OF  SAARBRUCK  BY  THE  FRENCH — NEGLECT  TO 
WATCH  THE  ENEMY— ERRORS  OF  THE  FRENCH  AT  THE  OPENING  OF  THE 
CAMPAIGN — RAPID  MOBILIZATION  OF  THE  GERMAN  ARMIES— THE  CON¬ 
CENTRATION  ON  THE  FRONTIER— POSITION  OF  THE  GERMAN  ARMIES — 
DETAILED  STATEMENT  OF  TnEIR  STRENGTH — STRATEGIC  VALUE  OF  THE 
GERMAN  RAILWAYS — SUCCESS  OF  VON  MOLTKE’S  PLANS— ACTIVITY  OF 
THE  GERMAN  CAVALRY — VON  MOLTKE  FULLY  INFORMED  OF  THE  FRENCH 
MOVEMENTS — THE  GERMAN  .PLAN  OF  ADVANCE— NAPOLEON’S  ANXIETY 
FOR  HIS  LEFT — MACMAHON  ORDERED  TO  CLOSE  IN — GENERAL  DOUAY’S 
POSITION  AT  WEISSENBOURG — ADVANCE  OF  THE  CROWN  PRINCE — THE 
ATTACK  ON  WEISSENBOURG — DEFEAT  OF  DOUAY— ARRIVAL  OF  MAC¬ 
MAHON — THE  BATTLE  OF  WOERTH — “  OUR  FRITZ”  WINS  A  VICTORY — 
RETREAT  OF  MACMAHON— THE  CROWN  PRINCE  PURSUES  HIM — DEMO¬ 
RALIZATION  OF  THE  FRENCH — FROSSARD  WITHDRAWN  FROM  8AAR- 
BRUCK—  THE  FIRST  AND  SECOND  GERMAN  ARMIES  IN  MOTION — THE 
HEIGHTS  OB'  SPICHEREN — THE  ADVANCE  OF  THE  FOURTEENTH  CORPS — 
BATTLE  OF  FORBACH  —ANOTHER  VICTORY  FOR  THE  GERMANS — RETREAT 
OF  FROSSARD — RETREAT  OF  DE  FAILLY  B'ROM  BITSCHE — RECEPTION  OF 
THE  NEWS  AT  METZ — KING  WILLIAM’S  TELEGRAM— THE  NEWS  IN  BER¬ 
LIN — FRENCH  OFFICIAL  BULLETINS — CONSTERNATION  OF  THE  MINISTRY 
— REJOICINGS  IN  PARIS  OVER  FALSE  NEWS— THE  TRUTn  KNOWN — A 
TERRIBLE  REACTION— SCENE  AT  THE  MINISTRY  OF  THE  INTERIOR— THE 
PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  EMPRESS — THE  APPEAL  TO  TIIE  NATION — MEET¬ 
ING  OF  THE  CHAMBERS — THE  NATIONAL  GUARD  REFUSE  TO  DISPERSE 
TnE  CROWD  BEFORE  THE  CORPS  LEGISLATIF— ALARM  IN  METZ. 


N  the  28th  of  July,  the  Emperor  Napoleon  left  St. 
Cloud  for  the  headquarters  of  the  army  on  the  German 
frontier,  which  had  been  established  at  Metz.  He 
reached  that  city  at  7.30  in  the  afternoon,  and  was 
cordially  received  by  the  army  and  people.  Imme- 


130 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


diately  upon  bis  arrival,  be  applied  himself  to  the  task  before 
him.* 

The  French  army  had  been  thrown  forward  to  the  German 
frontier,  and  lay  distributed  between  Strasbourg,  on  the 
Rhine,  to  Thionville,  on  the  Moselle.  The  First  Corps,  under 
Marshal  MacMahon,  was  posted  at  Strasbourg.  It  numbered 
35,000  infantry,  3,500  cavalry,  and  ninety  guns.  The  Fifth 
Corps,  under  General  de  Failly,  was  at  Bitsche,  and  num¬ 
bered  26,250  infantry,  2,600  cavalry,  and  seventy-two  guns. 
The  Second  Corps,  under  General  Frossard,  was  at  St.  Avoid, 
and  numbered  26,250  infantry,  2,600  cavalry,  and  seventy-two 
guns.  The  Fourth  Corps,  under  General  L’Admirault,  was 
at  Thionville,  and  numbered  26,250  infantry,  2,600  cavalry, 
and  seventy-two  guns.  The  Third  Corps,  under  Marshal 
Bazaine,  was  posted  at  Metz,  in  support  of  Thionville  and 
St.  Avoid,  and  numbered  35,000  infantry,  3,500  cavalry,  and 
ninety  guns.  The  Imperial  Guard,  under  General  Bourbaki, 
and  numbering  16,650  infantry,  3,600  cavalry,  and  sixty 
guns,  were  at  first  posted  in  second  line,  at  Nancy,  in  order 
to  support  either  flank,  but  were  afterward  moved  up  to 
Metz.  These  columns  formed  a  grand  total  of  165,400  in¬ 
fantry,  18,400  cavalry,  and  456  guns.  The  Reserve  consisted 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  and  the  cavalry  reserve,  under  Marshal 
Canrobert,  and  the  Seventh  Corps,  under  General  Felix 
Douay.  Canrobert’s  corps  (including  the  cavalry  reserve) 
was  forming  at  Chalons,  and  consisted  of  35,000  infantry, 
9,750  cavalry,  and  126  guns;  Douay’s  corps  was  forming  at 
Belfort,  and  consisted  of  26,500  infantry,  2,600  cavalry,  and 


*  After  censuring  the  luxurious  habits  of  the  French  generals,  the  Count 
de  la  Chapelle  says :  “  The  Emperor,  since  assuming  the  chief  command 
of  the  army,  had  given  an  example  of  earnestness  which  cannot  be  denied. 
Every  day  His  Majesty  was  holding  long  conferences  with  the  generals,  or 
visiting  the  camps  without  escort  or  pompous  equipage.  He  was  to  be  seen 
everywhere  on  the  French  military  lines,  and  whatever  may  be  the  censure 
to  pass  on  his  succeeding  actions,  it  is  a  duty  to  assert  that  from  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  war  he  put  aside  the  usual  luxury  of  his  habits,  and  went 
to  work  with  energy.”  The  War  of  1870 — Events  and  Incidents  of  the  Battle- 
Fields.  By  Count  de  la  Chapelle.  P.  11. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


131 


seventy-two  guns;  making  a  total  reserve  of  61,500  infantry, 
12,850  cavalry,  and  198  guns.  This  brought  the  total 
strength  of  the  army  gathered  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier 
to  226,150  infantry,  30,750  cavalry,  and  654  guns — and  this 
was  all  that  could  be  gathered  of  the  400,000  men  supposed 
to  belong  to  the  army  of  France.  One  division,  it  is  true, 
was  left  to  watch  the  Spanish  frontier,  another  was  destined 
for  service  in  the  Baltic.  The  African  (Algerian)  army,  be¬ 
tween  40,000  and  50,000  strong,  was  ordered  to  France,  but 
had  not  yet  arrived,  and  the  only  means  of  increasing  the 
strength  of  the  army  already  in  the  field,  was  by  drawing 
from  the  fourth  battalions,  very  imperfectly  drilled,  and  the 
Garde  Mobile,  totally  untrained. 

The  war  just  about  to  open  was  to  be  different  in  certain 
respects  from  any  that  had  ever  been  waged  between  France 
and  Germany.  Had  the  South  German  States  remained 
neutral,  the  means  by  which  France  and  Prussia  could  have 
approached  each  other  would  have  been  narrowed  down  to  a 
frontier  of  about  forty  miles,  extending  from  Sierck  on  the 
Moselle  to  Sarreguemines  on  the  Saar.  Strategy  would  have 
been  useless  here,  and  the  army  first  passing  the  frontier 
would  have  been  obliged  to  trust  to  the  momentum  of  its  ad¬ 
vance  to  sweep  all  obstacles  from  its  path  until  a  wider  front 
could  be  gained.  But  the  warm  response  of  South^Germany 
to  the  call  of  Prussia  threw  open  the  whole  line  from  Belgium 
to  Switzerland — the  front  of  operations  thus  extending  from 
Sierck  to  Basle  in  Switzerland.  The  direct  distance  between 
these  two  places  is  140  miles,  and  this  part  of  the  French 
frontier  projects  forward  into  Germany  as  a  great  right  angle, 
the  base  being  the  direct  line  between  the  two  places  men¬ 
tioned. 

“  The  northern  side  of  this  angle  is  the  line  between  Sierck 
and  the  little  town  of  Lauterbourg  upon  the  Rhine.  It  tra¬ 
verses  first  the  hilly  country  about  the  upper  Moselle  and  the 
Saar,  then  passes  straight  across  the  high  plateaux  which  rise 
up  from  Lorraine  to  form  the  western  or  French  side  of  the 
Vosges,  and  descending  the  steeper  eastern  side  of  that  high 


132 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


range,  which  stands  like  a  wall  along  the  Rhine  frontier  of 
France,  finally  crosses  the  narrow  strip  of  fertile  plain,  here 
but  fifteen  miles  wide,  which  lies  between  its  foot  and  the 
great  river  which  it  seems  to  guard.  The  little  stream,  the 
Lauter,  here  marks  the  frontier,  and  the  principal  passage 
over  it  in  the  plain  is  at  the  small  town  of  Weissenbourg, 
well  known  in  former  wars  waged  in  the  Palatinate.  The 
other,  or  eastern  face  of  the  great  right  angle  we  are  describ¬ 
ing,  is  formed  by  the  course  of  the  Rhine,  which  runs  from 
Basle  due  northward  through  the  plain  to  Lauterbourg,  and 
thence  onward  to  Mayence,  where  it  first  meets  the  hilly 
country  of  West  Central  Germany.  This  angle,  therefore, 
formed  the  immediate  base  for  whichever  army  should  first 
attack,  and  projecting  as  it  did  on  the  northern  face  from 
Germany  into  France  on  the  Moselle,  and  on  the  eastern  from 
France  towards  Germany  on  the  Rhine,  became  an  object  of 
more  pressing  interest  than  it  had  ever  been  in  the  wars  of 
the  First  Napoleon,  or  of  the  Revolutionary  armies,  when 
movements  were  complicated  with,  or  even  subordinated  to, 
other  invasions  of  the  enemy  across  the  Lower  Rhine  through 
the  plains  of  Belgium  or  the  hilly  Duchy  of  Luxembourg, 
now  closed  to  both  the  combatants.” 

Though  this  angle  was,  in  a  strict  military  sense,  the  actual 
base  of  the  armies  confronting  each  other,  it  may  be  said  that 
each  had  its  whole  country  for  its  base,  for  the  railway  sys¬ 
tem  of  each  was  so  perfect  that  troops  and  supplies  could  be 
concentrated  with  almost  lightning  rapidity  at  any  given 
point.  Perhaps  there  has  been  no  more  striking  instance  of 
the  marked  manner  in  which  the  use  of  railways  has  revolu¬ 
tionized  the  science  of  war,  than  the  rapid  concentration  of 
the  German  army  on  the  Rhine  in  the  summer  of  1870. 

A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  the  reader  that  the  French 
army  possessed  remarkable  facilities  for  concentration  and 
mutual  support  by  means  of  the  railways  which  it  com¬ 
manded.  One  single  direct  line  of  railway  connected  the 
towns  of  Strasbourg,  Bitsclie,  St.  Avoid,  Metz,  and  Thionville. 
A  second  line,  in  rear  of  this,  brought  Strasbourg  into  direct 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


133 


communication  with  Nancy  and  Metz,  by  way  of  Taverne, 
Sarrebourg,  and  Luneville.  Two  railroads  extending  into 
the  country  in  the  rear  of  Strasbourg  and  Nancy,  placed 
those  towns  in  communication  with  Belfort,  which  was  held 
by  the  Seventh  Corps,  under  General  Felix  Douay,  and  with 
Lyons  and  the  South  of  France.  Nancy  and  Thionville  were 
in  direct  communication  with  Paris — the  road  from  the  for¬ 
mer  place  running  through  Toul,  Vitry,  Chalons  and  Eper- 
nay,  and  that  from  the  latter  through  Montmedy,  Mezi&res, 
Rheims,  and  Soissons. 

Thus  the  French  were  in  full  possession  of  railroad  com¬ 
munication  all  along  their  strategical  front,  and  to  their  rear 
from  the  centre  and  from  both  flanks.  Their  line  was 
strengthened  by  the  powerful  fortresses  of  Metz  and  Stras¬ 
bourg,  and  the  forts  of  Bitsche,  Petite  Pierre,  and  Phalsbourg, 
guarding  the  passes  through  the  Vosges,  and  by  the  fortified 
towns  of  Thionville  and  Toul  on  the  Moselle  ;  both  command¬ 
ing  railways  to  Paris.  The  base  of  supply  for  MacMahon 
and  De  Failly  was  Strasbourg  ;  that  for  the  remainder  of  the 
army  was  Metz. 

Having  thrown  down  the  gauntlet,  it  was  the  policy  of 
France  to  inaugurate  the  campaign  by  one  of  those  brilliant 
initiatives  for  which  that  nation  has  been  famous,  and  which 
in  this  case  was  indispensable.  It  was  of  the  highest  import¬ 
ance  that  the  junction  of  the  North  and  South  German  forces 
should  be  prevented,  and  that  South  Germany  should  be 
compelled  to  remain  neutral.  This  could  only  be  done  by  a 
bold  and  rapid  movement  of  the  French  across  the  Rhine, 
which  would  place  their  army  between  South  and  North 
Germany.  Such  a  movement  was  confidently  expected  by 
the  world  at  large. 

The  French  army  was  in  position  on  the  frontier  by  the 
23d  of  July,  but  the  Emperor  remained  at  St.  Cloud.  To  re¬ 
present  him  he  dispatched  to  Metz  Marshal  Leboeuf,  who  had 
been  Minister  of  War,  and  who  was  now  made  Major-General 
of  the  army.  His  own  departure  was  delayed  until  Leboeuf 
should  notify  him  that  all  was  in  readiness  for  a  forward 


134 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


movement.  Unfortunately,  his  representative  had  not  the 
confidence  of  the  army,  and  was  besides  utterly  incompetent 
to  the  task  of  making  such  a  sudden  and  daring  move  with  a 
large  army  accustomed  to  a  long  season  of  peace.  Nothing 
was  accomplished.  The  troops  were  moved  aimlessly  about, 
and  subjected  to  fatigues  which  accomplished  nothing,  and 
simply  exasperated  them.  Quarrels  broke  out  among  officers 
high  in  rank,  who  seemed  incapable  of  suppressing  their 
jealousies.  The  officers  of  all  grades  were  to  a  great  degree 
more  thoughtful  of  their  own  ease  than  of  the  discipline  and 
morale  of  the  army.  It  was  in  vain  that  MacMahon,  Bazaine 
and  a  few  others,  whose  conceptions  of  the  struggle  rose 
higher  than  the  anticipation  of  a  military  promenade  to  Ber¬ 
lin,  endeavored  to  counteract  the  evils.  The  fatal  neglect 
which  had  left  the  army  unprepared  for  the  war,  and  which 
followed  it  to  the  frontier,  made  their  task  hopeless. 

“  In  their  fatal  self-confidence,”  says  a  French  writer,  who 
witnessed  the  scenes  he  describes,  “  the  French  commanders 
were  in  the  meantime  basking  in  the  shades  of  the  cafes  at 
the  city  of  Metz.  After  a  few  hurried  sentences  on  the  war, 
and  the  glorious  conquests  in  perspective,  after  the  important 
discussion  of  the  evening  dinner,  mixed  with  the  intrigues  of 
the  Emperor’s  entourage ,  the  question  of  precedence  and  of 
eager  ambition  were  subjects  far  more  a  Vordre  du  jour  than 
the  advance  of  the  Prussians,  or  of  their  eclaireurs ,  which  was 
considered  a  trifling  matter  in  comparison  with  the  comfort, 
present  and  future  of  those  gentlemen.  Some  of  the  generals 
were  followed  by  the  whole  of  their  families,  wives,  daughters, 
babies,  and  nurses.  Some  others  were  conspicuous  by  the 
luxury  and  importance  of  their  equipage.  Their  names  and 
the  explanations  on  their  acting  capacity  in  the  Armee  du 
Rhine,  were  written  in  immense  letters  on  their  convoys,  so 
that  any  impresario  would  have  envied  the  brilliancy  of 
these  elaborated  sign-boards.”  * 

The  Emperor,  at  St.  Cloud,  was  by  degrees  informed  of  the 


*  The  War  of  1870.  By  Count  de  la  Chapelle.  Pp.  9,  10. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


135 


actual  condition  of  his  army,  and,  as  we  have  said,  repaired 
to  Metz  on  the  28th  of  July.  It  was  only  upon  his  arrival 
there — broken  down  in  health,  and  physically  incapacitated 
for  the  command,  which  for  political  reasons  he  was  unwilling 
to  entrust  to  others — that  he  learned  the  whole  truth.  The 
army  was  utterly  unprepared  for  a  forward  movement.  “The 
army  of  Metz,”  he  has  written  since  then,  “instead  of  150,- 
000  men,  only  mustered  100,000 ;  that  of  Strasbourg  only 
40,000,  instead  of  100,000 ;  whilst  the  corps  of  Marshal 
Canrobert  had  still  one  division  at  Paris  and  another  at 
Soissons;  his  artillery  as  well  as  his  cavalry  was  not  ready. 
Further,  no  army  corps  was  even  yet  completely  furnished 
with  the  equipments  necessary  for  taking  the  field.  The 
Emperor  gave  precise  orders  that  the  arrival  of  the  missing 
regiments  should  be  pushed  on ;  but  he  was  obeyed  slowlv, 
excuse  being  made  that  it  was  impossible  to  leave  Algeria, 
Paris,  and  Lyons  without  garrisons.” 

But  this  was  not  all.  In  spite  of  the  self-evident  fact  that 
the  army  could  be  used  nowhere  but  on  the  Rhine  frontier, 
the  Intendance  or  commissariat  had  utterly  failed  to  provide 
provisions  for  the  troops,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
enough  could  be  secured  to  keep  the  army  from  suffering. 
More  threatening  still  was  the  lack  of  military  stores.  There 
was  a  scarcity  of  ammunition,  and  supplies  had  to  be  hurried 
forward  from  distant  posts.  The  very  frontier  fortresses  of 
Strasbourg  and  Metz  were  found  with  almost  empty  maga¬ 
zines. 

At  the  outset  the  Emperor  had  designed  making  such  a 
movement  as  we  have  indicated.  In  a  pamphlet,*  believed  to 
have  been  dictated  by  him,  his  plan  for  the  opening  of  the 
campaign  is  described  at  some  length.  He  was  aware  “that 
Prussia  was  ready  to  call  out  in  a  short  time,  900,000  men, 
and,  with  the  aid  of  the  Southern  States  of  Germany,  could 
count  upon  1,100,000  soldiers.  France  was  only  able  to 


*  Campagne  de  1870:  Des  Causes  qui  out  ament  la  Capitulation  de  Sedan.  Par 
un  Officier  Attache  l’Etat-Ma;or-G6n6rul.  Bruxelles. 


136 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


muster  600,000,  and,  as  the  number  of  fighting  men  is  never 
more  than  one  half  the  actual  effective  force,  Germany  was 
in  a  position  to  bring  into  the  field  550,000  men,  whilst 
France  had  only  about  300,000  to  confront  the  enemy.  To 
compensate  for  this  numerical  inferiority,  it  was  necessary  fo” 
the  Emperor,  by  a  rapid  movement,  to  cross  the  Rhine,  sepa¬ 
rate  South  Germany  from  the  North  German  Confederation, 
and,  by  the  eclat  of  a  first  success,  secure  the  alliance  of 
Austria  and  Italy.  If  he  were  able  to  prevent  the  armies  of 
Southern  Germany  from  forming  their  junction  with  those 
of  the  North,  the  effective  strength  of  the  Prussians  would 
be  reduced  by  200,000  men;  and  the  disproportion  between 
the  number  of  combatants  thus  much  diminished.  If  Aus¬ 
tria  and  Italy  made  common  cause  with  France,  then  the 
superiority  of  numbers  would  be  in  her  favor.  The  Em¬ 
peror’s  plan  of  campaign — which  he  confided  to  Marshals 
MacMahon  and  Leboeuf  alone — was  to  mass  150,000  men  at 
Metz,  100,000  at  Strasbourg,  and  50,000  at  the  camp  of  Cha¬ 
lons. 

The  concentration  of  the  first  two  armies,  the  one  on 
the  Sarre  and  the  other  on  the  Rhine,  did  not  reveal  his  pro¬ 
jects,  for  the  enemy  was  left  in  uncertainty  as  to  whether  the 
attack  would  be  made  against  the  Rhenish  Provinces  or  upon 
the  Duchy  of  Baden.  As  soon  as  the  troops  should  have 
been  concentrated  at  the  points  indicated,  it  was  the  Empe¬ 
ror’s  purpose  to  immediately  unite  the  two  armies  of  Metz 
and  Strasbourg ;  and,  at  the  head  of  250,000  men,  to  cross 
the  Rhine  at  Maxau,  leaving  at  his  right  the  fortress  of 
Rastadt,  and,  at  his  left,  that  of  Germersheim.  Reaching  the 
other  side  of  the  Rhine,  he  would  have  forced  the  States  of 
the  South  to  observe  neutrality,  and  would  then  have  hurried 
on  to  encounter  the  Prussians.  Whilst  this  movement  was 
in  course  of  execution,  the  50,000  men  at  Chalons,  under  the 
command  of  Marshal  Canrobert,  were  to  proceed  to  Metz,  to 
protect  the  rear  of  the  army  and  guard  the  northeastern 
frontier.  At  the  same  time  the  French  fleet  cruising  in  the 
Baltic  would  have  held  stationary  in  the  north  of  Prussia,  a 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


137 


part  of  the  enemy’s  forces,  obliged  to  defend  the  coasts  threat¬ 
ened  with  invasion.* 

From  the  first  the  Emperor  had  found  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  the  execution  of  this  plan.  Though  he  appreciated  the 
value  of  time,  he  did  not  go  to  Metz  until  a  fortnight  after 
the  declaration  of  war.  The  reason  was  that  he  feared  to 
risk  the  effect  upon  Paris  of  waiting  two  weeks  at  the  head 
of  his  army  in  inaction.  He  never  shared  the  vain  glory  of 
his  subordinates  and  the  nation,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  en¬ 
thusiastic  demands  for  a  march  to  Berlin,  his  voice  was 
almost  the  only  one  which  warned  the  people  that  the  strug¬ 
gle  would  try  their  manhood  to  the  utmost.  Upon  reaching 
the  army  he  found  the  difficulties  still  to  be  overcome.  “  Even 
after  his  arrival  the  wants  of  his  generals,  for  the  most  part 
unused  to  face  the  difficulties  of  moving  very  large  masses, 
and  accustomed  to  leave  administrative  detail  to  the  inten- 
dants,  raised  obstacles  such  as  the  more  practical  soldiers  who 
had  led  the  army  in  Italy  would  have  known  how  to  over¬ 
come.  ’  So  the  time  passed  away,  and  nothing  was  done. 
All  the  while  it  was  necessary  to  keep  the  country  in  igno¬ 
rance  of  the  actual  state  of  affairs,  so  that,  in  spite  of  their 
impatience  at  the  delay,  the  people  were  still  as  hopeful  as 
ever. 

By  the  first  of  August  the  Imperial  Guard  had  joined 
Bazaine  at  Metz,  Canrobert’s  corps  had  moved  from  Chalons 
to  Nancy ;  and  MacMahon’s  corps  was  moving  forward  from 
Strasbourg  to  the  Lauter.  On  the  24th  of  July  the  Prussians 
were  reported  in  force  at  Saarbriick,  and  a  strong  French 
detachment  sent  by  General  Frossard,  who  had  been  pushed 
on  with  one  division  of  his  corps  to  Forbach,  to  reconnoitre 
the  place,  was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  ten  men.  On  the 
same  day,  some  Prussian  lancers  crossed  into  French  territory 
to  the  east  of  Sarreguemines  and  blew  up  the  viaduct  of  the 
railroad  between  that  place  and  Haguenau,  thereby  impeding 
the  French  communication  between  Bitsche  and  St.  Avoid. 


*  This  summary  is  from  The  War  Correspondence  of  the  [London)  Doily  News, 
recently  issued  in  book  form. 


138 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


On  the  2d  of  August,  the  Emperor  and  the  Prince  Imperial 
left  Metz  for  Eorbach,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
position  and  numbers  of  the  enemy.  From  Forbach  the  Em¬ 
peror  with  a  part  of  Frossard’s  corps,  advanced  upon  Saar- 
briick,  a  Prussian  frontier  town,  which  was  held  by  a  small 
advance  force  of  the  enemy.  A  French  division  under  Gen¬ 
eral  Bataille,  carried  the  heights  of  Spicberen,  on  the  right 
of  Saarbriick,  without  difficulty  ;  and  the  Prussians,  after  a 
resistance  which  had  no  military  object,  withdrew  to  their 
second  line  of  defence.  The  affair  lasted  only  three  hours, 
and  at  its  close  the  Emperor  and  the  Prince  Imperial  went 
back  to  Metz  to  .dinner.  The  Emperor  sent  the  following 
despatch  to  the  Empress  : 

“  Louis  has  received  his  baptism  of  fire.  He  was  admira¬ 
bly  cool  and  little  impressed.  A  division  of  Frossard’s  com¬ 
mand  carried  the  heights  overlooking  the  Saar.  The  Prus¬ 
sians  made  a  brief  resistance.  Louis  and  I  were  in  front, 
where  the  bullets  fell  about  us.  Louis  keeps  a  ball  he  picked 
up.  The  soldiers  wept  at  his  tranquillity.  We  lost  an  officer 
and  ten  men.” 


Palace  of  Justice  :  Paris. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


139 


The  next  day  the  French  began  to  strengthen  their  posi¬ 
tion  on  the  Spicheren  heights. 

This  affair  was  doubtless  meant  to  quiet  the  murmurs  of 
the  people  (who  were  impatient  of  the  delay)  until  the  army 
was  ready  to  move ;  but  unfortunately  for  the  authors  of  the 
scheme,  it  was  believed  in  Paris  to  be  an  important  victory, 
and  to  herald  the  advance  of  the  army  into  Germany. 

All  this  while,  much  might  have  been  done  that  was  not 
done,  and  at  least  a  knowledge  of  the  enemy’s  positions  and 
numbers  gained.  Frossard  was  at  St.  Avoid,  and  within 
twenty  miles  of  his  front  was  the  junction  of  three  railway 
lines  coming  from  Treves,  Bingen,  and  Mayence  —  lines  of  the 
highest  importance  to  the  enemy.  A  bold  dash  of  his  cavalry 
might  have  damaged  these  roads  so  as  to  render  them  useless, 
at  least  for  a  time,  and  thus  have  delayed  the  concentration 
of  the  German  army.  The  air  was  full  of  rumors  of  the  con¬ 
centration  of  huge  masses  of  Germans  behind  Saarlouis  and 
about  Treves.  L’Admirault,  from  Thionville,  might  have 
tested  the  truth  of  these  rumors  with  his  cavalry.  De  Failly’s 
cavalry  might  also  have  ascertained  the  truth  whether  there 
was  a  strong  concentration  at  or  near  Landau,  in  Bhenish 
Bavaria.  It  seems  almost  incredible  that  this  last  general 
should  have  been  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  fully  one-third  of 
the  German  force  was  assembling  within  less  than  a  day’s 
march  of  his  outposts.  Even  MacMahon,  that  true  and  tried 
soldier,  seemed  paralyzed  by  the  inactivity  at  Metz  and  the 
timorous  looking  back  to  see  what  the  opposition  in  Paris 
would  say.  That  such  attempts  were  possible  is  proved  by 
the  bold  dashes  of  the  German  horse  into  the  French  lines, 
and  the  manner  in  which  they  kept  their  commanders  advised 
of  the  course  of  affairs  there. 

Nothing  was  done  in  this  respect,  however.  Even  after  the 
capture  of  Saarbriick,  no  effort  was  made  to  destroy  the  rail¬ 
road  junction  from  Treves — all  the  enemy’s  railways  being 
left  in  good  condition  for  the  use  of  their  advancing  columns. 
The  French  remained  in  utter  ignorance  of  the  positions, 
numbers,  and  movements  of  the  enemy.  Frossard’s  corps  was 


140 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


left  thrown  forward  so  far  that  it  was  questionable  whether 
the  rest  could  reach  him  in  time  to  support  him  effectually  in 
case  of  a  sudden  attack.  MacMahon  occupied  a  similarly  ex¬ 
posed  position.  The  Emperor  becoming  anxious  for  the  Mar¬ 
shal’s  safety,  and  being  satisfied  of  MacMahon’s  inability  to  act 
independently  against  the  forces  which  he  believed  the  enemy 
would  shortly  direct  against  him,  ordered  him  to  close  in 
from  Strasbourg,  preparatory  to  a  general  concentration. 
MacMahon,  apprehensive  of  the  same  danger,  asked  for  and 
received  a  reenforcement  of  one  division  from  Felix  Douay’s 
corps  at  Belfort.  Then,  in  obedience  to  his  orders,  he  began 
his  march  to  the  northward,  from  Strasbourg  to  Bitsche, 
where  De  Failly  awaited  him.  His  march  was  to  be  first 
along  the  Rhine,  then  turning  to  the  left  through  the  Vosges 
on  Bitsche.  “  In  making  it  he  approached  the  open  bit  of 
frontier  along  the  Lauter,  between  the  hills  and  the  Rhine, 
those  fifteen  miles  of  plain  which  lie  near  the  point  of  the 
angle  where  the  French  border  meets  the  river,  and  he  would 
in  turning  leave  his  outward  flank  open  to  a  surprise  made 
along  this  plain.  So  a  division,  under  General  Abel  Douay, 
younger  brother  of  Felix,  the  corps  commander  of  that  name, 
was  thrust  forward  to  Weissenbourg  to  bar  the  opening, 
while  the  other  four  divisions,  thus  covered,  were  to  turn  off 
into  the  hills,  a  day’s  march  in  its  rear.”  It  seems  that  the 
Emperor,  though  dreading  that  MacMahon  might  be  assailed 
in  his  exposed  position,  now  expected  that  the  principal  at¬ 
tack  of  the  Germans  would  be  made  on  his  left,  on  the  Mo¬ 
selle  ;  and  the  condition  of  his  army  filled  him  with  the  grav¬ 
est  apprehensions.  Meanwhile  Marshal  MacMahon,  having 
begun  his  northward  march,  repaired  to  Metz  to  attend  a 
Council  of  War  at  that  place. 

Such  was  the  situation  as  regarded  the  French,  on  the  3d 
of  August. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  were  bending  every  energy  to  the 
task  of  massing  their  army  on  their  frontier.  “  From  the  first 
day  of  the  war,  the  provincial  organization  of  the  corps  which 
had  been  fully  tested  in  the  campaign  of  1866  proved  equal 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


141 


to  every  demand.  The  principles  on  which  this  is  founded 
are  simple  in  themselves  and  few  in  number.  They  are  in 
the  main  but  two.  In  the  first  place,  the  corps  supplies  all 
its  own  wants  as  a  whole  direct  from  the  central  War  Office, 
but  distributes  and  checks  the  supplies  so  received  within 
itself  without  reference  beyond,  being,  except  as  to  the  filling 
up  of  its  depots,  regarded  as  its  own  war  administration,  and 
responsible  for  its  own  doings.  Thus,  one  vast  step  has  been 
taken  to  get  rid  of  that  army  centralization  which  Prussian 
administrators  have  condemned  for  its  working  in  the  French 
and  Austrian  services.  The  other  great  rule  is  to  carry  this 
decentralization  further  within  the  corps  itself,  and  divide  the 
transport  especially,  so  that  no  one  branch  shall  be  dependent 
on  any  outside  authority.  This  subdivision  has  been  natur¬ 
ally  condemned  as  complicated  and  needlessly  expensive  ;  but 
Prussian  authorities  hold  that  an  army  is  above  all  intended 
for  war,  and  that  the  machinery  of  that  which  is  to  be  effec¬ 
tive  should  be  maintained  intact  in  its  framework  in  time  of 
peace.  Carriages  of  themselves  cost  little  to  keep  up.  Horses, 
on  the  contrary,  must,  under  any  system,  be  bought  up  for 
transport  in  case  of.  war;  but  the  only  way,  in  the  Prussian 
view,  by  which  each  department  can  be  made  thoroughly  re 
sponsible  for  its  own  efficiency,  and  taught  to  vie  with  others 
in  readiness  for  action,  is  to  hand  over  to  it  all  the  rest  of  the 
machinery  which  would  be  needed  to  equip  it  for  the  field,  and 
thus  to  prepare  it  for  independent  action  so  soon  as  the  call 
sounds  to  arms.  Men,  and  even  horses,  may  be  added  at  short 
notice ;  but  without  organization  so  prepared  that  they  may 
take  their  places  at  once  where  needed,  they  will  at  first  prove 
no  better  than  encumbrances.  As  a  consequence  of  this  sys¬ 
tem,  it  no  doubt  at  some  time  happens  that  a  particular  corps 
or  column  may  have  a  superfluity  of  supply  ;  but  on  the  other 
hand,  delay  at  the  outset  to  wait  for  the  issue  of  necessaries 
from  distant  stores  is  prevented,  and  in  the  field  it  is  found  a 
less  evil  in  practice  that  there  should  be  no  excuse  for  failure, 
than  that  even  occasionally  a  necessary  supply  should  be  in¬ 
adequate.  The  Prussian  system  enlists  on  its  side  the  power- 


142 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


ful  motive  of  emulation  on  the  part  of  each  general  and  each 
regimental  commander.  The  opposite  practice  takes  from 
these  officers  a  large  part  of  their  responsibility  to  throw  it 
upon  a  special  class  of  men  trained  in  peace  to  raise  objec¬ 
tions  to  every  demand,  and  blamed  in  war  if  their  minds  do 
not  instantly  rise  to  the  full  necessities  of  the  occasion.” 

The  order  for  the  mobilization  of  the  German  armies  was 
given  on  the  16th  of  July,  and  the  28th  of  that  month  was 
the  period  fixed  for  the  completion  of  the  armament.  Before 
the  latter  day  arrived,  however,  the  army  was  in  readiness  for 
the  field,  and  the  various  corps  were  pushing  forward  with  all 
speed  to  the  frontier.  The  North  German  army,  consisting 
of  thirteen  corps  d’armbe,  and  the  South  German  forces,  con¬ 
sisting  of  two  Bavarian  corps,  one  division  from  Wurtemberg, 
and  one  division  from  Baden,  promptly  secured  their  commu¬ 
nications  with  each  other.  This  immense  force  was  under  the 
immediate  command  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  but  its  move¬ 
ments  were  in  reality  directed  by  the  greatest  soldier  of  the 
day,  General  Yon  Moltke.  It  was  divided  into  three  armies. 
The  First  Army  was  commanded  by  General  Yon  Steinmetz ; 
the  Second  Army  by  Prince  Frederick  Charles;  and  the 
Third  Army  by  Prince  Frederick  William,  the  Crown  Prince 
of  Prussia.  All  three  commanders  were  tried  soldiers. 

By  the  28th  of  July,  the  1st  army  had  reached  the  frontier, 
but  it  was  the  only  German  force  so  far  advanced.  It  occupied 
the  line  of  the  Saar;  from  Saarbourg  on  the  right,  with 
advanced  posts  at  that  place  and  at  Merzig,  Saarlouis,  Saar- 
briick,  and  Bliescastel ;  with  its  main  body  massed  at  Ottwei 
ler,  Nuenkirchen,  Homburg,  and  Landstuhl. 

The  2d  army,  under  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  with  which 
the  head  quarters  of  the  King  of  Prussia  were  established, 
crossed  the  Rhine  at  Mayenee  and  Mannheim,  and  pressed 
forward  rapidly.  On  the  1st  of  August  it  took  post  on  the 
left  of  Steinmetz,  having  its  outposts  at  Zweibriicken  and 
Pirmasens,  and  its  main  body  echelonned  from  the  left  of 
the  1st  corps  at  Landstuhl,  along  the  line  of  railway  joining 
that  place  with  Landau,  at  Kaiserlautern,  and  Neustadt. 


% 


Gardens  of  the  Palais  Royal :  Paris.  Residence  of  Prince  Napoleon. 

©drtcn  tc8  Calais  'Jiotjal :  <J>ariS.  Ttefibenj  beg  spriiijcn  Napoleon. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


143 


About  the  2d  or  3d  of  August,  the  3d  army,  under  the 
Crown  Prince,  having  passed  the  Rhine  at  Mannheim  and 
Germersheim,  took  post  on  the  left  of  the  2d  army,  occupying 
as  outposts  Bergzabern  on  the  road  leading  to  Weissenbourg, 
and  Wenden,  the  junction  of  the  railroads  coming  from 
Carlsruhe  in  one  direction  and  from  Mannheim  by  Neustadt 
in  the  other ;  and  having  its  main  body  at  Neustadt,  Spire, 
Landau,  and  Germersheim. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  composition  of  these  vari- 


1st  Army.* — General  Steinmetz. 
Chief  of  Staff  :  Major-Gen.  von 
Speri.ing. 

Corps  7th,  Westphalians.  Von  Zas- 

Infantry. 

Cavalry 

.  Guns. 

trow . 

25,000 

3300 

96 

Corps  8th,  Rheinlanders.  Von  Goben 
2nd  or  Centre  Army. — Prince 
Frederick  Charles.  Chief  of 
Staff  :  Colonel  von  Stiehle. 

25,000 

3300 

96 

Guards.  Prince  of  Wurtemburg. . . 

29,000 

4400 

96 

1st  East  Prussian.  Von  Manteuffel 

25,000 

3300 

96 

2nd  Pomeranian.  Von  Fransetzky. 
3rd  Brandenburgers.  Von  Alvens- 

25,000 

3300 

96 

leben  (2) . 

4th  Schleswig-Holsteiners.  Von  Man- 

28,000 

3300 

96 

stein . 

29,000 

3300 

96 

10th  Hanoverians.  Von  Voigts-Rhetz 
11th  and  12th  Saxons,  f  Saxon  Crown 

25,000 

3300 

96 

Prince . 

3rd  Army. — Crown  Prince.  Chief 
of  Staff:  Lieut.-Gen.  von  Blu- 

MENTHAL. 

29,000 

3300 

96 

5th  Poseners.  Von  Kirchbach . 

25,000 

3300 

96 

6th  Silesians.  Von  Tumpling . 

lltli  Hessians  and  Nassauers.  Von 

25,000 

3300 

96 

Bose . 

35,000 

1100 

96 

1st  Bavarians . 

25.000 

2500 

96 

2nd  Bavarians . 

25.000 

2500 

96 

Division  of  Wurtemberg  J . 

19.000 

2500 

54 

Division  of  Baden . 

18,000 

1800 

42 

Forming  a  Grand  Total  of. . . . 

412,000 

47,800 

1440 

*  Moved  up  to  the  Saar  from  their  permanent  quarters  at  Minden,  Dussel- 
dorf,  Cologne,  Coblentz,  and  Treves. 

f  The  4th  Corps,  Prussian  Saxons,  which  properly  belonged  to  this  army, 
only  arrived  in  France  late  in  August. 

t  The  Wurtemberg  division  did  not  join  till  the  5th  August.  The  6th 
Corps  did  not  join  till  the  12th  August. 


144 


HISTORY  OF  TI1E  LATE  WAR 


In  addition  to  these  immense  columns,  which  so  heavily 
outnumbered  the  French,  strong  reserves  were  in  course  of 
formation  at  Coblentz,  Mayence,  Frankfort,  and  Hainau. 

The  railway  system  on  the  German  frontier,  and  leading 
back  into  the  interior  of  Germany,  was  of  immense  service  in 
effecting  the  concentration  of  the  army.  It  was  equally  ser¬ 
viceable  for  strategic  purposes  after  the  concentration  was 
effected. 

Steinmetz,  on  the  right,  communicated  with  Prince  Frede¬ 
rick  Charles,  in  the  centre,  and  he,  in  his  turn,  with  the 
Crown  Prince;  on  the  left  by  the  railroad  from  Treves, 
through  Merzig,  Saarlouis,  Saarbriick,  Ottweiler,  Homburg, 
Landstuhl,  Neustadt,  and  Landau,  all  occupied  by  their  troops ; 
to  Wenden  junction,  the  extreme  left  outpost  of  the  Crown 
Prince’s  army.  “  The  course  of  this  railway  between  Saar- 
briick  and  Wenden,  is  in  the  form  of  a  curve,  concave  to¬ 
wards  the  French ;  that  is,  having  the  flanks  advanced  and 
the  centre  retired ;  and  it  obviously  gave  remarkable  fa¬ 
cilities  for  massing  troops  on  the  flanks,  which  were  the  only 
parts  of  the  German  line  exposed  to  attack.” 

Steinmetz  communicated  to  his  rear  by  the  railroad  to 
Mayence,  which  passes  through  Wenden,  Sobernheim,  and 
Bingen  ;  Prince  Frederick  Charles  by  two  lines  of  railway, 
one  of  which  led  to  Mayence,  by  way  of  Neustadt,  Mannheim 
and  Worms;  the  other  to  Heidelberg,  by  way  of  Mannheim; 
while  the  Crown  Prince  had  the  choice  of  two  lines  of  retreat, 
equally  secure — the  one  by  Mannheim  either  to  Mayence  or 
Heidelberg,  the  other  by  railroad  from  Wenden  junction  to 
Carlsruhe.  The  strong  fortresses  of  Mayence,  Landau,  and 
Germersheim  greatly  strengthened  the  general  position  of 
the  German  army,  v/hich  was  more  compact  than  the  strate¬ 
gical  position  of  the  French  army. 

In  addition  to  the  forces  thus  gathered  on  the  frontier  parts, 
the  four  corps  raised  in  the  coast  district  (the  1st,  2d,  9th,  and 
10th,)  were  retained  on  the  seaboard  of  Prussia  as  the  neu- 
cleus  of  a  force  placed  under  General  Vogel  von  Falkenstein 
to  guard  against  any  descent  by  the  French  from  the  sea,  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


145 


to  overawe  Denmark  and  Sweden,  whose  sympathies  were 
avowedly  with  Napoleon.  General  Von  Moltke  did  not  deem 
it  necessary  to  leave  any  force  on  the  Russian  and  Austrian 
frontiers,  wisely  believing  that  if  he  could  beat  France  at  the 
outset,  neither  of  those  Powers  would  be  likely  to  cause  him 
any  anxiety.  Meanwhile,  he  exerted  himself  to  place  his 
army  on  the  frontier.  Hour  by  hour  the  armed  legions 
thronged  over  the  Rhine,  to  the  positions  assigned  them, 
“  while  with  unflagging  kindness  the  wants  of  each  regiment 
as  it  passed  were  supplied  with  willing  contributions  from 
kind-hearted  citizens.  Never  were  a  country’s  exertions  and 
its  Government  more  in  harmony  than  in  that  memorable 
fortnight;  for  the  war  had  aroused  the  double  sentiment  of 
patriotism,  and  of  deep-seated  animosity  against  the  French 
bequeathed  by  memories  of  old  offences,  of  conquest,  of  occu¬ 
pation,  and  oppression.”  General  Von  Moltke  gave  his  per¬ 
sonal  supervision  to  the  task  of  concentration,  so  that  there 
was  no  division,  no  lack  of  unanimity  in  the  German  councils. 
Everything  felt  the  irresistible  impulse  of  one  great  will,  and 
every  part  of  the  vast  and  complicated  mechanism  moved  with 
a  regularity  and  promptness  which  could  not  fail  of  success. 
As  a  recent  writer  has  well  said,  “If  the  means  for  concentra¬ 
tion  offered  to  Moltke’s  hand  were  an  age  in  advance  of  those 
that  had  served  Napoleon,  the  great  German  strategist  may 
boast  that  his  plans  were  carried  out  with  completeness  and 
promptitude  proportioned  to  the  advantage.” 

Meanwhile  the  activity  of  the  German  horse  was  unceasing. 
From  the  outset  the  frontier  was  watched  with  sleepless  eyes. 
The  German  cavalry,  as  we  have  seen,  succeeded  in  destroy¬ 
ing  the  railway  viaduct  between  Sarreguemines  and  Hague- 
nau  as  early  as  the  24th  of  July.  On  the  31st  of  July  a 
detachment  of  twenty  Baden  troopers,  of  whom  six  were 
officers,  made  a  daring  reconnoissance  into  France.  They 
crossed  the  frontier  at  Lauterbourg  in  broad  daylight,  and 
moved  swiftly  to  Niederbronn,  cutting  in  their  passage  the 
telegraph  wires  at  the  Huntspach  station  on  the  railroad  be¬ 
tween  Haguenau  and  Weissenbourg.  The  next  morning 
10 


146 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


they  were  surprised  at  a  farm  house  where  they  were  break¬ 
fasting,  one  of  their  number  was  killed,*  and  the  majority  were 
made  prisoners  ;  but  several  succeeded  in  making  their  escape 
to  their  own  lines,  carrying  with  them  the  valuable  information 
they  had  gained,  and  which  they  laid  at  once  before  the  Crown 
Prince.  Every  day  small  parties  of  well-mounted  intelligent 
and  daring  men  were  engaged  in  similar  reconnoissances,  by 
means  of  which  the  German  commanders  were  kept  informed 
of  the  movements  of  their  adversaries,  and  by  means  of  which 
they  also  succeeded  in  mystifying  the  French  as  to  their  posi¬ 
tions  and  intentions. 

General  Yon  Moltke  had  not  under-estimated  the  impor¬ 
tance  of  the  duty  before  him.  Though  aware  that  his  force 
was  numerically  stronger  than  that  of  the  Emperor,  he  was 
also  aware  that  the  French  rifle  would  to  a  certain  extent 
atone  for  this  weakness  on  the  part  of  the  French.  He  was 
also  aware  that  he  was  to  encounter  an  army  which  had 
never  been  easily  beaten,  and  which  had  won  some  of  the 
most  brilliant  triumphs  in  history.  He  was  thoroughly  in¬ 
formed  as  to  the  defects  of  the  French  service,  and  confident 
of  the  superiority  of  his  own.  and  he  entered  upon  the  active 
operations  of  the  war  with  a  deliberate  conviction  that  he 
would  be  successful. 

Though  meaning  to  make  the  war  aggressive  upon  the  first 
opportunity,  the  German  leaders  believed  that  their  first  duty 
would  be  to  defend  their  own  territory,  for,  in  common  with 
the  rest  of  the  world,  they  supposed  that  France  would  open 
the  war  by  a  bold  dash  into  Germany.  They  therefore 
wished  for  nothing  so  much  as  for  time  to  move  their  army 
forward.  This,  as  we  have  seen,  was  granted  them.  Their 
surprise  at  the  delay  of  the  French  was  great,  but  it  soon 
gave  place  to  a  fierce  exultation  as  their  preparations  drew 
nearer  to  completion.  When  all  was  at  length  in  readiness, 
it  was  resolved  to  anticipate  the  enemy,  and  to  carry  the  war 
into  France. 

By  some  means  Yon  Moltke  succeeded  in  impressing  the 


*  An  Englishman,  named  Winsloe,  the  first  officer  killed  in  the  vva”. 


147 


The  First  Blood  of  the  War.  A  Scouting  Party  of  Baden  Officers  Surprised  by 

the  French. 


148 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


French  with  the  idea  that  the  army  of  Prince  Frederick 
Charles  was  massed  about  Treves.  This,  as  we  have  seen, 
caused  the  Emperor  to  apprehend  an  attack  upon  his  left 
flank,  and  accordingly  MacMahon’s  corps  was  drawn  in  from 
the  Rhine.  The  German  plan  of  advance  was  simple,  and 
bore  a  close  resemblance  to  that  which  had  been  so  brilliantly 
successful  in  Bohemia  in  1866.  The  armies  of  Steinmetz 
and  Prince  Frederick  Charles  were  to  unite  and  advance 
towards  Metz,  engaging  the  main  body  of  the  French  if  it 
should  be  found  between  Saarbriick  and  that  place,  whilst 
the  third  army,  under  the  Crown  Prince,  was  to  move  against 
the  French  left  on  the  Rhine,  and  drive  it  through  the  Yosges. 
Then  sweeping  around  to  his  right,  the  Crown  Prince  was  to 
threaten  the  communications  of  the  Emperor,  and  force  him 
to  make  the  retreat  which  would  be  a  disaster  to  the  French 
of  itself,  or  to  stand  and  be  attacked  in  front  and  flank  at 
once.  Events,  as  we  shall  see,  considerably  modified  Yon 
Moltke’s  plan,  though  each  change  was  for  his  advantage 
He  was  perfectly  aware  that  MacMahon  possessed  no  force 
capable  of  opposing  the  advance  of  the  Crown  Prince,  and 
resolved  to  strike  the  blow  at  once.  On  the  4th  of  August, 
the  Crown  Prince  began  his  flank  movement. 

As  we  have  seen  General  Abel  Douay’s  division  had  been 
thrown  forward  to  Weissenbourg  by  MacMahon,  to  cover  the 
movement  of  his  corps  to  the  Yosges.  Douay  reached  his 
position  by  end  of  July,  and  sent  his  patrols  across  the  Lauter, 
which  exchanged  shots  with  the  Bavarian  outposts,  but  failed 
in  consequence  of  the  superior  vigilance  of  the  Germans,  to 
discover  the  concentration  of  the  Crown  Prince’s  army  within 
less  than  a  day’s  march  of  their  lines.  It  was  a  hazardous 
measure  to  throw  Douay  so  far  to  the  front,  but  it  was  one 
which  the  necessity  of  the  case  justified;  but  the  responsi¬ 
bility  of  occupying  the  very  exposed  position  which  was’ 
chosen  by  Douay,  must  rest  upon  himself  and  not  upon  Mac 
Mahon.  He  might  have  pitched  his  camp  ten  miles  farther 
back,  and  have  accomplished  all  that  was  expected  of  him  by 
the  Marshal,  but,  for  reasons  which  he  is  now  powerless  to 


149 


150 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


explain,  he  chose  a  position  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Weissenbourg,  and  but  two  miles  from  the  Bavarian  frontier. 
The  country  in  his  front  was  densely  wooded,  and  admirably 
adapted  to  concealing  the  movements  of  an  army,  and  it 
seems  that  General  Douay  failed  to  cover  his  line  with  an 
adequate  picket  force. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  August,  the  advanced 
forces  of  the  army  of  the  Crown  Prince  arrived  in  front  of 
Douay’s  position ;  these  troops  consisted  of  40,000  men,  well 
supplied  with  artillery.  The  French  troops  were  utterly  un¬ 
conscious  of  the  presence  of  an  enemy,  and  were  quietly 
engaged  in  cooking  their  breakfasts.  The  Prussians  rapidly 
secured  the  heights  commanding  their  camp,  and  posted  their 
artillery.  At  half-past  eight  o’clock,  the  French  were  aroused 
to  a  sense  of  their  danger,  by  a  storm  of  shells  from  the 
Prussian  guns;  they  sprang  to  their  arms  with  alacrity,  and 
were  soon  in  position.  General  Douay  endeavored  to  meet 
the  danger  by  a  counter  attack,  but  was  driven  back  by  the 
deadly  fire  of  the  Germans,  and  forced  to  act  on  the  defensive. 
The  Germans  made  their  attack  with  ardor,  and  the  French 
fought  with  desperate  courage,  but  nothing  could  have  saved 
them  from  being  crushed  by  the  overpowering  force  which 
the  energy  and  genius  of  the  Crown  Prince  had  arrayed 
against  them.  The  Crown  Prince  himself  testifies  to  the 
gallantry  with  which  they  fought  to  maintain  their  positions. 
It  was  in  vain,  however.  General  Douay  was  killed  by  a 
shell  early  in  the  action,  while  heroically  endeavoring  to 
rally  his  men,  and  the  division,  in  spite  of  its  gallant  resist¬ 
ance  was  soon  forced  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  Six  hundred 
prisoners,  one  piece  of  artillery,  and  the  French  camp  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  The  French  fled  rapidly,  and 
in  utter  demoralization  towards  Haguenau,  and  although  the 
Baden  troops  crossed  unopposed  at  Lauterbourg  in  boats 
which  the  French  had  neglected  to  destroy,  and  endeavored 
to  cut  them  off,  the  fugitives  succeeded  in  making  their  escape. 
The  ardor  of  the  Crown  Prince  had  led  him  to  attack  Douay 
before  the  arrival  of  his  cavalry.  Had  his  horse  been  present 


SCALE  OF.  TEN  ENCLISH  MILES 


I 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


151 


the  French  force  would  have  been  annihilated.  The  Germans 
lost  700,  and  the  French  many  more,  in  killed  and  wounded, 
in  this  affair.  The  moral  effect  of  the  victory  was  very  great. 
The  Germans  were  much  elated,  and  their  confidence  in  the 
gallant  leader  who  had  carried  them  to  victory  in  1866  was 
so  great  that  they  declared  the  affair  at  Weissenbourg  the 
prelude  to  a  second  Koniggratz.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
French  were  unnecessarily  cast  down. 

Marshal  MacMahon  was  at  Metz,  in  attendance  upon  a 
council  of  war  when  the  news  of  Douay’s  defeat  reached  him, 
and  he  at  once  set  out  for  his  corps.  He  did  not  appear  to 
understand  the  true  nature  of  the  Crown  Prince’s  movement, 
or  to  credit  the  reports  of  the  fugitives  as  to  the  great 
strength  of  the  German  army  before  him.  With  the  hope 
of  checking  the  German  advance,  he  resolved  to  give  battle 
to  the  Crown  Prince.  Having  rallied  the  fugitives  of  Douay’s 
command  upon  his  other  divisions,  the  Marshal  took  position, 
near  Woerth,  on  the  slopes  of  the  Yosges,  his  object  being 
to  cover  the  railway  from  Strasbourg  to  Bitsche,  and  the 
principal  roads  connecting  the  eastern  and  western  slopes  of 
the  Vosges.  His  left  rested  on  Reichshofen,  his  centre  was 
on  the  eminences  between  Froschweiler  and  Woerth,  and  his 
right  extended  to  beyond  Elsasshausen.  His  position  was 
chosen  with  the  eye  of  a  soldier.  His  line  was  semi-circular, 
presenting  a  convex  front  to  the  enemy,  and,  owing  to  the 
formation  of  the  ground  on  all  sides,  was  capable  of  being 
stoutly  defended.  A  force  attempting  to  pass  him  here  by 
the  road  to  Haguenau,  would  have  exposed  its  flank  to  at¬ 
tack,  while  the  road  through  the  Vosges  could  only  be  gained 
by  dislodging  him.  He  held  his  line  witli  a  force  of  55,000 
men,  consisting  of  his  own  corps,  a  division  of  Felix  Douay’s 
corps  from  Belfort,  and  a  brigade  of  cuirassiers  belonging  to 
Canrobert’s  corps. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  the  Crown  Prince  was  informed  that 
MacMahon  was  concentrating  his  troops  at  Woerth,  and  re¬ 
solved  to  advance  upon  him  before  he  should  receive  further 
reenforcements.  The  march  was  at  once  begun  from  Weissen- 


152 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


bourg,  the  object  being  to  accomplish  the  change  of  front, 
which  has  been  alluded  to,  before  attacking  the  French.  The 
army  of  the  Crown  Prince  now  numbered  130,000  men,  and 
was  plentifully  supplied  with  artillery.  On  the  evening  ol 
the  5th,  the  Fifth  Prussian  Corps  pushed  its  van  from  its 
bivouac  at  Prenschdorf  on  the  height  east  of  Woerth.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  Saur  numerous  camp-fires  of  the  French 
were  visible  during  the  night,  the  French  outposts  occupying 
the  heights  west  of  the  Saur,  opposite  Woerth  and  Gunstett. 

Though  certain  that  he  had  but  a  small  force  as  compared 
with  his  own  to  deal  with,  the  Prince  says  that  it  was  not  his 
intention  to  offer  battle  until  the  change  of  front  had  been  ef¬ 
fected ;  but  the  impatience  of  his  outposts  and  those  of  Mac- 
Mahon  brought  on  heavy  firing  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th.  This  firing  caused  the  Prussians  to  send  a  battalion  into 
Woerth.  At  eight  o’clock  steady  firing  was  heard  on  the 
right  flank,  where  the  Bavarian  troops  were  posted.  This 
and  the  fire  directed  by  the  French  upon  Woerth,  caused  the 
Crown  Prince  to  station  the  entire  artillery  of  the  Prussian 
Fifth  Corps  on  the  heights  east  of  Woerth,  with  the  hope  of 
relieving  the  Bavarians,  who  by  this  time  had  pressed  for 
ward  to  Neschwiller,  where  they  were  hotly  engaged.  Orders 
were  then  sent  to  the  Fifth  Corps  to  break  off  the  engage¬ 
ment,  and  the  Bavarian  Second  Corps,  supposing  the  order  to 
extend  to  them,  obeyed  it  literally.  MacMahon  immediately 
threw  himself  with  fury  upon  the  Prussian  Fifth  Corps,  and 
his  attack  was  so  sharp  that  in  order  to  resist  it  the  Crown 
Prince  was  compelled  to  accept  the  battle.  For  two  hours 
the  struggle  went  on  with  a  desperation  not  excelled  during 
the  war,  but  at  length  the  arrival  of  the  Eleventh  Prussian 
Corps  compelled  the  French  to  fall  back  on  their  centre  and 
resume  the  defensive.  The  losses  on  both  sides  had  been 
heavy,  but  the  French  still  held  a  strong  posjtion,  the  capture 
of  which  now  became  the  object  of  the  Prussians. 

“At  two  o’clock,”  says  the  Crown  Prince,  “the  combat  had 
extended  along  the  entire  line.  It  was  a  severe  struggle.  In 
his  strong  position  on  and  near  the  heights  of  Froschweiller, 
the  enemy  offered  us  a  most  intense  resistance.” 


153 


The  Battle  of  Woerth — MacMahon’s  Last  Charge. 


154 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  W iirtemberg  division  was  now  ordered  to  turn  toward 
Reichshofen  by  way  of  Ebersbach,  and  threaten  to  cut  off 
MacMahon's  retreat,  whilst  the  First  Bavarian  Corps  was  di¬ 
rected  to  attack  at  once  and  dislodge  the  French  from  their 
position  at  Frbscbweiller  and  in  the  neighboring  vineyards. 
“  Between  two  and  three  o’clock,”  says  the  Crown  Prince, 
“  the  enemy,  bringing  fresh  troops  into  the  field,  and  advan¬ 
cing  with  consummate  bravery,  assumed  the  offensive  against 
the  Fifth  and  Eleventh  Prussian  Corps.  But  all  his  assaults 
were  beaten  off.  Thus  the  fight  was  going  on  briskly  at 
Woerth,  neither  party  making  mucb  progress,  till  at  length 
the  brilliant  attack  of  the  First  Bavarian  Corps  at  Gorsdorff, 
and  of  the  First  Wiirtemberg  Brigade  on  the  extreme  left  at 
Ebersbach,  decided  the  day.”  It  was  in  vain  that  mitrail¬ 
leuse,  Chassepot,  and  artillery  opposed  the  victorious  advance 
of  the  Germans,  for  every  regiment  decimated  by  the  French, 
a  new  one  took  its  place.  The  French  saw  themselves  out¬ 
flanked  on  both  wings  by  powerful  corps,  and  their  line 
wavered  and  broke  in  disorder  on  the  right  centre  and  left. 

As  a  last  desperate  resort,  MacMahon,  who  had  exerted 
himself  during  the  battle  to  atone  by  his  presence  and  exam¬ 
ple  for  his  inferiority  of  numbers,  ordered  the  cuirassier 
brigade  which  he  had  borrowed  from  Canrobert  to  charge  the 
Fifth  and  Eleventh  Prussian  Corps — especially  the  artillery 
of  those  troops.  It  was  a  terrible  undertaking,  but  it  was  all 
that  was  left  to  him.  Summoning  the  commander  of  the 
cuirassiers,  who  was  his  personal  friend,  he  ordered  him  to 
charge  the  enemy. 

“  It  is  death,  my  General,”  was  the  reply 

'‘That  is  true,”  replied  the  Marshal,  sadly;  “but  what  can 
we  do?  Let  us  embrace,  my  friend.” 

So  saying  he  clasped  the  gallant  soldier  in  his  arms,  and 
then  ordered  him  to  the  attack.  In  an  instant  the  magnifi¬ 
cent  column  of  horse  was  sweeping  down  upon  the  Prussians. 
It  was  a  grand  charge,  but  it  was  in  vain.  The  Prussians  re¬ 
ceived  the  troopers  with  a  terrible  fire  from  their  artillery 
and  infantry,  which  cut  down  men  and  horses  by  the  hundred. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


155 


The  brigade  was  annihilated — merely  a  handful  returning 
from  the  charge.  It  is  said  that  when  the  heroic  old  Mar¬ 
shal  saw  the  result  of  his  last  venture,  he  burst  into  tears 
of  irrepressible  anguish — tears  which  did  not  shame  his 
manhood. 

The  day  was  now  lost  for  the  French,  and  at  four  o’clock 
MacMahon  reluctantly  gave  the  order  to  retreat.  The  move¬ 
ment  was  covered  by  the  First  and  Second  Divisions,  which 
enabled  the  rest  of  the  corps  to  retreat  without  being  too 
closely  pressed  by  the  Germans.  At  first  the  withdrawal  was 
effected  in  good  order,  but  the  majority  of  the  troops  soon 
became  demoralized,  and  it  was  impossible  for  their  comman¬ 
der  to  control  them.  An  attempt  was  made  to  make  a  stand 
at  Niederbronn,  with  the  artillery,  but  the  Bavarians  cap¬ 
tured  the  guns,  and  active  pursuit  was  made  by  the  German 
army  on  all  the  roads.  The  French  fled  rapidly,  the  demorali¬ 
zation  becoming  greater  at  every  step.  The  French  right, 
though  not  pressed  at  all  after  abandoning  its  position,  gave 
way  to  the  most  disgraceful  panic.  Fleeing  madly,  though 
wholly  unpursued,  a  dense  crowd  took  the  road  through 
Haguenau  towards  Strasbourg.  They  cut  the  horses  from 
the  guns  and  wagons  to  quicken  their  speed,  and  hurried  on. 
Three  thousand  of  these  reached  Strasbourg  without  their 
arms,  and  took  refuge  in  the  fortress,  where  they  were  at 
once  embodied  in  the  garrison.  The  rest  of  the  army  re¬ 
treated  upon  Saverne.  The  confusion  in  this  part  was  almost 
as  great.  The  men  who  had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  battle  so 
nobly,  were  now  utterly  demoralized. 

Marshal  MacMahon  did  what  lay  in  his  power  to  cover  the 
retreat  of  his  men  with  the  few  regiments  who  kept  their 
ranks,  and  finally  succeeded  in  reaching  Saverne,  twenty- five 
miles  from  the  field  of  battle,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  He 
had  lost  all  his  personal  baggage,  nearly  all  his  personal  staff' 
had  been  killed  or  wounded,  and  he  himself  was  worn  out 
with  exhaustion,  having  been  fifteen  hours  in  the  saddle. 

The  French  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded,  in  the 
battle  of  Woerth.  The  Germans  estimated  the  number  at 


156 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


10,000.  They  also  lost  7000  prisoners,  4000  taken  on  the  field 
and  3000  during  the  retreat.  Thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  six 
mitrailleuses,  and  two  eagles  were  taken  by  the  Germans. 
The  German  loss  was  7000  killed  and  wounded.  The  Ger¬ 
mans  bore  willing  testimony  to  the  gallantry  of  the  French 
resistance,  and  none  more  warmly  than  the  gallant  comman¬ 
der  of  the  Third  Army. 

From  Saverne,  where  he  succeeded  in  rallying  the  rem¬ 
nants  of  his  corps,  MacMahon  continued  his  retreat  upon 
Nancy,  closely  followed  by  the  Crown  Prince. 

While  the  battle  was  going  on  at  W oerth  events  of  equal 
importance  were  transpiring  at  the  other  end  of  the  line. 
Upon  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  disaster  at  Weissenbourg, 
the  Emperor  ordered  General  Frossard  to  withdraw  his  corps 
from  the  heights  overlooking  Saarbriick,  which  had  been  held 
by  that  command  since  the  2d  of  August.  Frossard  imme¬ 
diately  obeyed  the  order,  and  on  the  night  of  the  5th  of  Au¬ 
gust,  his  corps  lay  in  the  valley  which  extends  from  Saarbriick 
to  Forbach.  The  latter  town  lies  in  this  valley  at  a  distance 
of  six  miles  from  Saarbriick.  The  valley  is  here  a  mile  in 
width,  but  widens  gradually  to  four  miles  in  the  direction  of 
Saarbriick,  that  town  lying  on  the  left  of 'the  valley.  The 
right  of  this  valley  is  bounded  b}r  the  Spicheren  heights,  run¬ 
ning  from  Forbach  to  Spicheren  village  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  in  a  straight  line.  The  left  of  the  valley  is  bounded 
by  thickly  wooded  heights  running  parallel  with  the  road  from 
Forbach  to  Saarbriick.  The  Spicheren  heights  are  much 
higher  than  those  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley.  They 
rise  in  almost  perpendicular  ascent  several  hundred  feet  above 
the  valley,  and  form  a  natural  fortress.  They  completely 
command  the  valley,  which  is  perfectly  open  and  destitute  of 
all  cover,  and  across  which  an  enemy  must  advance  to  attack 
them. 

As  has  been  said,  the  First  and  Second  German  Armies 
were  ordered  to  advance  upon  the  French  by  the  way  of 
Saarbriick.  This  movement  was  begun  on  the  5th  of  August, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  leading  division  of  Genera] 


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BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


157 


Steinmetz’s  army,  under  General  Von  Kamecke,  occupied 
Saarbriick  and  began  to  reconnoitre  the  French  position.  As 
soon  as  General  Frossard  saw  the  weakness  of  the  German 
force  in  Saarbriick,  he  determined  to  move  back  to  the  Spiche- 
ren  heights,  which  he  at  once  occupied  with  his  whole  corps. 
During  the  action  which  ensued,  he  was  reenforced  by  a  divi¬ 
sion  from  Bazaine’s  corps,  which  brought  his  strength  to  40,- 
000  men,  and  72  guns.  As  the  Germans  advanced  from  Saar¬ 
briick  the  French  opened  fire  upon  them  from  the  heights. 

The  battle  was  opened  about  noon,  by  the  Prussian  14th 
division  of  General  Von  Goben’s  corps,  under  General  Von 
Kamecke.  This  officer  said  that  he  was  greatly  outnumbered 
by  the  French,  but  perceiving  the  advantages  which  would  be 
secured  by  their  dislodgement  from  the  heights,  he  resolved 
to  attack  them  at  once,  knowing  that  the  other  divisions  of 
the  army  were  following  close  in  his  rear,  and  would  soon 
come  up.  He  made  a  bold  dash  at  their  front,  and  also  attemp¬ 
ted  to  turn  their  left  flank  by  Styring,  but  all  his  efforts  were 
repulsed.  By  three  o’clock  he  had  brought  his  entire  division 
under  fire,  and  the  engagement  had  assumed  a  very  sharp  and 
serious  aspect. 

Fortunately  for  him,  the  other  divisions  of  the  corps,  urged 
on  by  the  sound  of  the  cannonade,  now  began  to  arrive  on 
the  field.  Von  Barkenow’s  division  was  the  first  to  reach 
the  spot ;  and  two  of  its  batteries  preceded  it  at  full  speed  to 
Kamecke’s  assistance.  At  the  same  moment  the  oth  division 
under  General  Stiilpnagel,  belonging  to  Prince  Frederick 
Charles’  army,  appeared  on  the  Winterberg  hill.  It  had  been 
stationed  at  Sulzbach  that  morning,  but  upon  the  first  sound 
of  the  battle,  had  been  ordered  forward,  its  only  guide  being 
the  roar  of  the  guns.  General  Von  Goben  had  also  reached 
the  field,  and  he  now  assumed  the  command.  He  at  once  di¬ 
rected  a  vigorous  attack  against  the  French  front,  especially 
against  the  wooded  portion  of  the  declivity.  The  charge  was 
successful,  and  the  wood  was  carried.  On  the  southern  edge 
of  the  wood,  the  French  made  a  stand,  and  bringing  all  their 
resources  to  bear,  endeavored  with  repeated  charges  of  cavalry 


158 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  infantry,  supported  by  a  heavy  artillery  fire,  to  reesta¬ 
blish  their  lines.  The  Prussian  infantry  stood  firm  as  rocks, 
however,  and  their  artillery  rained  a  terrible  fire  upon  Fros- 
sard’s  command.  Two  of  the  batteries  of  the  5th  Prussian 
division  clambered  up  the  steep  and  rugged  hills  by  a  narrow 
mountain  path,  where  men  could  scarcely  climb,  and  esta¬ 
blishing  themselves  on  the  summit,  aided  greatly  in  repulsing 
the  French.  Frossard  then  attempted  a  flank  attack  on  the 
Prussian  left,  but  was  repulsed.  A  last  impetuous  charge 
was  now  made  by  the  bulk  of  Frossard’s  command.  It  was 
his  third  since  the  Germans  had  entered  the  wood ;  “  but,” 
says  General  Steinmetz,  “  like  the  preceding  ones,  this  last 
effort  was  shortened  by  the  imperturbable  calmness  of  our  in¬ 
fantry  and  artillery.  Like  waves  dashing  and  breaking 
against  a  rock,  the  enemy’s  battalions  were  scattered  by  our 
gallant  troops.”  Finding  all  his  efforts  useless,  Frossard  or¬ 
dered  a  general  retreat  of  his  command,  covering  his  move¬ 
ment  with  the  fire  of  his  artillery.  His  retreat  soon  became 
a  rout,  and  only  the  darkness,  and  the  ignorance  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  commanders  of  the  extent  of  their  victory,  saved  him 
from  losing  his  whole  command.  “  It  was  eight  o’clock,” 
says  a  French  writer,  in  describing  the  close  of  the  battle ; 
“the  fight  was  now  in  the  streets;  the  Prussians  were  com¬ 
pletely  victorious,  and  the  remains  of  Frossard’s  corps  d’ 
armde  were  in  full  retreat ;  their  General-in-Chief  had  disap¬ 
peared  in  the  confusion,  and  Forbach  was  on  fire.  The 
scenes  of  despair  were  disheartening,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  flying  in  wild  terror,  not  only  before  the  destructive 
element,  but  also  before  the  shower  of  bullets,  increasing  with 
the  retreat  of  the  soldiers  and  the  advance  of  the  enemy.” 
Baggage,  guns,  caissons,  camp-equipage,  all  were  abandoned 
in  the  flight.  Forbach  was  seized  by  the  13th  Prussian  di¬ 
vision  during  the  battle  on  the  heights,  and  Frossard  was 
thus  cut  off  from  the  direct  road  to  Metz,  and  forced  to  retreat 
to  the  southwest,  leaving  the  road  to  St.  Avoid  in  the  hands 
of  the  Germans.  “The  road  taken  by  the  French  in  their 
flight  was  blocked  by  numerous  wagons,  with  provisions  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


159 


clothing,  and  the  woods  were  filled  with  stragglers,  wandering 
about  in  a  purposeless  way.  Among  the  spoils  of  the  day 
were  several  railway  vans  full  of  confectionery,  and  ten  days 
afterward,  it  was  easier  to  obtain  a  hundred  weight  of  sweet¬ 
meats  at  Forbach,  than  a  loaf  of  ordinary  bread.” 

The  battle  of  Woerth  was  won  by  a  superior  force  of  Ger¬ 
mans  against  an  inferior  force  of  French  ;  but  at  Forbach  the 
case  was  reversed.  The  French  greatly  outnumbered  the 
Prussians  during  the  whole  struggle — fifty-two  French  bat¬ 
talions,  with  the  artillery  of  an  entire  corps,  and  posted  in  an 
almost  impregnable  position,  were  defeated  by  twenty-seven 
Prussian  battalions  supported  by  but  the  artillery  of  one  di¬ 
vision.  The  battle  of  Forbach  demonstrated  their  confidence 
in  their  ability  to  engage  superior  numbers  with  success,  and 
was  a  fine  instance  of  the  daring,  decision,  and  tactical  skill 
of  the  German  commanders. 

“But,”  says  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune , 
“  the  Prussian  victory  was  not  obtained  without  terrible  loss  on 
their  side.  On  Wednesday,  when  I  visited  the  heights,  there 
were  still  many  French  and  Prussians  unburied,  some  of  them 
looking  as  if  only  asleep.  What  has  been  said  about  the 
frightful  effect  of  the  Chassepot  bullet  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  exaggerated,  for  many  of  the  wounds  on  the  Prussian 
bodies  were  horrible  to  look  at.  I  noticed  one  man  whose 
whole  face  was  one  big  wound,  a  ball  having  struck  him  just 
under  the  eye,  and  made  a  hole  one  could  have  put  one’s  fist 
into.  There  was  little  contortion  in  the  bodies,  as  was  to  be 
expected,  most  of  the  wounds  being  gunshot  ones.  There 
was,  however,  some  hand-to-hand  fighting  in  the  final  struggle 
for  the  top  of  the  hill.  The  muskets  and  bayonets  which 
covered  the  ground  were  broken  and  bent  with  blows  given 
and  received.  Even  the  French  officers  taken  prisoners 
admit  the  great  dash  and  bravery  shown  by  the  Prussians  in 
their  attack  on  hills,  which  I  can  say  from  experience 
were  difficult  to  climb  without  an  alpenstock.  They  own 
that  the  mitrailleuses  used  by  the  French  were  very  deadly 
at  close  quarters,  but  they  affirm  that  at  any  distance  the  balls 


160 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


fly  so  wide  that  they  are  little  to  be  dreaded.  Though  some 
of  the  bodies  are  still  unburied,  most  of  them  are  interred, 
and  pious  hands  have  raised  rough  wooden  crosses  above  the 
graves,  with  the  names  of  those  who  sleep  below  inscribed  on 
them.  Frossard’s  division  made  so  precipitate  a  retreat  from 
Forbach,  that  they  left  many  baggage-wagons  and  the  whole 
of  their  pontoon-train  behind  them.  Thus  it  happened  that 
they  did  not  break  the  railway  up  at  Forbach  ;  not  a  rail,  as 
far  as  I  can  see — and  I  have  been  all  along  the  line  from  St. 
Avoid  to  Saarbriick — has  been  disturbed.” 

The  loss  on  both  sides  was  heavy,  that  of  the  French  being 
the  most  severe.  Two  thousand  prisoners  were  taken  by  the 
victors. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  corps  of  General  De  Failly  was 
posted  at  Bitsche,  between  Woerth  and  Forbach.  A  division 
of  this  command  had  reached  MacMahon  at  Niederbronn  just 
in  time  to  cover  his  retreat  upon  Saverne.  As  soon  as  he 
heard  of  Frossard’s  defeat  De  Failly,  perceiving  that  his  posi¬ 
tion  was  untenable,  abandoned  Bitsche  and  retreated  south¬ 
ward  with  the  greatest  precipitation.  He  came  up  with  Mac 
Mahon  at  Severne  on  the  evening  of  Sunday  August  7th, 
his  sudden  and  unexpected  appearance  causing  the  Marshal 
to  believe  at  first  that  his  command  was  a  part  of  the  enemy’s 
pursuing  force. 

It  was  known  in  Metz  that  Frossard  was  hotly  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  and  the  Emperor  and  his  staff  were  in  the 
railway  depot  ready  to  start  for  the  battle-field,  when  a  mes¬ 
senger  arrived’  in  haste  on  a  locomotive,  bringing  the  news 
of  Frossard’s  complete  defeat.  The  news  of  the  disasters  at 
Woerth  and  Forbach  reached  Napoleon  almost  at  the  same 
moment.  It  had  been  an  eventful  day  to  the  French — a  day 
of  two  crushing  defeats,  and  we  can  well  credit  the  statement 
of  a  French  journalist,  that,  as  the  Emperor  returned  to  his 
headquarters  from  the  depot,  “  consternation  was  plainly  visi¬ 
ble  in  his  countenance.” 

King  William  sent  the  following  despatch  to  Queen  Au¬ 
gusta,  announcing  the  victory  of  Woerth  : 


Stragglers  from  the  French  Army  entering  Saverne. 


162 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Good  news.  A  great  victory  has  been  won  by  our  Fritz.  God  be  praised 
for  His  mercy.  We  captured  4000  prisoners,  thirty  guns,  two  stand¬ 
ards,  and  six  mitrailleurs.  MacMahon,  during  the  fight,  was  heavily 
reenforced  from  the  main  army.  The  contest  was  very  severe,  and 
lasted  from  11  o’clock  in  the  morning  until  9  o’clock  at  night,  when  the 
French  retreated,  leaving  the  field  to  us.  Our  losses  were  heavy. 

News  of  the  defeat  of  Frossard  followed  fast  upon  these 
tidings,  and  all  Germany  was  in  a  delirium  of  joy.  In  Berlin 
the  rejoicings  were  enthusiastic.  A  letter  from  that  city, 
written  on  the  7th,  describes  the  scene  on  the  reception  of  the 
news : 

The  capital  apparently  sees  once  more  in  all  their  glory  the  July  days 
of  1866.  The  French  prisoners  were  just  on  the  point  of  quitting  Ber¬ 
lin,  when  new  jubilation  was  heard  through  the  city  from  one  end  to  the 
other,  and  everybody  streamed  yesterday  evening  towards  the  Linden. 
It  was  well  known  there  that  something  new  had  occurred,  but  nothing 
further  was  known,  and  the  masses  rushed  to  the  front  of  the  royal 
palace.  There  Governor-General  von  Bonin  appeared  on  the  balcony 
and  read  the  dispatch  announcing  the  victory  at  Woerth.  Cries  were 
raised  for  the  Queen ;  and  as  the  exalted  lady  stepped  forward  and  bowed 
on  all  sides,  all  those  underneath,  as  if  by  preconcerted  arrangement, 
sang  with  one  voice  Luther’s  famous  hymn,  “  Fine  feste  Burg  is  unser 
Gott.”  It  was  an  undescribably  beautiful  scene,  which  even  the  rain, 
which  fell  heavily  for  about  twenty  minutes,  did  not  materially  spoil. 

Very  different  was  the  effect  of  the  news  in  Paris.  At 
midnight  on  the  6th,  the  Emperor  sent  the  following  telegram 
to  the  Empress : 

Marshal  MacMahon  has  lost  a  battle.  General  Frossard,  on  the  Saar, 
has  been  obliged  to  retire.  His  retreat  was  effected  in  good  order.  All 
can  be  reestablished. 

The  bad  news  came  in  fast,  in  the  following  messages : 

Metz,  August  7,  3.30  a.  m. 

My  communications  have  been  interrupted  with  Marshal  MacMahon. 
[  am  going  to  place  myself  in  the  centre  of  the  position.  Napoleon. 

The  corps  of  General  Frossard  had  to  fight  yesterday  from  2  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon  with  the  entire  army  of  the  enemy.  Having  held  his 
position  until  6  o’clock  he  ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  made  in  good 
order.  (Signed,) 


Lebceuf. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


163 


The  Bourse :  Paris. 


Metz,  8.30  a.  m.,  August  7. 

Communication  with  MacMahon  having  been  severed  nothing  was 
received  from  him  till  last  evening.  General  Lligle  then  announced  that 
MacMahon’s  loss  was  great  in  the  battle,  but  that  his  retirement  was 
effected  in  good  order.  On  the  left  the  action  began  at  about  1  o’clock 
in  the  morning,  but  was  not  serious  until  several  masses  of  the  enemy 
had  concentrated,  before  which  the  second  corps  momentarily  held  its 
ground.  Between  6  and  7  in  the  evening  the  masses  of  the  enemy  be¬ 
came  more  compact,  and  the  second  corps  retired  on  the  Heights.  To¬ 
night  all  is  quiet.  I  go  to  the  centre  of  the  position.  Napoleon. 

General  Headquarters,  Metz,  August  7,  8.30  a.  m. 

That  we  may  hold  our  position  here  it  is  necessary  that  Paris  and 
France  should  consent  to  great  efforts  of  patriotism.  Here  we  lose 
neither  our  coolness  nor  our  confidence.  But  the  trial  is  hard. 

MacMahon,  after  the  battle  of  Reichschoffen,  retired,  at  the  same 
time,  covering  the  road  to  Nancy.  The  corps  of  General  Frossard, 
which  suffered  severely,  is  taking  energetic  measures  for  defence.  The 
Major-General  is  in  the  front. 

The  news  was  carefully  kept  from  the  Parisians  by  the 
Government  until  the  evening  of  the  7th.  On  the  6th,  at  the 
very  moment  when  the  two  battles  were  in  progress,  some 
stock-jobbers  in  the  Paris  Bourse  set  afloat  the  rumor  that  the 
Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  and  25,000  men  had  been  taken 
prisoners  by  MacMahon.  The  rumor  spread  like  wildfire, 


164 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  the  city  was  ablaze  with  excitement.  Shouts  of  triumph 
and  patriotic  songs  were  heard  on  every  side,  houses  were 
decorated  with  flags,  and  money  was  contributed  freely  for 
the  relief  of  the  wounded.  The  Bourse  and  the  square  sur¬ 
rounding  it  were  jammed  with  a  noisy  crowd.  The  scene  on 
the  Boulevards  is  thus  described  by  an  eye-witness : 

They  were  crammed  with  a  frenzied  crowd,  and  I  presently  saw  one  of 
the  most  extraordinary  sights  which  ever  fell  under  my  eye.  Mme. 
Sass  passed  on  her  way  to  the  Grand  Opera.  The  crowd  recognized  her, 
and  forthwith  clamor  for  “  La  Marseillaise”  was  raised.  Excited  to  a  degree 
below  nobody — no  wonder,  flags  were  waved  from  every  window,  the 
boulevard  was  choked  with  frantic  men,  madly  shouting,  or  blubbering 
as  they  hugged  and  kissed  each  other — Mme.  Sass  stood  up  in  the  car¬ 
riage  and  sang  “  La  Marseillaise.”  The  vast  mob  joined  in  the  chorus, 
waving  their  hats  and  stamping  as  they  sang.  A  little  lower  down  the 
boulevard  M.  Capoul,  of  the  Opera  Comique,  being  recognized,  was  like¬ 
wise  summoned  to  sing  “  La  Marseillaise.”  He  obeyed,  got  on  an  omni¬ 
bus  top  and  sang  Rouget  de  1'lsle’s  hymn.  As  I  stood  at  the  corner  of 
the  Rue  Drouot,  where  I  could  look  up  the  Boulevard  Montmartre  and 
down  the  Boulevard  des  Italiens  (both  boulevards  end  at  this  street),  I 
could  see  nothing  but  human  beings,  packed  liked  herrings  on  sidewalk 
and  street,  singing  “  La  Marseillaise,”  waving  their  hats,  or  relieving  their 
over-fraught  hearts  by  tears,  or  by  hugging  and  kissing  their  neighbor. 
The  excitement  was  intense. 

For  an  hour  and  a  half  this  excitement  prevailed.  It  was 
suddenly  brought  to  an  end,  or  rather  given  a  different  char¬ 
acter,  by  the  announcement  that  the  news  was  false,  that  the 
rumor  was  a  mere  stock-jobber’s  manoeuvre,  and  that  its 
authors  had  been  arrested.  The  effect  upon  the  crowd  was 
fearful.  A  general  scream  of  rage  and  grief  went  up  from  the 
vast  throng.  Shouts  of  “  Down  with  the  Brokers  ”  were  heard 
on  all  sides,  and  a  rush  was  made  for  the  Bourse.  “Burn  the 
Bourse,”  shouted  a  score  of  voices;  and  for  a  moment  it 
seemed  that  the  building  was  doomed.  Chairs,  tables,  benches, 
and  every  movable  object  were  dashed  to  pieces,  and  nothing 
but  the  prompt  arrival  of  the  police,  who  succeeded  in  clear¬ 
ing  the  Exchange  saved  the  edifice. 

The  mob  then  rushed  to>the  official  residence  of  the  Prime 
Minister  M.  Ollivier,  in  the  Place  Vendome,  and  summoning 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


165 


him  to  the  balcony  demanded  the  news.  The  Minister  assured 
them  that  no  news  had  been  received  from  the  army,  save  that 
the  troops  were  in  strong  positions,  and  the  future  promising. 
At  the  same  time  he  pledged  himself  that  such  tidings  as 
might  be  received,  should  not  be  delayed  one  minute,  whether 
it  was  good  or  bad.  “We  will  communicate  the  bad  news,” 
he  added,  “  with  full  confidence  in  the  judgment  and  patriotism 
of  the  Parisian  population,  who  will  understand  that  an  ephem¬ 
eral  check  can  have  no  influence  on  the  destiny  of  France.” 
His  remarks  had  the  effect  of  pacifying  the  mob,  and  though 
the  excitement  was  kept  up  until  midnight,  in  was  more 
orderly  and  more  patriotic. 

In  spite  of  the  promise  of  the  Premier,  the  news  from  the 
army  was  kept  back  by  the  Government  until  the  evening  of 
the  7th,  when  the  following  Proclamation  by  the  Empress 
was  published : 

Frenchmen  ' The  opening  of  the  war  has  not  been  favorable  to  us. 
We  have  suffered  a  check.  Let  us  be  firm  under  this  reverse,  and  let 
us  hasten  to  repair  it.  Let  there  be  but  one  party  in  the  land — that  of 
France  ;  a  single  flag — that  of  the  national  honor.  I  come  among  you, 
faithful  to  my  mission  and  duty.  You  will  see  me  the  first  in  danger  to 
defend  the  flag  of  France.  I  adjure  all  good  citizens  to  maintain  order. 
To  agitate  would  be  to  conspire  with  our  enemies. 

Done  at  the  Palace  of  the  Tuileries,  the  7th  day  of  August,  1870,  at 
11  o’clock  A.  M. 

(Signed,)  The  Empress  Regent, 

Eugenie. 

This  failed  to  satisfy  the  people,  who  insisted  upon  details, 
when  the  dispatches  of  the  Emperor  and  Marshal  Lebceuf, 
already  given,  were  made  public.  They  were  accompanied 
by  the  following  appeal  from  the  Ministry. 

Details  of  our  losses  are  wanting.  Our  troops  are  full  of  dan.  The 
situation  is  not  compromised,  but  the  enemy  is  on  our  territory,  and  a 
serious  effort  is  necessary.  A  battle  appears  imminent. 

In  the  presence  of  this  grave  news  our  duty  is  plain.  We  appeal  to 
the  patriotism  and  the  energy  of  all.  The  chambers  have  been  con¬ 
voked.  We  are  placing  Paris  with  all  possible  haste  in  a  state  of  de¬ 
fence. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  execution  of  military  preparations  we  declart 


166 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  capital  in  a  state  of  siege.  There  must  be  no  faint-heartedness,  no 
divisions.  Our  resources  are  immense.  Let  us  pursue  the  struggle 
without  flinching,  and  this  country  ivill  be  saved. 

Paris,  the  7th  of  August,  1870,  at  10  p.  m.,  by  order  of  the  Empress, 
Regent.  (Signed,) 

M.  0 1, liver,  Minister  of  Justice. 

Duke  de  Grammont,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 

M.  Chevandier  de  Valdrome,  Minister  of  the  Interior. 

M.  Segris,  Minister  of  Finances. 

General  Vicompte  de  Jean,  Minister  of  War  ad  interim. 

The  next  day  the  Ministers  issued  the  following  appeal : 

Frenchmen  ! — We  have  told  you  the  whole  truth  ;  it  is  now  for  you 
to  fulfil  your  duty.  Let  one  single  cry  issue  from  the  breasts  of  all,  from 
one  end  of  France  to  the  other.  Let  the  whole  people  rise  quivering, 
and  sworn  to  fight  the  great  fight.  Some  of  our  regiments  have  suc¬ 
cumbed  before  overwhelming  numbers,  but  our  army  has  not  been  van¬ 
quished.  The  same  intrepid  breath  still  animates  it.  Let  us  support 
it.  To  a  momentarily  successful  audacity  we  will  oppose  an  union  which 
conquers  destiny.  Let  us  fall  back  upon  ourselves,  and  our  invaders 
shall  hurl  themselves  against  a  rampart  of  human  breasts.  As  in  1792, 
and  at  Sebastopol,  let  our  reverses  be  the  school  of  our  victories.  It 
would  be  a  crime  to  doubt  for  an  instant  the  safety  of  our  country ;  and 
a  greater  still  not  to  do  our  part  to  secure  it.  Up,  then,  up  1  and  you 
inhabitants  of  the  Centre,  the  North,  and  the  South,  upon  whom  the 
burthen  of  war  does  not  fall,  hasten  with  unanimous  enthusiasm  to  the 
help  of  your  brethren  in  the  East.  Let  France,  united  in  success,  be 
still  more  united  under  trial ;  and  may  God  bless  our  arms  ! 

It  was  plain  to  the  people  of  Paris  that  the  disasters  which 
had  befallen  the  army  were  more  serious  than  the  Ministers 
were  willing  to  admit,  and  that  the  Government  was  fright¬ 
ened.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  ill-advised  than  this 
frantic  appeal  to  the  nation — this  clear  confession  that  the 
Ministers  had  no  confidence  in  the  future;  the  effect  was  in 
keeping  with  the  appeal,  Paris  was  panic  stricken,  and  symp¬ 
toms  of  dfsorder  were  seen  on  every  hand. 

The  Chambers  met  on  the  9th  of  August.  At  one  o’clock 
a  vast  throng  had  assembled  before  the  Palace  of  the  Corps 
Legislatif,  and  the  Deputies  were  received  with  cries  which 
indicated  plainly  that  trouble  was  at  hand.  The  National 
Guard,  which  surrounded  the  hall,  were  ordered  to  disperse 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


1G7 


The  Arch  of  Triumph:  Paris. 

the  crowd,  but  they  “refused  to  advance  against  their  fellow 
citizens.”  The  cavalry  of  the  regular  array  on  duty  in  the 
city  was  then  called  up,  and  the  order  given  to  clear  the 
streets.  The  mob  made  no  resistance,  but  withdrew  shouting. 

In  Metz  matters  were  quite  as  bad.  The  French,  both  sol¬ 
diers  and  civilians,  had  been  so  confident  of  success,  had  in¬ 
dulged  in  such  bright  visions  of  glory,  and  such  high  opinions 
of  their  own  powers,  that  the  reaction  consequent  upon  their 
two  defeats  was  terrible.  They  could  at  fi  st  scarcely  realize 
that  the  favorite  Marshal  of  France  had  been  beaten,  even  by 
a  superior  force,  and  having  realized  it,  they  were  seized  with 
a  profound  distrust  of  all  their  commanders,  a  feeling  which 


168 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  news  that,  on  the  very 
same  day  when  MacMahon  had  succumbed  to  the  overwhelm¬ 
ing  columns  of  the  Crown  Prince,  Forssard  had  been  driven 
from  his  stronghold  by  an  inferior  force.  Exaggeration  is 
natural  to  the  French  mind,  and  this  time  the  feeling  had  full 
play.  Metz  was  a  scene  of  confusion  and  disorder,  the  people 
imagining  the  Prussians  at  their  gates,  became  considerably 
demoralized.  Many  fled  from  the  city.  The  most  distressing 
rumors  prevailed  on  every  hand.  “  Amongst  the  lower  clas¬ 
ses,”  says  the  Count  de  la  Chapelle,  “  the  excitement  had 
reached  almost  to  madness.  Bands  of  men  were  parading  the 
streets,  asking  for  revenge,  and  stopping  any  looker  on  who 
had  a  foreign  appearance.  Several  English  and  American 
correspondents  were  badly  handled  by  the  mob,  and  the  au¬ 
thorities  were  compelled  to  put  them  under  arrest,  as  being 
the  only  means  to  protect  them  from  the  infuriated  people, 
who  fancied  they  saw  in  those  honorable  gentlemen  a  lot  of 
Prussian  spies.” 


Place  Vendome  and  Napoleon  Column  :  Paris. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


169 


CHAPTER  V. 

TRUE  POLICY  OF  TIIE  FRENCH  AFTER  TnEIR  DEFEATS — AFFAIRS  NOT 
DESPERATE — THE  EMPEROR  PROPOSES  TO  RETREAT  UPON  CHALONS— 
HIS  PLAN  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE  MINISTERS — TIIE  ARMY  ORDERED  TO 
CONCENTRATE  AT  METZ — FATAL  DELAYS — IGNORANCE  AS  TO  THE  MOVE¬ 
MENTS  OF  THE  GERMANS — VIGOR  OF  VON  MOLTKE’S  MOVEMENTS — KING 
WILLIAM’S  ADDRESS  TO  TIIE  ARMY— TnE  INVASION  OF  FRANCE — TnE 
KING’S  PROCLAMATION  TO  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE— REMOVAL  OF  MARSHAL 
LEBCEUF — DECISION  OF  THE  EMPEROR — ARRIVAL  OF  GENERAL  CHAN- 
GARNIER  AT  METZ— HIS  RECEPTION  BY  THE  EMPEROR — THE  COUNCIL  OF 
WAR — NAPOLEON  RESIGNS  IIIS  COMMAND — APPOINTMENT  OF  MARSHAL 
BAZAINE  TO  THE  COMMAND  OF  THE  ARMY — DEPARTURE  OF  THE  EM¬ 
PEROR  FROM  METZ — BAZAINE  RESOLVES  TO  RETREAT  TO  CHALONS — 
FATAL  DELAYS — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  GERMAN  ARMIES  BEFORE  METZ — VON 
MOLTKE  DISCOVERS  THE  WITHDRAWAL  OF  THE  FRENCH — BATTLE  OF 
COURCELLES — EFFORTS  OF  THE  GERMANS  TO  INTERCEPT  BAZAINE — 
SKETCH  OF  TnE  FRENCH  LINE  OF  RETREAT — BAZAINE  STILL  DELAYS — 
PASSAGE  OF  THE  MOSELLE  BY  THE  GERMANS — THE  BATTLE  OF  VION- 
VILLE— A  BLOODY  ENGAGEMENT — SUCCESS  OF  THE  GERMAN  PLANS  — 
BAZAINE  RETIRES  TO  TnE  VICINITY  OF  METZ — THE  NEW  FRENCH  POSI¬ 
TION — INCREASED  aCTIVITY  OF  THE  GERMANS  — THE  FRENCH  MARSHAL 
LOSES  IIIS  LAST  CHANCE  OF  ESCAPE — THE  BATTLE  OF  GRAVELOTTE— A 
GREAT  VICTORY  FOR  GERMANY— BAZAINE  DRIVEN  UNDER  THE  GUNS  OF 
METZ — THE  INVESTMENT  OF  THE  FRENCH  POSITION — THE  SIEGE  OF 
METZ  BEGUN. 


lost.  It  was  true  that  the  power  of  inaugurating  offen- 


sive  movements  bad  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  commander,  but  the  Emperor  had  still  left  to  him  the 
adoption  of  a  vigorous  defensive.  He  had  been  greatly  dis¬ 
heartened  by  the  state  of  the  army  at  the  outset  of  the  cam¬ 
paign,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  forced  to  resign  his  inten¬ 
tion  of  invading  Germany;  but  these  evils  while  they  were 
powerful  in  preventing  an  advance  were  not  as  fatal  to  a  defen- 


170 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


•five  policy.  He  bad  lost  the  use  of  MacMahon’s  and  De  Failly’s 
commands  for  present  operations,  but  he  still  had  the  remnants 
of  Frossard’s  corps  and  the  rest  of  the  army.  His  true  policy, 
therefore,  was  to  concentrate  these  commands  with  the  utmost 
rapidity,  abandon  Metz  and  the  frontier,  and  fall  back  to  a  new 
line,  nearer  Paris,  before  the  Germans  should  prevent  him,  as 
he  must  have  known  they  would  surely  seek  to  do.  MacMahon 
was  retreating  towards  Chalons,  where  fresh  troops  were  being 
gathered,  and  it  would  have  been  the  part  of  wisdom  for  the 
Emperor  to  retreat  upon  that  place.  Ten  days  at  the  least  would 
have  been  gained  by  such  a  movement,  during  which  the  new 
levies  would  have  been  brought  up  and  organized  an  army 
of  at  least  280,000  (all  but  35,000  being  old  soldiers),  and  650 
guns  would  have  been  assembled  at  Chalons,*  an  intrenched 
position  would  have  been  secured,  and  all  France  would  have 
been  behind  the  army.  In  such  a  case,  the  German  advance 
would  not  have  been  as  rapid  as  it  proved  under  the  actual 
circumstances.  The  fortresses  of  Strasbourg,  Metz,  Toul, 
Verdun,  Thionville,  Phalsbourg,  and  Bitsche,  would  have  re¬ 
quired  to  be  watched,  at  least  80,000  men  being  needed  for 
such  service,  and  the  advance  of  the  German  trains  must  of 
necessity  have  been  slow.  A  bold  and  fearless  confession  of 
the  necessity  of  the  case,  a  defiant  and  hopeful  tone  and  ener¬ 
getic  measures  on  the  part  of  the  Government  would  have 
silenced  the  discontented  by  arousing  the  patriotism  of  the 
French,  and  France  would  have  met  her  enemy  on  her  second 
line  on  better  terms.  But  boldness,  decision,  and  vigor  — 
above  all  rapidity  of  execution,  were  needed  by  the  French 
for  the  securing  of  these  advantages,  and  these  qualities  were 
wofully  lacking. 

The  Emperor’s  first  care,  after  the  events  of  the  6th,  was  to 
mass  his  army  at  Metz.  L’Admirault,  with  the  Fourth  Corps 
was  moved  from  Thionville  to  Metz,  where  the  Third  Corps 
under  Bazaine,  and  the  Imperial  Guard  under  Bourbaki,  were 
encamped.  A  portion  of  Canrobert’s  corps  was  also  brought  up 

*  The  Metz  army  and.  that  which  MacMahon  afterwards  led  to  Sedan,  footed 
up  this  number. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


171 


to  Metz,  and  to  that  place  Frossard  led  his  shattered  Second 
Corps  after  the  battle  of  Forbach.  This  force  numbered  140,000 
men.  As  a  first  step,  Bazaine  was  ordered  to  occupy  the  line  of 
the  Nied  in  order  to  rally  the  Second  Corps  upon  his  command. 

The  Emperor  was  anxious  to  withdraw  with  his  army  to 
Chalons,  and  was  fully  aware  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost  in 
the  execution  of  this  movement.  He  communicated  his  in¬ 
tention  to  the  Regency  at  Paris,  and  the  Council  of  Ministers 
at  first  approved  it.  Two  days  later,  however,  M.  Emile  01- 
livier  informed  the  Emperor  that,  upon  mature  deliberation, 
the  Council  had  decided  that  it  had  been  too  hasty  in  approv¬ 
ing  the  retreat  of  the  army  upon  Chalons,  inasmuch  as  “the 
abandonment  of  Lorraine  could  only  produce  a  deplorable 
effect  upon  the  public  mind.”  He,  therefore,  advised  the  Em¬ 
peror  to  abandon  his  project;  and  in  an  evil  hour  for  his  coun¬ 
try  and  for  himself,  Napoleon  listened  to  and  was  guided  by 
the  advice  of  his  chicken-hearted  minister.  Having  decided 
to  remain  at  Metz,  the  Emperor  now  endeavored  to  mass  his 
forces  “  in  the  hope  that  he  might  be  able  to  fall  upon  one  of 
the  Prussian  armies  before  they  had  effected  their  junction.” 
A  week — the  most  precious  week  of  the  war  to  the  French  — 
was  suffered  to  slip  by  in  irresolution  and  inaction.  The  Em- 
poror  was  in  utter  ignorance  of  the  movements  or  designs  of 
the  enemy.  He  only  knew  that  they  were  approaching  Metz, 
and  he  excuses  his  irresolution  by  stating  that  his  movements 
were  uniformly  embarrassed  “  by  the  absolute  ignorance  in 
which  we  always  remained  concerning  the  position  and  the 
strength  of  the  hostile  armies.  So  well  did  the  Prussians  con¬ 
ceal  their  movements  behind  their  formidable  shelter  of  cav¬ 
alry,  which  they  deployed  before  them  in  all  directions,  that, 
notwithstanding  the  most  persevering  inquiries,  it  was  never 
really  known  where  the  mass  of  their  troops  was,  nor,  in  con¬ 
sequence,  to  what  points  the  chief  efforts  of  our  army  should 
be  directed.”  It  was  a  situation  most  trying  to  the  Emperor. 
He  had  little  hope  of  success  in  the  approaching  conflict  with 
the  enemy,  and  he  dared  not  act  in  accordance  with  his  con¬ 
victions  for  fear  of  producing  trouble  in  Paris. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  "WAR 


Meanwhile  the  German  commander  was  determined  that 
the  French  army  should  not  leave  Metz,  and  nothing  gave 
him  so  much  pleasure  as  the  news  that  his  adversary  still  lin¬ 
gered  near  that  place.  The  week  which  was  passed  by  the 
French  in  irresolution,  was  spent  by  the  Germans  in  unceas¬ 
ing  activity.  The  Crown  Prince  was  left  to  continue  his  pur¬ 
suit  of  MacMahon,  and  the  Baden  contingent  was  sent  to  at¬ 
tack  Strasbourg — a  striking  proof  of  Von  Moltke’s  confidence 
in  his  ability  to  manage  the  Emperor  with  the  1st  and  2nd 
armies.  The  concentration  of  the  1st  and  2nd  armies  was 
hastened  with  all  possible  vigor,  the  King  himself  being  in 
immediate  command  of  both.  On  the  8th  of  August,  he 
issued  the  following  proclamation  to  his  troops: 

Soldiers  The  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  forced  back  after  bloody  fight¬ 
ing,  has  already  carried  a  great  part  of  our  army  over  the  frontier. 
Many  corps  will  enter  upon  the  French  soil  to-day  and  to-morrow.  I 
expect  that  the  self-disc.ipline  with  which  you  have  heretofore  distin¬ 
guished  yourselves,  will  be  also  especially  maintained  in  the  enemy’s  ter¬ 
ritory.  We  carry  on  no  war  against  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the 
land ;  it  is,  on  the  contrary,  the  duty  of  every  honest  soldier,  to  protect 
private  property,  and  not  to  allow  the  good  reputation  of  our  army  to 
be  marred  by  even  one  example  of  lawlessness.  I  depend  upon  the  ex¬ 
cellent  feeling  which  possesses  the  army,  but  also  upon  the  vigilance 
and  rigor  of  all  commanders. 

On  the  10th,  the  1st  and  2nd  German  armies  crossed  the 
frontier,  and  on  the  11th  they  were  united  on  the  soil  of 
France.  The  King  at  once  issued  the  following  proclamation 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  departments  occupied  by  the  German 
armies : 

We,  Wilhelm,  King  of  Prussia,  give  notice  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
French  departments  in  possession  of  the  German  army  as  follows: 
After  the  Emperor  Napoleon  had  attacked  by  sea  and  by  land  the  Ger¬ 
man  nation,  which  desired,  and  still  desires,  to  live  at  peace  with  the 
French  people,  I  assumed  the  chief  command  over  the  German  armies 
in  order  to  repel  this  attack.  In  the  progress  of  events,  I  have  had  oc¬ 
casion  to  cross  the  French  boundary.  I  make  war  with  the  French  sol¬ 
diers,  and  not  with  the  citizens  of  France.  These  will,  therefore,  con¬ 
tinue  to  enjoy  a  perfect  security  of  their  persons  and  their  property  just 
so  long  as  they  do  not  deprive  me,  by  their  own  hostile  acts  against  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


173 


German  troops,  of  the  right  to  extend  to  them  my  protection.  The 
generals  who  command  the  different  corps  will  establish  by  especial 
regulations,  which  shall  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  public,  the 
measures  which  are  to  be  taken  against  communities  or  against  single 
persons,  who  set  themselves  in  opposition  to  the  usages  of  war.  They 
will  in  similar  manner  fix  everything  in  regard  to  requisitions  which 
shall  be  demanded  by  the  necessities  of  the  troops.  They  will  also  fix 
the  rate  of  exchange  between  German  and  French  currency,  in  order  to 
make  the  single  transactions  between  the  troops  and  the  people  easy. 

The  Emperor  now  resolved  upon  a  step  which  should  have 
been  taken  the  moment  he  found  himself  unable  to  order  the 
retreat  upon  Paris.  He  was  almost  an  invalid,  and  was  phy¬ 
sically  incapable  of  leading  his  troops  in  battle ;  and  he  was 
conscious  that  he  “  was  being  made  responsible  for  the 
wretched,  situation  of  the  army.”  He  removed  Marshal  Le- 
bceuf  from  his  position  of  Major-General  of  the  army,  and 
suffered  the  staff  which  had  so  deceived  him  to  fall  into  well- 
merited  disgrace.  He  had  seen  the  situation  from  the  first, 
clearer  than  those  officers  who  had  sought  to  flatter  him  with 
hopes  of  success,  and  knowing  that  the  time  had  now  come 
when  he  must  think  of  the  interests  of  his  country  as  apart 
from  those  of  his  dynasty,  he  determined  to  relinquish  the 
command  of  the  army  into  the  hands  of  a  general  who  should 
be  free  to  act  for  the  good  of  France  without  reference  to  the 
Empire. 

On  the  evening  of  the  11th  of  August,  a  council  of  war  was 
convened  at  the  Imperial  headquarters  at  Metz.  “  The  great 
question  to  solve,  was  the  appointment  of  a  general,  popular 
enough  to  inspire  confidence,  and  who  would  not  hesitate  in 
taking  such  a  serious  responsibility.  Changarnier,  the  old 
and  popular  general  of  Africa,  had  arrived  at  Metz ;  he  came 
in  the  moment  of  danger,  to  offer  his  sword  to  the  Monarch 
who  had  sent  him  into  exile;  he  brought  the  services  of  his 
rare  experience  to  the  patrie  en  danger.  The  old  general  was 
handsomely  received  by  the  Emperor,  and  from  that  moment 
the  veteran  took  the  greatest  part  in  the  council  of  war,  and 
exercised  a  benevolent  influence  over  its  decisions. 

“  The  important  discussion  for  the  choice  of  a  new  General- 


174 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


en-Chef  was  the  order  of  the  day.  The  Emperor  was  presid¬ 
ing,  and  after  a  few  sensible  remarks  on  the  reasons  inducing 
him  to  give  up  the  command,  he  recommended  to  his  lieu¬ 
tenants  to  consider  the  importance  of  their  resolution,  and  he 
exhorted  them  to  put  aside  all  feeling  of  ambition,  in  presence 
of  the  grave  events  which  had  occurred,  and  of  the  great  task 
they  had  to  fulfil ;  for  himself,  he  was  determined  not  to  in¬ 
fluence  in  the  least  their  decision  ;  and  after  those  few  sen¬ 
tences,  the  Emperor  buried  silently  his  face  in  his  hands,  and 
waited,  without  adding  a  word,  for  the  nomination  of  his  suc¬ 
cessor  to  the  Armee  du  Khin. 

“The  meeting  was  a  stormy  one.  The  favorites  of  the 
Court,  the  generals  de  salon  of  the  Second  Empire,  those  ego¬ 
tistical  men,  who,  taking  advantage  of  the  noted  .  kindness 
and  favor  of  their  sovereign,  had  helped  to  plunge  him  into 
misfortunes  without  parallel,  could  not  entertain  the  idea  to 
give  up  their  projects,  and  to  be  commanded  by  a  general  de¬ 
signated  at  once  by  his  rank,  his  qualities,  and  the  prestige 
of  his  glorious  campaigns.  But  Changarnier’s  resistance 
overcame  the  petty  intrigues,  and  Marshal  Bazaine,  the  illus¬ 
trious  soldier  from  the  ranks,  was  appointed  to  the  supreme 
command  of  the  Armee  du  Khin,  in  conjunction  with  Mac- 
Mahon,  who  was  to  take  the  command-in-chief  of  his  own 
corps,  also  of  the  corps  of  De  Failly,  Felix  Douay,  and  of  the 
new  columns  in  formation  at  Chalons. 

“In  assuming  the  command  (August  12th),  Marshal  Baz¬ 
aine,  in  a  bulletin  to  the  army,  explained  briefly  the  efficient 
measures  he  intended  to  take,  and  that,  putting  aside  the  sys¬ 
tem  followed  by  his  predecessor,  he  would  act  at  once  ener¬ 
getically.  The  new  Commander-in-Chief  ordered  everybody 
to  take  the  field,  to  camp  in  their  respective  quarters.”  * 

It  was  now  urged  upon  the  Emperor  that  there  was  danger 
of  his  being  detained  at  Metz  by  the  Germans,  and  he  was 
advised  to  withdraw  to  Chalons.  He  decided  to  do  so,  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  the  14th  of  August,  left  Metz  for 
Yerdun,  accompanied  by  the  Prince  Imperial.  He  addressed 


*  The  War  of  1870.  By  Count  de  la  Chapelle.  Pp.  39-42. 


Cathedral  of  Notre  Pame.  Front  View  :  Paris. 


175 


176 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  following  proclamation  to  the  people  of  Metz  upon  his 
departure  from  that  city  : 

On  quitting  you  to  fight  the  invaders,  I  confide  to  your  patriotism 
the  defence  of  this  great  city.  You  will  never  allow  the  enemy  to  take 
possession  of  this  bulwark  of  France,  and  I  trust  you  will  rival  the  army 
in  loyalty  and  courage.  I  shall  ever  remember  with  gratitude  the  re¬ 
ception  I  have  found  within  your  walls,  and  I  hope  that  in  more  joyous 
times  I  may  be  able  to  return  to  thank  you  for  your  noble  conduct. 

Bazaine  assumed  the  command  of  the  army  on  the  morning 
of  the  12th  of  August,  and  at  once  determined  on  making  the 
retreat  upon  Chalons,  upon  which  the  Emperor  had  at  first 
decided.  Had  he  moved  with  promptness  and  rapidity,  he 
would  doubtless  have  reached  Yerdun  in  safety,  for  it  was  not 
yet  in  the  power  of  his  enemy  to  prevent  his  escape  from 
Metz ;  but  here  again  the  French  delayed,  and  the  chance  of 
escape  was  lost.  Had  Bazaine  been  better  informed  of  the 
enemy’s  movements,  his  course  would  no  doubt  have  been 
different;  but  it  seems  that  he  was  totally  in  the  dark  as  to 
the  designs  or  position  of  the  Prussians. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  the  King  of  Prussia  arrived  before 
Metz  from  St.  Avoid,  with  the  1st  and  2nd  armies, 
numbering  at  least  250,000  men,  with  750  guns.  He  disposed 
his  forces  in  a  huge  semicircle,  enveloping  the  town  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Moselle.  Even  then,  Bazaine  seemed  igno¬ 
rant  that  he  had  the  main  force  of  the  Prussians  in  front  of 
him. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  French  army  began  its 
retreat  across  the  Moselle.  The  men  were  in  good  spirits, 
and  had  confidence  in  their  commander.  The  chief  thing 
now  wras  to  make  sure  of  the  retreat.  Two  more  days  had 
been  wasted,  but  there  was  still  a  chance.  Bazaine  should 
have  trusted  to  the  fortress  and  garrison  of  Metz  for  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  his  rear,  and  have  made  for  Verdun  with  lightning 
speed.  He  failed  to  do  so,  however.  His  retreat  was  con¬ 
ducted  leisurely.  Three  corps  of  his  army  remained  around 
Metz  during  the  14th,  on  the  east  of  the  city,  as  if  sure  of 
being  able  to  retire  when  they  wished. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


177 


Yon  Moltke  was  well  pleased  with  this  absence  of  haste  on 
the  part  of  the  French,  as  it  gave  him  all  the  more  time  for 
carrying  out  his  plan  of  penning  that  army  up  in  Metz.  He 
appreciated  the  value  of  time  more  than  his  adversary  seemed 
capable  of  doing,  and  his  movements  were  marked  by  a  de¬ 
cision  and  rapidity  which  were  certain  of  success.  His  design 
was  to  hold  Bazaine  at  Metz  with  one  portion  of  his  com¬ 
mand,  while  at  the  same  time  he  cut  him  off  from  Verdun 
with  the  other.  A  portion  of  the  army  of  Prince  Frederick 
Charles  was  left  with  Steinmetz  on  the  east  of  Metz,  but  the 
bulk  of  that  command  was  moved  to  the  Moselle  at  Pont-a- 
Mousson,  where  it  passed  that  river,  and  moved  upon  Baz- 
aine’s  line  of  retreat  to  Verdun. 

In  the  meantime,  in  order  to  ascertain  what  the  French 
were  doing,  and  to  cover  the  movement  of  the  2d  army,  Gene¬ 
ral  Steinmetz  was  ordered  to  make  a  strong  recon noissance 
towards  Metz;  this  he  did  on  the  14th,  and  his  reconnoissance 
was  soon  changed  into  a  sharp  attack,  as  he  discovered  un¬ 
mistakable  signs  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  French  from 
Metz.  The  fight,  since  known  as  the  battle  of  Courcelles,  was 
stubborn  and  sanguinary,  the  French  occupied  numerous 
lines  of  rifle  pits,  and  held  several  villages  in  which  they  had 
strongly  intrenched  themselves.  The  Prussian  attack  was 
made  with  great  determination,  and  the  French  were  com¬ 
pelled  to  send  back  the  Fourth  Corps,  which  had  almost 
crossed  the  river  at  Metz,  to  the  assistance  of  the  troops  en¬ 
gaged.  The  fighting  lasted  until  nightfall,  the  Germans 
having  forced  the  French  back  under  the  guns  of  the  fortress. 
Both  sides  claimed  the  victory,  the  advantage  was  evidently 
with  the  Germans. 

The  Emperor,  who  had  left  Metz  that  afternoon,  passed  the 
night  at  Longueville,  a  village  on  the  road  to  Verdun,  from 
which  he  sent  the  following  dispatch  to  the  Empress: 

Lonoueviixe,  August  14,  10  p.  m. 

The  army  commenced  to  cross  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Moselle  this 
morning.  Our  advance  guard  had  no  knowledge  of  the  presence  of  any 
force  of  th  ■  enemy.  When  half  our  army  had  crossed  over,  the  Prus- 
12 


178 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


sians  suddenly  attacked  in  great  force.  After  a  fight  of  four  hours,  they 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss  to  them.  Napoleon. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  he  resumed  his  journej'  to 
Verdun  under  the  protection  of  a  strong  escort.  An  hour 
after  his  departure,  the  house  in  which  he  had  passed  the 
night  was  riddled  by  the  fire  of  the  Prussian  artillery,  which 
had  come  up  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  French  army  over 
the  same  road. 

King  William  sent  the  following  telegram  to  the  Queen  of 
Prussia  on  the  night  of  the  14th : 

Yesterday  evening  victorious  combat  near  Metz,  by  troops  of  the 
Seventh  and  First  Army  Corps.  Details  still  wanting.  I  am  going  at 
once  to  the  battle-field. 

The  advance-guard  of  the  Seventh  Corps  attacked,  last  evening  to¬ 
wards  5  o’clock,  the  retreating  enemy,  who  took  up  a  position  and  called 
reenforcements  from  the  fortress.  Parts  of  the  Thirteenth  and  Four¬ 
teenth  Divisions,' and  of  the  First  Corps,  supported  the  advance-guard. 
A  very  bloody  fight  spread  along  the  whole  line ;  the  enemy  was  thrown 
back  at  all  points,  and  the  pursuit  was  carried  as  far  as  the  glacis  of  the 
outworks.  The  neighborhood  of  the  fortress  permitted  the  enemy  to 
cover  his  wounded  to  a  great  extent.  After  our  wounded  were  cared 
for,  the  troops  withdrew  at  daybreak  into  their  old  bivouacs.  The  troops 
are  reported  to  have  all  of  them  fought  with  a  wonderful  energy  and 
gayety  not  to  be  expected.  I  have  seen  many  of  them,  and  have  thanked 
them  from  my  heart.  The  joy  was  overpowering.  I  spoke  with  Gene¬ 
rals  Steinmetz,  Zastrow,  Manteuffel,  and  Gbben. 

Bazaine  passed  the  night  of  the  14th  in  continuing  his 
withdrawal  from  Metz,  and  Von  Moltke  made  use  of  the 
same  time  to  hasten  forward  the  army  of  Prince  Frederick 
Charles,  and  to  follow  it  the  next  day  with  the  bulk  of  the 
1st  army. 

There  are  three  roads  leading  from  Metz  to  Verdun.  Two 
of  these  unite  at  Gravelotte,  at  a  distance  of  five  miles  from 
the  city.  The  southernmost  leads  direct  to  Verdun  through 
liezonville,  Vionville,  and  Mars-le-Tour,  and  is  the  shortest 
of  all.  The  next  is  somewhat  longer,  and  passes  through 
Doncourt  and  Jarny  to  Etain,  where  it  unites  with  the  third 
and  northernmost  and  longest,  which  leads  from  Metz  almost 
in  a  northerly  direction  along  the  Moselle  to  Woippy,  thence 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


179 


defiles  through  the  woods  for  a  long  distance  over  Saulny  to 
St.  Privat-la-Montagne,  thence  over  Ste.  Marie-aux-Chenes  to 
Abou6  into  the  valley  of  the  Orne,  thence  again  defiles  to 
Briey,  where  the  road  divides,  one  part  leading  in  a  north¬ 
westerly  direction  over  Longuion  and  Montmfidy  to  Sedan, 
and  the  other  leading  due  westwardly  to  Etain,  uniting  there 
with  the  middle  route  to  Verdun.  All  these  roads  are  wide 
and  well  laid  out,  and  were  in  excellent  order. 

Bazaine  continued  his  withdrawal  through  the  15th,  but 
not  with  the  speed  which  should  have  characterized  his  move¬ 
ments.  He  chose  the  two  southernmost  of  the  roads  mentioned 
above  for  his  line  of  retreat.  The  Second  and  Sixth  Corps 
were  moved  in  echelon  behind  the  cavalry  division  of  Gene¬ 
ral  De  Forton,  who  had  cleared  the  most  southern  road  as 
far  as  Mars-le-Tour,  while  the  division  of  General  De  Barail 
cleared  the  second  road  to  Conflans-en-Jarnisy.  The  Impe¬ 
rial  Guard  held  the  junction  of  the  two  roads  at  Gravelotte. 
Meanwhile  the  Emperor  continued  his  journey  to  Verdun  (in 
considerable  danger  of  capture  by  the  Prussians),  which  he 
reached  in  safety.  Then,  sending  the  Prince  Imperial  to 
Rheims,  he  hastened  to  Chalons,  where  MacMahon  was  ex¬ 
erting  himself  to  get  his  troops  in  readiness  for  the  field.* 

*  Edmund  About  has  given  the  following  account  of  the  Emperor’s  jour¬ 
ney  : 

“  The  Emperor,  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  was  at  Longueville 
with  the  Prince  Imperial,  Prince  Napoleon,  and  their  aides-de-camp,  in  an  inn 
situated  in  the  middle  of  the  village.  The  Prussians  were  certainly  not  aware 
of  the  presence  of  those  illustrious  guests,  or  the  house  would  have  been  bat¬ 
tered  with  artillery.  Two  or  three  shells,  however,  fell  a  few  paces  off,  and 
as  the  village  was  in  danger  of  being  destroyed  by  the  enemy’s  fire,  the  Mar¬ 
shal  sent  to  warn  his  Majesty  of  the  peril,  and  orders  were  at  once  given  for 
the  departure  of  the  Imperial  household.  The  Emperor  and  his  suite  mounted 
on  horseback,  but  the  difficulty  was  great,  as  the  country  around  was 
scoured  by  the  German  troops.  A  guide,  however,  undertook  to  lead  the 
party  by  pathways  through  vineyards,  and  at  a  certain  moment  the  Emperor 
passed  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  Prussians,  who,  however  well  informed 
they  usually  are,  were  not  aware  that  such  a  rich  prize  was  within  their 
reach.  After  two  or  three  hours'  march  through  woods  and  plantations, 
which  time  must  have  appeared  very  long  to  his  Majesty  and  his  suite,  they 
arrived  at  the  high  road,  which  they  had  then  only  to  follow  to  reach  their 


180 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  French  seem  to  have  had  no  suspicion  of  the  proximity 
ot  the  army  of  Frederick  Charles,  or  of  the  effort  of  the 
Germans  to  cut  them  off  from  Verdun.  They  seemed  to  think 
that  the  enemy’s  whole  force  was  east  of  the  Moselle,  at  least 
25  miles  away  from  their  position,  and  that  they  would  have 
full  leisure  to  send  their  train  ahead  on  the  15th  and  16th 
and  move  off  at  their  leisure  on  the  17th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  King  William  and  General 
Von  Moltke  made  a  close  examination  of  the  battle  field  of 
Couroelles,  and  of  the  French  position,  which  satisfied  them 
that  Bazaine  was  leaving  Metz.  Orders  were  at  once  given 
for  the  German  army,  with  the  exception  of  the  First  Corps, 
which  was  left  before  Metz  to  watch  the  enemy,  to  cross  the 
Moselle.  The  Seventh  and  Eighth  Corps  (1st  army),  were 
thrown  over  the  Moselle  on  pontoon  bridges  at  Corny.  The 
rest  of  the  army  passed  the  river  at  Pont-a-Mousson.  By  the 
night  of  the  15th,  the  whole  Prussian  army,  with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  the  First  Corps,  which  was  left  before  Metz,  the 
Second,  which  was  still  at  Forbach,  and  the  Fourth,  which 
was  on  the  march,  was  over  the  Moselle,  and  pushing  forward 
to  seize  the  roads  to  Verdun.  Von  Moltke  was  resolved  to 

next  destination  at  Gravelotte.  The  Emperor  rested  one  day  at  Verdun,  and 
then  proceeded  to  Chalons  by  rail  in  a  third-class  carriage  ;  the  servants  at 
the  station,  who  had  not  been  informed  of  the  departure  of  the  Imperial 
household,  had  not  even  time  to  clean  out  the  compartments,  which  still 
bore  traces  of  the  troops  who  had  travelled  in  them  on  the  preceding  days, 
lie  was  only  too  glad  to  find  a  third-class  carriage  at  Verdun,  in  which  to 
pursue  his  way  to  Chalons.  An  officer  approached  him  at  St.  Hilaire,  and 
without  much  ceremony  ventured  to  say,  1  Sire,  you  must  be  fatigued.’  ‘  Yes, 
indeed  1’  answered  the  Emperor,  1  and  hungry  also.’ 

“  He  is  altered  astonishingly  ;  looking  not  only  much  older,  but  blotched 
and  puffy.  He  moves  about  with  an  air  of  helplessness. 

“Chalons,  Aug.  14. — The  Imperial  headquarters  present  an  aspect  of 
melancholy.  The  Emperor  does  not  show  himself,  and  no  one  has  seen  him 
since  his  arrival  at  the  camp.  In  passing  along  the  road  near  the  pavilion 
which  he  occupies,  I  met  the  Prince  Imperial,  in  uniform,  and  wearing  the 
military  medal,  walking  with  his  equerry.  He  had  the  gay  and  careless  air 
of  a  boy  of  his  age.  After  following  the  road  for  a  distance,  he  crossed  a 
field,  and  went  and  sat  down  on  the  edge  of  a  ditch,  where  he  amused  him¬ 
self  in  drawing  lines  or  figures  with  his  walking-cane  in  the  sand.’ 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


181 


bring  Bazaine  to  a  decisive  battle  somewhere  between  the 
Moselle  and  the  Meuse,  and  drive  him  back  to  Metz.  We 
have  seen  how  much  the  delay  of  the  French  commander 
aided  the  Prussians;  but  we  are  none  the  less  called  on  to 
admire  the  skill  and  vigor  of  the  designs  and  movements  of 
the  latter.  A  brief  halt  was  made  during  the  latter  half  of 
the  night  of  the  15th,  to  allow  the  German  troops  to  rest,  and 
at  daybreak  on  the  16th  the  march  was  resumed  with  all 
speed,  in  order  to  reach  the  plateau  between  the  Moselle  and 
the  Orne,  in  the  direction  of  Verdun.  The  cavalry  of  Von 
Alvensleben’s  Third  Prussian  Corps  were  pushed  forward  in 
advance,  and  the  infantry  of  that  corps  hurried  after  them  as 
fast  as  possible,  the  march  being  in  the'  direction  of  Mars-le- 
Tour. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  Bazaine  resumed  his  retro¬ 
grade  movement.  All  through  the  15th  the  Prussians  had 
given  unmistakable  evidences  of  their  proximity,  by  fre¬ 
quent  skirmishes  with  the  French  outposts,*  and  other  move¬ 
ments,  but  still  the  Marshal  seemed  to  think  he  had  an 
abundance  of  time  to  get  off. 

At  nine  o’clock,  while  Frossard’s  corps,  which  was  leading 
the  march,  was  moving  along  the  most  southern  road  towards 
Mars-le-Tour,  it  was  suddenly  attacked  by  Von  Alvensleben’s 
cavalry,  supported  by  one  brigade'of  infantry.  The  cavalry  had 
received  orders  to  stop  the  head  of  the  French  column,  at  all 
hazards,  and  hold  it  until  the  infantry  could  come  up,  and 
they  made  their  attack  with  the  utmost  heroism,  and  succeeded 
in  bringing  their  enemy  to  a  stand.  They  were  soon  joined 
by  the  infantry  divisions  of  the  German  Third  Corps,  and  the 
battle  became  inevitable.  Frossard  at  once  took  position  to 
meet  the  attack  upon  him,  and  the  corps  of  L’Admirault,  De- 
caen  (3rd),  and  Canrobert,  were  brought  up  to  support  him. 

*  “  At  about  4  o’clock  (on  the  afternoon  of  the  15th),  we  reached  a  plateau 
commanding  a  full  view  of  the  valley  of  the  Moselle,  and  of  the  city  of  Metz, 
and  from  there  we  had  also  an  open  sight  of  the  country  around.  Masses  of 
Prussians  were  camped  at  about  three  miles  distance,  some  of  their  columns 
facing  the  village  of  Gravelotte.” — The  War  uf  1870.  P.  56. 


182 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Subsequently  the  Imperial  Guard  were  brought  into  the 
tight.  The  French  line  extended  from  Doncourt,  on  the  right 
(on  the  upper  road  to  Yerdun),  through  the  villages  of  Tron- 
ville;  Mars-le-Tour,  Yionville  and  Bezonville,  to  Gravelotte, 
on  the  left,  and  covered  the  two  roads  to  Yerdun.  The  Ger¬ 
man  line  at  first  faced  to  the  northward,  but  as  fresh  troops 
came  up,  they  were  posted  by  Count  Moltke  on  Alvensleben’s 
left,  and  thrown  forward  so  far,  that  at  the  close  of  the  day 
the  German  line  faced  eastward,  its  left  reaching  to  the  most 
northern  of  the  roads  by  which  Bazaine  was  retreating. 

The  battle  soon  became  general.  Until  half-past  twelve 
o’clock,  it  was  fought  by  the  Third  German  Corps  alone. 
This  gallant  command  succeeded  in  carrying  the  villages  of 
Mars-le-Tour  and  Tronville,  thus  securing  the  most  southern 
road  to  Yerdun,  but  its  attack  on  Yionville  was  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss.  Matters  looked  dark  at  this  moment  for  the  Ger 
mans,  as  the  French  were  greatly  superior  to  them  in  num 
bers  and  position.  They  pressed  the  Third  Corps  heavily  from 
the  direction  of  Yionville,  and  it  seemed  that  Alvensleben 
would  be  forced  to  yield  his  ground.  Suddenly,  however, 
two  divisions  of  cavalry  came  up  at  a  gallop,  having  hurried 
forward  with  all  speed  from  Thiaucourt.  These  were  ordered 
to  charge  the  French.  They  made  their  attack  at  two  o’clock 
in  the  most  reckless  manner.  They  were  full  aware  that 
they  could  accomplish  nothing  but  gain  time  for  the  rest  of 
the  army  to  come  up,  and  that  they  were  simply  required  to 
sacrifice  themselves  for  this  object,  but  the  brave  fellows 
never  hesitated.  They  swept  down  upon  the  French  line 
with  an  enthusiasm  that  was  irresistible,  they  broke  through 
it,  rode  over  the  batteries,  and  even  charged  the  staff  of 
Marshal  Bazaine  himself,  killing  twenty  men  and  the  captain 
in  command  of  it.  Then  broken  and  shattered,  they  re¬ 
treated  to  their  own  lines,  having  lost  half  their  number  in  the 
charge — a  charge  which  has  never  been  equalled  in  heroic 
self-devotion  and  bravery  by  anything  in  history 

“  It  was  splendid 
As  a  dream  of  old  romance: 


SCALE  or  ENGLISH  MILES 

0  12  3  4-5  10 

| - 1 - 1 - 1 - I - 1 - 1- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


183 


Thinking  which  their  German  neighbors 
Thrilled  to  watch  them  at  their  labors, 

Hewing  red  graves  with  their  sabres, 

In  that  wonderful  advance.” 

The  hour  which  was  thus  gained  was  worth  the  cost,  dear 
as  it  was.  About  three  o’clock,  the  Tenth  Corps  came  up,  and 
was  posted  on  Alvensleben’s  left,  over  Puxieux  and  Mars-le- 
Tour,  towards  the  woods  north  of  Vionville,  in  the  direction 
of  Bruville,  while  the  Ninth  Corps  came  up  on  the  right,  along 
the  Bois  de  Vionville,  and  commenced  the  attack  on  Flavigny 
and  Vionville.  Vionville  was  carried,  but  the  French  held 
on  to  Flavigny,  and  repelled  the  efforts  of  the  Germans  to 
drive  them  from  it.  About  half  past  four  o’clock,  portions 
of  the  Seventh  and  Eighth  Corps,  which  had  crossed  the 
Moselle  at  Corny,  just  above  PontA-Mousson,  climbed  the 
side  of  the  mountain,  and  marched  along  paths  scarcely 
practicable  through  the  Bois  des  Ognons  and  the  Bois  des 
Chevaux,  and  gained  possession  of  these  woods.  Though 
they  could  not  come  out  of  them  to  attack  Rezonville,  their 
presence  in  the  woods  greatly  encouraged  the  rest  of  the 
Germans,  who  renewed  their  attack  upon  Flavigny,  which 
they  captured  between  seven  and  eight  in  the  evening.  The 
Tenth  Corps,  which  constituted  the  left  wing  of  the  German 
army,  made  a  sharp  attack  on  Doncourt,  with  hope  of  getting 
possession  of  the  second  road  to  Verdun,  by  way  of  Etain, 
but  it  was  decisively  repulsed,  and  driven  back  to  the  north 
of  Mars-le-Tour,  where  it  had  hard  work  to  maintain  its  posi¬ 
tion.  It  held  on  to  this  ground,  however,  until  the  close  of 
the  battle. 

The  fighting  ended  about  eight  o’clock  in  the  evening. 
Strictly  speaking  the  battle  was  indecisive.  The  losses  were 
enormous  on  both  sides.  The  Germans  admitted  a  loss  of 
16,000  killed  and  wounded.  The  French  loss  is  not  accu¬ 
rately  known,  but  was  probably  somewhat  less  than  that  of 
the  Germans.  The  Germans  captured  2000  prisoners,  2  eagles, 
and  7  guns.  The  fighting  was  good  on  both  sides,  officers  and 
men  behaving  with  the  most  unflinching  courage.  The  real 


184 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LA.TE  WAR 


advantage  was  with  the  Prussians,  however.  At  the  end  of 
the  day,  the  French  held  Gravelotte,  Eezonville,  St.  Marcel, 
and  Bruville ;  the  Germans,  Bois  des  Ognons,  Flavigny, 
Yionville,  the  woods  north  of  that  village,  and  the  ground 
north  of  Mars-le-Tour.  The  French  had  their  whole  army 
in  line  during  the  day,  while  the  Germans  were  unable  to 
bring  up  more  than  120,000  men  at  the  very  utmost — three 
full  corps  and  parts  of  two  others.  Although  the  French  had 
repulsed  the  attack  on  Doncourt,  the  Germans  had  gotten 
possession  of  the  lower  road  to  Verdun,  which  they  held 
with  a  death-like  grip,  and  they  seriously  threatened  the 
other. 

Bazaine  had  made  a  great  mistake  in  simply  confining  him 
self  to  a  defensive.  He  had  left  Metz  to  the  protection  of  a 
strong  garrison,  under  General  Coffinibres,  and  had  gotten  a 
good  start  of  fifteen  miles  on  the  road  to  Verdun,  when  the 
Germans  attacked  him,  and  he  should  have  bent  every  effort 
to  the  attempt  to  break  through  their  lines  and  force  his  way 
to  Verdun,  and  thence  to  Chalons.  True,  he  had  delayed  so 
long  that  the  chance  of  a  sure  passage  had  slipped  by,  and  in 
case  he  had  been  able  to  break  through  on  the  16th,  he  would 
have  been  followed  and  harassed  by  the  enemy;  but  the  re¬ 
sult  would  have  been  no  less  damaging  than  it  proved,  and 
with  good  management  he  would  have  saved  the  greater  part 
of  his  army  for  a  junction  with  MacMahon.  Even  on  the 
night  of  the  l'6th,  after  the  battle,  the  longest  and  most 
northern  of  the  roads  we  have  mentioned  was  open  to  him — 
the  one  through  Woippy,  Ste.  Marie-aux-Chenes,  and  Briey — 
and  a  swift  and  determined  effort  would  have  enabled  him  to 
gain  it,  as  the  German  left  had  gotten  no  farther  than  Mars- 
le-Tour.  He  decided  to  retain  his  force  near  Metz,  however, 
and  gave  up  the  last  chance  which  fortune  held  out  to  him. 
That  night  he  withdrew  his  army  to  the  vicinity  of  Grave¬ 
lotte,  within  five  miles  of  Metz — thus  abandoning  five  miles 
of  the  road  to  Verdun,  over  which  he  had  retreated  on  the 
loth. 

The  battle  known  as  the  battle  of  Vionville,  was  claimed 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


185 


as  a  victory  by  both  sides.*  We  have  seen,  however,  that 
the  real  advantage  lay  with  the  Germans.  Bazaine  seems  to 
have  had  a  better  idea  of  the  extent  of  his  danger  after  the 
battle  than  during  the  engagement,  for  his  movements  on  the 
17th  and  18th  were  marked  by  greater  decision  than  he  had 
shown  before. 

Meanwhile  the  German  commander  was  apprehensive  that 
the  French  Marshal  would  seek  to  escape  by  the  road  to 

*  The  German  official  report  was  as  follows  : 

“Two  roads  lead  from  Metz  to  Verdun,  the  direction  which  the  French 
army  had  to  take  in  case  of  a  retreat  upon  Paris.  Three  corps  of  the  Second 
Army,  which  had  already  passed  the  Moselle,  were  immediately  directed 
against  the  southern  road,  the  one  most  easily  reached,  in  order,  if  possible, 
to  arrest  the  enemy’s  flank-march  on  that  side.  This  important  task  was 
brilliantly  accomplished  through  a  bloody  and  victorious  battle.  The  Fifth 
Division  (Stulpnagel)  threw  itself  on  the  Frossard  Corps,  which  covered  the 
enemy’s  flank.  The  French  army,  with  almost  all  its  corps,  was  gradually 
engaged,  while,  on  the  Prussian  side,  the  rest  of  the  Third  Army-Corps,  the 
Tenth  Army-Corps,  a  regiment  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  a  brigade  of  the 
Eighth,  took  part.  Prince  Friedrich  Karl  assumed  the  command.  The 
ground  first  won  by  us  in  a  twelve  hours’  struggle  was  victoriously  held,  the 
south  road  from  Metz  to  Verdun  was  gained  and  retained,  and  the  enemy’s 
retreat  to  Paris  by  this  road  cut  off.  The  conduct  of  our  troops  was  truly 
heroic.  Our  loss  was  very  considerable,  but  that  of  the  enemy  infinitely 
greater,  as  could  be  seen  by  examination  of  the  battle-field.  Until  the  19th 
it  was  impossible  to  bury  the  French  dead,  and  the  great  number  of  corpses 
of  the  Imperial  Guard  evidenced  the  enormous  losses  of  that  (lilt  force.  In 
the  French  official  account  the  strength  of  our  troops  is  reckoned  at  double 
its  actual  numbers.  The  Emperor’s  proclamation  on  leaving  Metz,  as  also 
other  French  official  documents,  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  main  army  had  the 
certainly  quite  natural  intention  of  retreating  to  Verdun.” 

On  the  other  hand,  Bazaine  reports : 

“This  morning  the  army  of  Prince  Friedrich  Karl  directed  a  spirited  attack 
against  the  left  wing  of  our  position.  The  Cavalry  Division  (Torton)  and 
the  Second  Corps  (Frossard)  maintained  a  stout  resistance  to  the  attack. 
The  corps,  which  were  placed  in  Schelon  right  and  left  from  Rezonville,  ap¬ 
peared  gradually  upon  the  battle-field,  and  took  part  in  the  combat,  which 
continued  until  nightfall.  The  enemy  had  deployed  heavy  masses  of  men, 
and  attempted  several  attacks,  which  were  stoutly  repulsed.  Toward  even¬ 
ing  appeared  a  new  army  corps,  which  attempted  to  cut  off  our  left  wing. 
We  have  everywhere  maintained  our  position,  and  inflicted  heavy  losses  upon 
the  enemy  ;  our  losses  are  also  great.  At  the  moment  when  the  battle  raged 
at  its  height,  a  regiment  of  Uhlans  attacked  the  general  staff  of  the  Marshal; 


186 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Briey,  and  he  determined  to  prevent  it.  During  the  night  of 
the  16th,  and  all  through  the  17th,  the  German  cavalry 
watched  the  movements  of  the  French  with  eagle  eyes,  and 
their  reports  at  length  convinced  Yon  Moltke  that  Bazaine, 
instead  of  seeking  to  escape,  was  withdrawing  to  a  stronger 
position  nearer  Metz.  He  accordingly  spent  the  17th  in  hurry¬ 
ing  forward  the  troops  which  had  not  come  up  on  the  16th, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  he  had  his  army  well  in 
hand.  His  force  amounted  to  about  190,000  infantry,  24,000 
cavalry,  and  over  600  guns. 

Bazaine’s  new  position  was  well  chosen.  The  old  French 
line  of  the  16th,  from  Vionville  to  the  Moselle,  still  formed 
the  left  wing ;  but  the  right,  now  thrown  back  at  rather  a 
sharp  angle,  extended  from  Yionville  by  St.  Marcel  (on  the 
north  Yerdun  road,  three  miles  from  Gravelotte  and  eight 
miles  from  Metz).  Yionville,  at  the  angle  thus  formed,  was 
the  centre.  St.  Privat  formed  the  extreme  right,  and  Grave¬ 
lotte  was  the  strongest  point.  The  line  extended  over  a  series 
of  eminences,  the  extreme  right  being  posted  on  a  command¬ 
ing  hill,  whose  steep  slopes  were  perfectly  bare  of  cover. 
The  natural  strength  of  the  position  was  increased  by  Baz¬ 
aine,  who  added  to  it  a  formidable  series  of  intrenchments  and 
rifle-pits*  To  defend  this  line,  the  French  commander  could 

twenty  men  of  the  escort  were  put  hors  de  combat ,  the  captain  commanding 
killed.  At  eight  o’clock  the  enemy  was  repulsed  on  the  whole  line.” 

On  the  1 7 th  Bazaine  writes  again  : 

“Yesterday,  during  the  entire  day,  I  gave  battle  between  Yionville  and 
Doncourt.  The  enemy  was  repulsed.  We  remained  in  our  positions.  I  in¬ 
terrupted  my  movement  for  some  hours  in  order  to  bring  up  ammunition. 
We  have  had  Friedrich  Karl  and  Steinmetz  before  us.” 

*“A  somewhat  deep  valley  ran  between  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
armies,  which  in  both  cases  was  strengthened  by  thick  copses  and  large 
woods.  The  ridges,  less  high  and  more  gently  sloping  than  at  Sedan,  were 
intersected  by  certain  deep  gullies,  defiladed  from  the  ground  in  their  front. 
For  miles  along  the  main  roads,  the  thick  tall  poplar  trees  had  been  felled 
with  anxious  care  by  the  French,  lest  they  should  intercept  the  fire  from 
their  guns,  the  traces  of  which  were  still  to  be  perceived,  posted  with  admi¬ 
rable  skill,  so  as  to  enfilade  the  main  approaches.  One  position,  near  the 
Bois  de  Ognons,  was  very  interesting  to  us  from  the  evidences  it  bore  of  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


187 


bring  only  110,000  infantry,  10,000  cavalry,  and  260  guns. 
His  troops,  however,  were  in  good  spirits,  and  were  still 
hopeful. 

At  four  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  August, 
King  William  was  in  the  saddle.  He  passed  the  time  until 
ten  o’clock  in  minutely  inspecting  the  troops,  and  then  taking 
his  station  with  his  staff  on  the  heights  of  Flavigny,  he  gave 
the  order  to  attack  the  French. 

The  position  of  the  Herman  army  at  daybreak  on  the  18th 
was  as  follows :  The  1st  army,  with  First,  Seventh,  and 
Eight  Corps,  lay  off  the  hills  south  of  Kezonville.  The  2d 
army,  with  the  Third,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Twelfth,  and  Guard 
Corps,  were  on  the  left  flank  south  of  Mars-le-Tour  and  Vion- 
ville.  The  southern  road  to  Yerdun  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Germans,  but  the  French  held  the  upper  road  as  far  as  Cautre. 
About  ten  o’clock  the  King  of  Prussia  ordered  the  Ninth 


havoc  committed  on  the  attacking  Prussians  by  the  mitrailleuses,  and  from 

the  peculiar  formation  of  the  ground . A  deep  gully  was  bounded 

on  the  French  side  by  an  acclivity  almost  scarped  for  a  height  of  about 
twenty-five  feet;  then  more  gradually  sloping  in  its  rise;  and  finally  settling 
into  a  gentle  dip  a  little  behind  the  summit.  Here  were  placed  the  French 
batteries,  comparatively  sheltered.  The  Prussians  advanced  from  the  oppo¬ 
site  height,  about  800  yards  distant,  to  capture  this  position,  clearly  visible 
from  their  original  starting  point.  But  on  arriving  at  the  bottom  of  the  val¬ 
ley  their  enemy  had  vanished.  With  difficulty  they  clambered  up  the  scarp, 
unconscious  of  the  danger  which  awaited  them,  though  the  spectators  from 
the  Prussian  position  saw  with  horror  their  certain  doom,  which  they  were 
unable  to  avert;  and  as  their  heads  appeared  on  the  more  gentle  slope,  they 
were  astounded  and  hurled  back  by  a  murderous  fire  from  the  guns  and  mi¬ 
trailleuses,  while  the  French  cavalry  thundered  down  on  their  flank,  almost 
sweeping  them  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  ground  selected  did  credit  to 
the  judgment  of  the  French  artillery  officers.  Some  of  the  buildings  and 
orchards  on  the  outskirts  of  Gravelotte  had  been  put  into  a  most  efficient 
state  of  defence ;  indeed,  throughout  this  battle-field  there  were  far  more 
traces  of  forethought  on  the  part  of  the  French  than  was  perceptible  at  Se¬ 
dan,  in  attempting  to  strengthen  their  position.  Each  story  of  the  houses 
was  pierced  with  loopholes  for  musketry  fire ;  the  window  sashes  had  been 
removed,  and  the  openings  blocked  up  with  beams  ;  the  garden  walls  and 
hedges  were  prepared  for  defence ;  and  there  were  numerous  devices  for  ob¬ 
taining  a  flanking  fire.” — From  Sedan  to  Saarbruck.  By  an  Officer  of  the 
Royal  Artillery.  Pp.  195-197. 


188 


HISTORY  OF  Tin;  LATE  WAR. 


Corps,*  “  in  position  there, to  move  towards  the  woods  behind 
St.  Marcel,  while  the  Seventh  and  Eighth  Corps  marched 
against  the  forest  of  Vaux,  south  of  Gravelotte.  The  latter 
had  orders  to  push  the  enemy  very  slowly,  in  order  to  give 
time  to  the  Guards  and  Twelfth  Corps,  to  make  a  long  detour 
on  the  left,  by  way  of  Jouaville,  Batilly,  and  Ste.  Marie.  The 
Third  and  Tenth  Corps  were  in  reserve,  and  but  few  of  their 
troops  were  in  the  fight,  these  being  mostly  artillery,  the  prin¬ 
cipal  movement  was  on  the  left.  Preceded  by  Prussian  and 
Saxon  cavalry,  the  2d  army  advanced,  still  maintaining 
communication  on  the  right  with  the  1st  army.  The 
Twelfth  Corps  took  the  direction  by  Mars-le-Tour  and  Jarny, 
while  the  Guards  advanced  between  Mars-le-Tour  and  Yion- 
ville  on  Doncourt,  and  the  Ninth  Corps  crossed  the  high¬ 
way  to  the  west  of  Rezonville,  toward  Cautre  farm,  north  of 
St.  Marcel.  Their  purpose  was  to  gain  the  central  and  north¬ 
ern  roads.  They  quickly  found  that  the  French  were  not  re¬ 
treating,  and  moved  to  the  right,  meeting  at  Ste.  Marie  and 
Roncourt  resistance,  which  was  overcome,  and,  after  another 
struggle  among  the  steep  hills  at  St.  Privat-la-Montagne, 
that  place  was  gained.  The  right  flank  of  this  2d  army, 
holding  the  centre  of  the  whole  German  line,  had  been  earlier 
engaged  with  some  advanced  forces  of  the  French,  and  toward 
noon  the  Ninth  Corps  was  engaged  at  Yerneville.  The 
Guards  and  Twelfth  Corps  reached  St.  Privat  about  4  p.  M., 
and  immediately  moved  south  and  east  aganist  Amanvillers. 
The  fighting  here  was  exceedingly  severe.  The  Germans  lay 
in  a  long  curve,  sweeping  from  St.  Privat,  where  the  Saxons 
fought  on  the  extreme  left,  through  Ste.  Marie  and  St.  Ail 
(Guards),  Yerneville  (Ninth  Corps),  Gravelotte  (Eighth  Corps), 
and  Forest  of  Yaux  (Seventh  Corps),  across  the  Moselle,  on 
the  right  bank  of  which  a  brigade  of  the  First  Corps  and  ar¬ 
tillery  from  the  reserves  were  engaged.  The  French  army 
fought  with  its  back  to  Germany  ;  the  Germans  had  Paris  in 

*  The  account  of  this  engagement  given  here  is  substantially  the  descrip¬ 
tion  given  by  the  editors  of  th e  Army  and  Navy  Journal —  from  which  the 
quotations  above  are  made.  » 


Bat  lie  of  Gravelotte. — Momentary  Repulse  of  the  Prussians. 


190 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


their  rear.  Bazaine’s  entire  army  was  in  line,  including  those 
troops  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  Baltic  expedition.  On 
the  left  wing  the  flanking  column,  after  meeting  with  resistance 
at  every  point,  pushed  its  enemy  back  through  Ste.  Marie, 
Roncourt,  St.  Privat,  St.  Ail,  Habonville,  the  wood  of  La 
Cusse,  and  Verneville,  until,  toward  evening,  two  small  out¬ 
works  of  Metz  lying  northeast  of  Gravelotte,  and  named  Leip- 
sic  and  Moscou ,  were  reached.  All  three  roads  out  of  Metz 
were  then  firmly  in  the  grasp  of  the  Germans.” 

The  right  wing  of  the  German  army  had  a  hard  task  to 
perform.  At  the  opening  of  the  battle  it  was  ordered  to 
press  the  French  lightly  in  the  forest  of  Yaux,  immediately 
in  the  rear  of  which  wood  was  the  strongest  part  of  the 
French  position.  It  was  covered  by  a  road  which  ran  through 
a  deep  cutting  whose  sides  were  fifty  feet  high,  back  of  which 
was  a  plateau  from  325  to  600  feet  high.  Behind  this  is 
Rozieriulles  hill,  along  the  slopes  of  which  runs  the  highway 
to  Metz.  Three  tiers  of  rifle-pits  lined  this  steep  ;  back  of  the 
rifle-pits  were  the  infantry  ;  and  back  of  the  infantry  the  ar¬ 
tillery.  As  the  highway  winds  along  this  hill  it  is  only 
5000  yards  in  an  air  line  from  Fort  St.  Quentin  one  of  the 
strong  outworks  of  Metz,  but  the  distance  is  double  by  the 
road,  and  the  crest  of  the  hill  intervenes  between  them.  rfihus 
the  position  of  the  French  was  not  only  a  stronghold  in  itself, 
but  it  gave  them  the  means  of  instant  escape  if  driven  from 
it.  They  had  but  to  cross  the  hill  to  find  themselves  under 
the  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  forts. 

As  soon  as  the  King  was  informed  of  the  success  of  the 
movement  on  the  left,  and  the  abandonment  of  the  efforts  of 
the  French  to  hold  the  Yerdun  roads,  he  advanced  his  own 
position  to  a  hill  near  Rezonville,  and  ordered  a  more  vigor¬ 
ous  attack  on  the  right.  He  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  a  bold 
dash  carried  the  French  position.  The  Germans  did  not  hold 
it  long,  however,  for  the  French  by  the  counter  attack,  drove 
them  out  and  reestablished  their  line.  King  William,  as  soon 
as  informed  of  the  success  of  the  first  charge  of  his  men,  hast¬ 
ened  to  the  hill  back  of  Gravelotte,  which  he  reached  just  in 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


191 


time  to  see  his  troops  returning  from  their  fruitless  effort  to 
hold  the  captured  line.  The  King,  however,  ordered  a  new 
effort  to  be  made,  and  an  hour  later,  by  which  time  night  had 
come  on,  a  second  charge  was  made.  The  Prussians  were  re¬ 
ceived  with  such  a  withering  fire  that  nothing  could  stand 
before  it,  and  they  were  repulsed  with  serious  loss.  Indeed, 
before  they  had  reached  the  hill,  General  Yon  Moltke  had 
discovered  the  strength  of  the  French  position,  and  had  sent 
an  officer  to  recall  the  men,  but  too  late  to  save  them  from 
the  bloody  repulse  with  which  they  met.  At  this  movement 
the  Second  German  Corps,  which  had  been  on  the  march  ever 
since  two  o’clock  in  the  morning,  came  up,  and  as  soon  as  a 
sufficient  portion  of  it  arrived,  the  new  comers  were  ordered 
to  take  the  hill.  They  were  met  by  the  French,  who  were 
following  up  the  repulse  of  the  German  column  with  a  sharp 
counter  attack,  and  for  a  moment  it  seemed  that  the  German 
line,  new  comers  and  all,  would  be  broken.  Some  parts  of 
the  line,  indeed,  had  begun  a  disorderly  retreat.  Yon  Moltke 
saw  the  danger,  and  rushing  forward,  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  Second  Corps,  and  gave  the  order  to  charge.  The 
Second  Corps  followed  him  with  loud  cheers,  and  when  it  was 
well  up  the  hill,  and  hotly  engaged  with  the  French,  Yon 
Moltke  reformed  the  storming  party  which  had  been  repulsed, 
and  sent  it  to  support  the  fresh  troops.  The  attack  was 
made  with  great  steadiness  and  vigor,  and  was  successful.  By 
half  past  eight  o’clock,  the  last  position  of  the  French  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  Germans,  and  the  battle  was  won. 

The  losses  on  both  sides  were  severe.  Even  now  they  are 
not  known  accurately.  It  is  believed  that  the  French  lost 
about  5000  killed  and  18,000  wounded;  and  the  Germans 
about  25,000  killed  and  wounded.  The  entire  French  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  from  the  14th  to  the  22nd, 
inclusive,  is  believed  to  have  been  near  60,000,  about  10,000 
of  whom  were  prisoners.  The  German  loss  iu  killed  and 
wounded  during  this  period,  is  estimated  at  from  50,000  to 
60,000. 

The  correspondent  of  the  London  Daily  News ,  writing  from 


192 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


the  field,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  battle  of  Grave- 
lotte,  as  seen  from  the  Prussian  side.  It  is  such  a  life-like 
picture  of  those  portions  of  the  great  battle  which  are  of  ne¬ 
cessity  passed  over  in  the  official  reports,  that  I  make  no 
apology  for  transcribing  it  here : 

“It  was  now  at  least  evident  that  the  struggle  was  very 
serious  at  the  front.  At  midnight,  or  a  little  after  (17th— 18th), 
all  the  trumpets  for  miles  around  began  to  sound.  This  was 
the  first  time  we  had  been  startled  at  that  hour  by  such  wild 
music.  Trumpet  answered  to  'trumpet  through  all  the  bi¬ 
vouacs  around  the  little  city  (Pont-a-Mousson).  For  several 
days  previous  there  had  been  troops  almost  perpetually 
marching  through  ;  but  now  the  tramp  through  every  street 
and  by-way  made  between  midnight  and  dawn  a  perpetual 
roar.  Hastily  dressing,  I  ran  out  into  the  darkness,  and 
managed  to  get  a  seat  on  a  wagon  that  was  going  in  the  di¬ 
rection  of  the  front — now  understood  to  be  a  mile  or  two  be¬ 
yond  the  village  of  Gorze.  Gorze  is  some  twelve  miles  from 
Pont-a-Mousson.  On  our  way  we  met  a  considerable  batch 
of  French  prisoners,  who  were  looked  upon  with  great  curi¬ 
osity  by  the  continuous  file  of  German  soldiers  with  whom 
we  advanced ;  but  only  one  or  two  offensive  cries  towards  the 
prisoners  were  heard,  and  these  fortunately  they  could  not 
understand.  The  way  was  so  blocked  with  wagons,  etc.,  that 
I  finally  concluded  that  I  could  go  the  six  or  seven  miles  re¬ 
maining  better  on  foot.  So  I  got  out  of  my  carriage  and 
began  to  walk  and  run  swiftly  ahead.  At  Novdant-aux-Pres, 
on  the  Moselle,  about  half  way  to  Metz,  I  found  vast  bodies 
of  cavalry,  Uhlans  and  Hussars,  crossing  the  river  by  a  pon¬ 
toon  bridge,  and  hurrying  at  the  top  of  their  speed  towards 
Gorze.  Hastening  my  steps,  I  soon  heard  the  first  thunder 
of  the  cannonade,  seemingly  coming  from  the  heart  of  a  range 
of  hills  on  the  right.  Passing  through  the  village  and  as¬ 
cending  to  the  high  plain  beyond,  I  found  myself  suddenly 
on  a  battle-field,  strewn  (literally)  as  far  as  my  eye  could  reach 
with  dead  bodies — the  field  of  the  battle  of  Vionville  on  the 
16th.  In  one  or  two  parts  of  the  field  parties  were  still 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


193 


burying  the  dead,  chiefly  Prussians.  The  French,  being 
naturally  buried  last,  were  still  lying  in  vast  numbers  on  the 
ground.  A  few  of  these — T  saw  five — were  not  dead.  As  I 
hurried  on,  a  splendid  regiment  of  cavalry  came  on  behind, 
and  when  they  came  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  they  all  broke 
out  with  a  wild  hurrah,  and  dashed  forward.  A  few  more 
steps,  and  I  gained  the  summit,  and  saw  the  scene  which  had 
roused  their  cry,  and  even  seemed  to  thrill  their  horses.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  grander  battle-field.  From 
the  particular  hill  to  which  I  had  been  directed  to  come  by 
good  authority — it  was  occupied  by  the  Roj^al  Headquarters 
— the  sweep  of  the  Prussian  and  French  centres  could  be 
seen,  and  a  considerable  part  of  their  wings.  The  spot  where 
I  stood  was  fearful — it  was  amid  ghastly  corpses,  and  bur¬ 
dened  with  the  stench  of  dead  horses,  of  which  there  were  a 
great  many.  I  was  standing  on  the  battle-field  of  the  16th, 
on  the  Prussian  side.  On  the  left,  stretched  like  a  silver 
thread  the  road  to  Verdun,  to  Paris  also,  for  the  possession  of 
which  this  series  of  battles  had  begun.  It  was  between  lines 
of  poplars,  which  stood  against  the  horizon  on  my  left,  and 
on  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  towards  Metz,  with  military 
regularity.  Strung  on  this  road  like  beads  were  the  pretty 
villages,  each  with  its  church  tower,  which,  although  they 
have  separate  names,  are  really  only  a  few  hundred  yards 
apart — Mars-le-Tour,  Flavigny  (a  little  south  of  the  road), 
Vionville,  Rezonville,  Malmaison,  Gravelotte.  On  my  right 
were  the  thickly-wooded  hills,  behind  which  the  most  im¬ 
portant  village  of  the  neighborhood,  the  one  I  had  just 
left — Gorze.  Such  was  the  foreground  of  this  battle,  which 
should,  one  would  say,  be  called  the  battle  of  Gravelotte,  for 
it  was  mainly  over  and  beyond  that  devoted  little  town  that 
it  raged.  The  area  I  have  indicated  is  about  four  miles 
square.  Owing  to  having  come  on  foot  rather  than  along  the 
blocked  road,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  arrive  just  as  the 
battle  waxed  warm — that  is  about  noon.  The  great  repre¬ 
sentatives  of  Prussia  were  standing  on  the  same  ground 
watching  the  conflict.  Among  them  the  only  ones  I  recog- 
13 


194 


HISTORY  OF  T1IE  LATE  WAR 


nized  were  the  King,  Count  Bismarck,  General  Von  Moltke, 
Prince  Karl,  Prince  Friedrich  Karl,  Prince  Adalbert,  and  Ad¬ 
jutant  Kranski.  Lieutenant-General  Sheridan,  of  the  United 
States,  was  also  present. 

11  At  this  moment  the  French  were  making  a  most  desperate 
effort  to  hold  on  to  the  last  bit  of  the  Verdun  road,  that  be¬ 
tween  Rezonville  and  Gravelotte — or  that  part  of  Gravelotte 
which  on  some  maps  is  called  Malmaison.  Desperate  but  una¬ 
vailing  !  For  every  one  man  in  their  ranks  had  two  to  cope 
with,  and  their  line,  at  the  place  indicated,  was  already  begin¬ 
ning  to  waver.  Soon  it  was  plain  that  this  wing  was  with¬ 
drawing  to  a  new  position.  This  was  swiftly  taken  up,  under 
protection  of  a  continuous  blaze  of  their  artillery  from  heights 
beyond  the  village.  The  movement  was  made  in  good  order, 
and  the  position  reached  was  one  that,  1  believe,  nine  out  of 
ten  military  men  would  have  regarded  as  normally  impregna¬ 
ble.  My  reader  will  observe  that  the  battle-field  was  from 
this  time  transferred  to  the  regions  beyond  Gravelotte.  The 
fields  in  front  of  that  village  were  completely  covered  by  the 
Prussian  reserves,  and  over  it  interminable  lines  of  soldiers 
were  perpetually  marching  onward — disappearing  into  the 
village,  emerging  on  the  other  side  of  it  with  flaming  volleys. 
This  second  battle-field  was  less  extensive  than  the  first,  and 
brought  the  combatants  into  fearfully  close  quarters.  The 
peculiarity  of  it  is  that  it  consists  of  two  heights,  intersected 
by  a  deep  ravine.  This  woody  ravine  is  over  100  feet  deep, 
and  at  the  top  from  200  to  300  yards  wide.  The  side  of  the 
chasm  next  to  Gravelotte,  where  the  Prussians  stood,  is  much 
lower  than  the  other  side,  which  gradually  ascended  to  a  great 
height.  From  this  their  commanding  eminence  the  French 
held  their  enemies  fairly  beneath  them,  and  subj-.-cted  them  to 
a  raking  fire.  Their  artillery  was  stationed  far  up  by  the 
Metz  road,  between  its  trees.  There  was  not  an  instant’s  cessa¬ 
tion  of  the  roar  ;  and  easily  distinguishable  amid  all  was  the 
curious  grunting  roll  of  the  mitrailleuse.  The  Prussian  artil¬ 
lery  was  to  the  north  and  south  of  the  village,  the  mouths  of 
the  guns  on  the  latter  side  being  necessarily  raised  for  an 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


195 


awkward  upward  fire.  The  French  stood  their  ground  and 
died,  the  Prussians  moved  ever  forward  and  died — both  by- 
hundreds,  I  had  almost  said  thousands ;  this  for  an  hour  or 
two  that  seemed  ages,  so  fearful  was  the  slaughter.  The  hill 
where  I  stood  commanded  chiefly  the  conflict  behind  the  vil¬ 
lage  and  to  the  south  of  it.  The  Prussian  reenforcements  on 
their  right  filed  out  of  the  Bois  des  Ognons  ;  and  it  was  at  that 
point,  as  they  marched  on  to  the  field,  that  one  could  perhaps 
get  the  best  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  invading  army  now 
in  the  heart  of  France.  There  was  no  break  whatever  for 
four  hours  in  the  march  of  the  men  out  of  that  wood.  It 
seemed  almost  as  if  all  the  killed  and  wounded  had  recovered 
and  came  again  out  of  the  wood.  Birnam  Wood  advancing 
to  Dunsinane  was  not  a  more  ominous  sight  to  Macbeth  than 
these  men  of  General  Goben’s  army,  shielded  by  the  woods 
till  they  were  fairly  within  range  of  their  enemies.  So  the 
French  must  have  felt,  for  between  four  and  five  o’clock  they 
concentrated  a  most  furious  fire  upon  that  point,  and  shelled 
the  woods  perpetually.  Their  fire  here  took  effect.  The  line 
of  the  Prussian  infantry  became  less  continuous  from  that 
direction.  About  five  o’clock,  however,  an  infantry  brigade 
emerged  from  the  same  point.  As  soon  as  they  did  so  they 
advanced  by  double-quick  time  towards  the  point  where  their 
services  were  needed.  I  watched  this  brigade  through  a 
strong  glass  from  the  first.  It  resembled  some  huge  serpent 
gliding  out  on  the  field.  But,  lo !  it  left  a  track  behind  it — a 
dark  track.  Beneath  the  glass  that  track  is  resolved  into 
fallen,  struggling  men. 

“  As  the  horrid  significance  of  that  path  so  traced  came  upon 
me  I  gazed  yet  more  intently.  Many  of  those  who  had  fallen 
leapt  up  and  ran  forward,  struggling  to  catch  up  with  their 
comrades  again.  I  did  not  see  any  running  backward,  though 
many  fell  in  their  effort  to  rush  on.  I  do  not  know  whether 
after  that  another  movement  was  made  from  behind  the  wood  ; 
but  I  do  know  that  half  an  hour  afterwards  vast  numbers  of 
troops  began  to  march  over  the  southern  edge  of  the  hill 
where  I  was  standing  towards  the  battle-field,  and  I  have  an 


196 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


impression  that  these  were  General  Goben’s  men  moving  by  a 
less  dangerous  route.  The  conflict  on  the  Prussian  left  was 
so  fierce  that  it  soon  became  nearly  lost  to  us  by  reason  of  its 
smoke.  Now  and  then  this  would  open  a  little,  and  drift 
under  the  wind,  and  then  we  could  see  the  French  sorely  tried, 
but  maintaining  themselves  steadily.  In  order  to  see  this  part 
of  the  conflict  better,  I  went  forward  as  near  as  I  thought 
safe.  It  seemed  to  me  that  in  the  vicinity  of  Malmaison  the 
French  were  having  the  best  of  it.  But  it  must  have  been 
only  because  they  were  more  visible  on  their  broad  height, 
and  fought  so  obstinately — plainly  silencing  a  battery  now 
and  then.  But  from  this  northern  point  also  there  are  more 
forces  to  come  ;  and  from  far  behind  them — away  seemingly 
in  the  direction  of  Verneville— huge  bombs  are  coming  and 
bursting  with  terrible  force  upon  the  French  ranks.  These 
were  the  men  and  these  the  guns  of  Prince  Friedrich  Karl,  who 
wa?  slowly  veering  southward  to  make  his  connection  with 
Steinmetz’  army,  completing  the  investment  of  Metz. 

“The  battle  raged  at  this  point  with  indescribable  fury- 
The  French  Generals  must  have  known  the  significance  of 
these  new  guns,  and  known  that,  if  their  right  retreated,  the 
result  must  be  that  incarceration  in  Metz  which  now  exists. 
How  long  they  held  out  here  I  do  not  know.  I  could  hear 
that  the  puff  of  their  guns  was  from  a  gradually  receding 
line;  that  the  mysterious  pillars  of  cloud  from  the  north  as 
steadily  approached  ;  but  the  last  fired  on  that  terrible  even¬ 
ing  were  on  that  side,  and  the  point  must  have  been  yielded 
at  about  nine  o’clock. 

“  Perhaps  I  should  here  say  something  of  the  movements 
of  the  King,  and  those  with  him.  The  King’s  face,  as  he 
stood  gazing  upon  the  battle-field,  had  something  almost 
plaintive  in  it.  He  hardly  said  a  word ;  but  I  observed  that 
bis  attention  was  divided  between  the  exciting  scenes  in  the 
distance  and  the  sad  scenes  nearer  his  feet — where  they  were 
just  beginning  (what  must  yet  be  a  long  task)  to  bury  the 
French  who  fell  on  the  Tuesday  before.  On  these  he  gazed 
silently,  and,  I  thought,  sadly.  Count  Bismarck  was  intent 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  197 

only  on  the  battle,  and  could  not  conceal  his  excitement  and 
anxiety;  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  King,  I  am  pretty  sure  he 
would  have  gone  nearer ;  and,  as  it  was,  his  towering  form 
was  always  a  little  ahead  of  the  rest.  When  the  French 
completely  gave  up  their  hold  upon  the  road  up  to  Gravelotte, 
the  horses  of  the  “  Grosshauptquartiers”  party  were  hastily 
called,  and  mounting  them  they  all — with  the  King  at  their 
head — rode  swiftly  down  to  a  point  not  very  far  from  the 
village.  Then  shouts  and  cheers  arose,  which  I  could  plainly 
hear  at  the  point  they  had  left,  where,  not  having  a  horse,  I 
was  compelled  to  remain  a  little  longer. 

“  A  little  after  four  o’clock  a  strange  episode  took  place. 
From  the  distant  woods  on  the  left  a  splendid  regiment  of 
cavalry  galloped  out.  They  paused  a  moment  at  the  point 
where  the  Conflans  road  joins  that  leading  to  Metz ;  then 
they  dashed  up  the  road  towards  Metz.  This  road  between 
Gravelotte  and  St.  Hubert  is  cut  through  the  hill,  and  there 
are  on  each  side  of  it,  cliffs  from  forty  to  sixty  feet  high,  ex¬ 
cept  at  the  point  where  it  traverses  the  deep  ravine  behind 
the  village.  When  it  is  remembered  that  at  this  time  the 
culminating  point  to  which  this  road  directly  ascends  was 
held  by  the  French,  it  will  not  be  wondered  at  that  only  a 
moiety  of  that  regiment  survived.  What  the  survivors  ac¬ 
complished  I  do  not  know,  nor  could  I  learn  the  name  and 
number  of  the  regiment.  The  situation  hardly  admits  yet  of 
our  asking  many  questions.  But  their  plunge  into  that  deep 
cut  in  the  hill-side,  where  next  day  I  saw  so  many  of  them 
and  their  horses  lying  dead,  was  of  that  brave,  unhesitating, 
unfaltering  kind,  which  is  so  characteristic  of  German  sol¬ 
diers,  among  whom  cowards,  stragglers,  and  deserters  seem 
to  be  absolutely  unknown,  in  whatever  rank. 

“  I  must  record,  also,  what  seemed  an  inexplicable  thing. 
The  army  of  Steinmetz  was  fighting  very  hard,  and  evidently 
suffering  heavily.  It  was  in  the  centre  of  Gravelotte,  though 
occasionally  rallying  to  one  side  or  the  other.  Though  they 
had  large  reserves,  these  had  been  diminished  to  an  important 
extent  by  the  engagements  of  the  14th  and  16th.  A  consid- 


198 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


erable  portion  of  his  army  required  rest,  and  two  divisions 
perhaps,  certainly  one,  reorganization.  There  seemed  at  one 
time — about  half-past  four — some  danger  that  the  intensity 
of  the  fighting  required  on  the  right  and  left  extremes  would 
produce  a  kind  of  atrophy  along  that  very  central  Verdun 
road  for  which  the  armies  were  struggling.  At  that  time  a 
vast  army  came  from  some  region  utterly  mysterious  to  us 
who  had  been  following  the  army  for  some  miles.  They 
came  over  the  very  point  which  had  been  the  Boyal  head¬ 
quarters  in  the  morning.  Their  march  was  begun  at  the 
time  I  have  mentioned,  and  did  not  cease  at  all — not  even 
after  dark — so  long  as  the  firing  was  still  going  on  upon  the 
heights.  This  new  army — whose  was  it  ? — whence  was  it  ? 
It  did  not  come  from  the  direction  of  Goben,  nor  of  Stein- 
metz,  nor  of  Prince  Friedrich  Karl.  Of  course  it  could  not 
be  said  that  it  did  not  belong  to  either  of  these,  but  the  cry 
and  rumor  went  around  that  these  men  were  from  the  army 
of  the  Crown  Prince.  I  do  not  know  whether  to  believe  this 
or  not,  but  it  is  freely  said  and  believed  by  many  officers  here 
that  a  detachment  of  the  Crown  Prince’s  army  was  sent  up 
from  Toul  to  help,  if  help  were  needed.  To  whomsoever  or 
wheresoever  this  Army  Corps  (for  it  was  about  that  in  ex¬ 
tent)  belonged,  its  presence  was  nearly  all  that  was  required. 
It  was  laid  along  the  road,  out  of  immediate  danger,  so  that 
if  the  French  centre  had  defeated  the  troops  with  which  it 
was  contending,  it  must  simply  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
a  fresh  and  prepared  corps. 

“  The  advance  of  this  new  corps  must  have  been  felt  by 
them  as  a  final,  a  fatal  blow  for  that  day.  Like  the  spirits 
in  the  1  Inferno,’  their  enemies  were  consumed  only  to  spring 
up  to  full  stature  again.  They  must  have  realized  how  hope¬ 
lessly  they  were  outnumbered.  From  that  time  the  struggle 
at  that  part  became  very  weak  on  the  French  side,  and  the 
Prussians  got  a  decided  hold  farther  up  the  Metz  road — that 
is  on  the  southern  side  of  it.  But  there  seemed  to  be  a  re¬ 
doubled  fury  on  their  left.  From  seven  o’clock  to  eight  there 
was  little  firing  beyond  the  village,  but  a  great  tour  of  cloud 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


199 


and  fire  at  each  extremity  of  the  battle  field.  A  little  before 
eight  a  large  white  house  on  the  heights  beyond  Gravelotte 
caught  fire.  It  seemed  through  the  gloom  to  be  a  church  ; 
its  spire  was  now  a  mass  of  flame,  and  it  sent  up  a  vast  cloud 
of  black  smoke,  which  contrasted  curiously  with  the  white 
smoke  of  battle. 

“Darkness  was  now  drawing  on,  and  after  eight  we  could 
trace  the  direction  of,  troops  by  the  fiery  paths  of  their  bombs, 
or  the  long  tongue  of  fire  darting  from  each  cannon’s  mouth. 
The  lurid  smoke-clouds  of  burning  houses  joined  with  the 
night  to  cast  a  pall  over  the  scene  and  hide  it  forever.  At 
half-past  eight  o’clock  one  more  terrible  attack  by  the  French 
on  the  Prussian  right — and  that  is  over.  At  a  quarter  to 
nine  a  fearful  volley  against  the  extreme  Prussian  left,  a  con¬ 
tinuous  concert  of  artillery,  and  the  growling  whirr  of  the 
mitrailleuse  above  all — and  then  that  is  still.  The  battle  of 
Gravelotte  is  ended,  and  the  Prussians  hold  the  heights  be¬ 
yond  the  Bois  de  Yaux— heights  which  command  the  sur¬ 
rounding  country  up  to  the  limits  of  the  gun-ranges  of  Metz. 
As  I  went  back  to  the  village  of  Gorze  to  pass  the  night,  I 
turned  at  the  last  point  to  look  upon  the  battle-field.  It  was 
now  a  long,  earth-bound  cloud,  with  two  vast  fires — burning 
houses — at  each  end  of  it.  The  day  had  been  beautiful,  and 
now  the  stars  looked  down  with  splendor,  except  where  the 
work  of  agony  and  death  had  clouded  the  glow  of  heaven.” 

The  night  after  the  battle  the  King  announced  his  victory 
to  Queen  Augusta  in  the  following  bulletin : 

The  French  army  attacked  to-day  in  a  very  strong  position  west  of 
Metz,  under  my  leadership,  in  nine  hours’  battle  completely  beaten,  cut 
off  from  its  communications  with  Paris,  and  thrown  back  on  Metz. 

On  the  19th,  he  wrote  : 

That  was  a  new  day  of  victory  yesterday,  the  consequences  of  which 
are  not  yet  to  be  estimated.  Early  yesterday  the  Twelfth  Guards  and 
Ninth  Corps  proceeded  toward  the  northern  road  from  Metz  to  Verdun 
as  far  as  St.  Marcel  and  Doncourt,  followed  by  the  Third  and  Tenth 
Corps ;  while  the  Seventh  and  Eighth,  and  finally  the  Second,  remained 
opposite  Metz.  As  the  former  swerved  to  the  right,  in  thickly-wooded 
ground,  toward  Verneville  and  St.  Privat,  the  latter  began  the  attack 


200 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


upon  Gravelotte,  not  heavily,  in  order  to  wait  until  the  long  flank-march 
upon  the  strong  position,  Amanvillers-Chatel,  should  be  accomplished 
as  far  as  the  Metz  highway.  This  column  did  not  get  into  action  until 
4  o’clock  with  the  Pivot  Corps ;  the  Ninth  at  12  o’clock.  The  enemy 
put  forth  stout  resistance  in  the  woods,  so  that  ground  was  gained  only 
slowly.  St.  Privat  was  taken  by  the  Guards,  Yerneville  by  the  Ninth 
Cor*g  ;  the  Twelfth  Corps  and  artillery  of  the  Third  then  went  into  ac¬ 
tion.  Gravelotte  and  the  woods  "on  both  sides  were  taken  and  held  by 
troops  of  the  Seventh  and  Eighth  Corps,  and  with  great  losses.  In 
order  to  attack  again  the  enemy,  who  had  been  driven  back  by  the  flank- 
attack,  an  advance  beyond  Gravelotte  was  undertaken  at  dusk,  which 
came  upon  such  a  terrible  fire  from  behind  rifle-pits  en  ttage,  and  artil¬ 
lery-fire,  that  the  Second  Corps,  which  just  then  came  up,  was  forced  to 
attack  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet,  and  completely  took  and  held  the 
strong  position.  It  was  8.30  o’clock  before  the  firing  gradually  silenced 
itself  in  all  quarters.  By  this  last  advance  the  historical  shells  of  Ko- 
niggratz  were  not  wanting  near  me,  from  which,  this  time,  Minister  Yon 
Roon  removed  me.  All  troops  that  I  saw  greeted  me  with  enthusiastic 
hurrahs.  They  did  wonders  of  bravery  against  an  equally  brave  enemy, 
who  defended  every  step,  and  often  attempted  offensive  attacks,  which 
were  each  time  repulsed.  What  the  fate  of  the  enemy  will  now  be, 
pushed  into  the  intrenched,  very  strong  position  of  the  fortress  of  Metz, 
is  still  impossible  to  determine.  I  dread  to  ask  about  the  losses,  and  to 
give  names ;  for  only  too  many  acquaintances  will  be  named,  and  often 
incorrectly.  Your  regiment  (the  Queen’s)  is  said  to  have  fought  bril¬ 
liantly.  Waldersee  is  wounded  severely,  but  not  fatally,  as  I  am  told. 
I  expected  to  bivouac  here,  but  found,  after  some  hours,  a  room  where 
I  rested  on  the  royal  ambulance  which  I  had  brought  with  me ;  and 
since  I  have  not  a  particle  of-  my  baggage  from  Pont-a-Mousson,  I  have 
not  been  undressed  for  thirty  hours.  I  thank  God  that  he  vouchsafed 
us  the  victory.  Wilhelm. 

On  the  night  of  the  18th,  Bazaine  withdrew  his  shattered 
forces  towards  Metz,  from  which  Yon  Moltke  was  resolved 
he  should  never  pass  save  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  He  was 
badly  beaten,  and  although  Count  De  Palikao,  the  new  French 
Premier,  insisted  in  the  Chambers  that  he  had  gained  a  de¬ 
cided  advantage  over  the  Germans,  Bazaine  lost  no  time  in 
informing  the  Paris  Government  that  his  retreat  was  definitely 
cut  off.  On  the  20th  he  reported  that  the  enemy  showed 
signs  of  “  an  intention  to  invest  him.”  He  was  not  mistaken. 
Having  once  driven  the  Marshal  back  under  the  guns  of 
Metz,  Yon  Moltke  lost  no  time  in  encircling  the  French  posi- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


201 


tion  with  a  system  of  strong  works  which  effectually  shut  in 
both  Metz  and  the  army  from  communication  with  the  out¬ 
side  world.  By  the  22d,  Metz  was  fully  invested,  and  on 
that  day  began  the  memorable  siege  which  we  shall  be  called 
upon  to  relate  elsewhere  in  these  pages. 

The  battle  of  Gravelotte  was  a  great  victory  for  Germany  ; 
but  it  was  dearly  won.  The  flower  of  the  German  army  fell 
that  day,  and  the  Prussian  Government  shrank  from  pub¬ 
lishing  the  returns.  The  Prussian  nobility  was  thinned  out 
as  remorselessly  as  the  commons.  Both  classes  paid  the 
heavy  price  of  success.  But  the  victory,  though  dearly  won, 
was  decisive.  The  first  part  of  the  German  programme  was 
assured.  The  best  French  army  was  beaten  with  terrible  loss 
and  shut  up  in  Metz,  and  there  was  nothing  to  bar  the  road 
to  Paris  but  the  new  levies  assembling  at  Chalons,  under 
MacMahon. 


Gen.  Von  Steinmetz. 


202 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  VI. 


CONTINUATION  OF  MACMAHON’S  RETREAT — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  MARSHAL  AT 
NANCY — SCENE  AT  THE  CAFE — THE  CROWN  PRINCE  OF  PRUSSIA  PURSUES 
THE  FRENCH — HALTS  TO  AWAIT  THE  RESULT  AT  METZ — SCENES  IN  THE 
CONQUERED  PROVINCES — THE  GERMAN  PLAN  FOR  AN  ADVANCE  UPON 
PARIS  — FORMATION  OF  THE  FOURTH  ARMY— THE  KING  AND  VON  MOLTKE 
JOIN  THE  THIRD  ARMY — THE  MARCH  RESUMED — MACMAHON  AT  CHALONS 
— nE  ORGANIZES  A  FRESH  ARMY — COMPOSITION  AND  MORALE  OF  THE  NEW 
ARMY — THE  EMPEROR  REACHES  CHALONS — HIS  INABILITY  TO  RETURN 
TO  PARIS — SECRET  DISPATCH  FROM  THE  EMPRESS — POLITICAL  EMBAR¬ 
RASSMENTS — INTERFERENCE  OF  THE  MINISTERS — MACMAHON’S  PROTEST 
AGAINST  THE  EFFORT  TO  RESCUE  BAZAINE— THE  FRENCH  ARMY  MOVES 
TO  RHEIMS — ORDERS  FROM  PARIS — MACMAHON  STARTS  FOR  METZ — THE 
NEWS  AT  THE  GERMAN  HEADQUARTERS — VON  MOLTKE1  S  GAME— THE 
FORCED  MARCH  OF  THE  THIRD  AND  FOURTH  ARMIES — MACMAHON  AT¬ 
TEMPTS  TO  RETREAT,  BUT  IS  STOPPED  BY  ORDERS  FROM  PARIS — THE 
BATTLE  OF  BEAUMONT — THE  HOSTILE  ARMIES  ON  THE  MEUSE— EVENTS 
OF  THE  31ST  OF  AUGUST — BATTLE  OF  SEDAN— GENERAL  DE  WIMPFFEN 
SUCCEEDS  TO  TnE  COMMAND  OF  THE  FRENCH  ARMY— THE  FRENCH  DE¬ 
FEATED — SEDAN  INVESTED — THE  FLAG  OF  TRUCE — LETTER  FROM  TnE 
EMPEROR  TO  THE  KING— THE  KING’S  REPLY — THE  SURRENDER — SCENES 
IN  SEDAN — KING  WILLIAM’S  LETTER  TO  THE  QUEEN  OF  PRUSSIA— COR¬ 
RESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  THE  EMPEROR  AND  GENERAL  DE  WIMPFFEN — 
STATEMENT  OF  THE  EMPEROR’S  AIDES— EFFECT  OF  THE  SURRENDER 
UPON  THE  FRENCH  TROOPS — DEMORALIZATION  OF  THE  BEATEN  ARMY- 
MEETING  OF  VON  MOLTKE  AND  DE  WIMPFFEN  TO  ARRANGE  THE  CAPITU¬ 
LATION — TERMS  OF  THE  SURRENDER — VON  MOLTKE’S  ORDER  — VISIT  OF 
THE  EMPEROR  TO  COUNT  BISMARCK — THE  INTERVIEW  NEAR  DONCHERY — 
THE  EMPEROR  ESCORTED  TO  BELLVUE  CASTLE— KING  WILLIAM’S  SPEECH 
ON  THE  BATTLE  FIELD — VISIT  OF  THE  KING  TO  THE  EMPEROR — THE 
MEETING  OF  THE  SOVEREIGNS  — GENEROSITY  OF  KING  WILLIAM — THE 
EMPEROR’S  JOURNEY  TO  WILHELMSHOHE — THE  CAPITULATION  CARRIED 
OUT — DE  WIMPFFEN’ S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  TROOPS — STATE¬ 
MENT  OF  THE  OFFICERS,  TROOPS,  AND  MATERIAL  OF  WAR  SURREN¬ 
DERED  AT  SEDAN. 


must  now  go  back  to  the  movements  of  the  Crown 
Prince  and  Marshal  MacMahon. 

Immediately  after  the  reverse  at  Woerth,  Mac 
Mahon,  as  we  have  seen,  retreated  upon  Saverne, 
from  which  place  he  continued  to  retire  towards 
On  the  7th  of  August,  he  hastened  in  person  to 
Nancy  in  search  of  provisions  for  his  men.  A  correspondent 
who  saw  him  at  the  time,  thus  speaks  of  him  : 


Nancy. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


203 


“  On  Sunday,  August  7th,  a  special  train  came  into  Nancy 
•with  some  of  the  wounded.  Marshal  MacMahon  accompanied 
them.  He  came  precipitately  to  Nancy  in  search  of  subsis¬ 
tence  for  his  troops,  the  enemy  having  taken  all  his  provi¬ 
sions.  His  troops  had  eaten  nothing  for  twenty-eight  hours. 
The  Marshal  went  on  foot  from  the  railway  station  to  the 
Cafe  Boillot,  a  well-known  rendezvous  of  the  officers  of  the 
garrison.  He  was  in  such  a  state  as  to  be  hardly  recognized. 
He  was  covered  with  mud  from  head  to  foot,  his  hands  were 
black,  one  of  his  epaulettes  had  been  carried  away  by  a  bullet, 
the  skirts  of  his  uniform  were  full  of  bullet-holes,  his  tele¬ 
scope  was  broken  asunder  by  a  ball,  which  at  the  same  time 
slightly  wounded  him  in  the  hand.  He  had  not  had  time  to 
take  off  his  Hessian  boots  and  long  spurs.  Everybody  in  the 
cafe,  as  soon  as  he  was  known,  respectfully  saluted  him.  He 
hastily  called  for  some  cold  meat,  for  he  had  not  tasted  food 
for  twenty-eight  hours.  He  wrote  a  letter  while  he  was  eat¬ 
ing  and  was  very  soon  joined  by  an  officer,  who  is  believed  to 
be  General  De  Eailly.  They  went^into  a  private  room  and 
had  a  short  consultation,  after  which  the  Marshal  went  back 
by  rail  with  the  provisions  he  had  bought  for  his  soldiers. 
An  inhabitant  of  Nancy,  personally  acquainted  with  the  Mar¬ 
shal,  asked  him  news  of  the  Cuirassiers.  His  answer  was, 

‘  The  Cuirassiers  !  why,  there  are  none  of  them  left.’  ” 

He  then  went  back  to  the  army,  directing  its  retreat  with 
skill  and  prudence.  His  personal  exertions  during  these  sad 
days  were  enormous,  and  it  may  be  truly  said  that  to  him 
alone  belongs  the  credit  of  bringing  any  part  of  his  command 
through  the  retreat  in  good  order.  His  advanced  forces 
reached  Chalons  on  the  12th  of  August,  and  his  main  body 
arrived  during  the  next  day. 

The  Crown  Prince  followed  close  behind,  making  no 
effort  to  cut  MacMahon  off  from  Chalons,  as  the  movements 
about  Metz  was  still  undecided.  Detaching  the  Baden  and 
Wiirtembcrg  divisions  to  lay  siege  to  Strasbourg,  and  the  2d 
Bavarian  division  to  invest  Marsal,  a  fortified  place  on  the 
main  road  between  Sarrebourg  and  Metz,  which  latter  place 


204 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LA.TE  TFAR 


capitulated  after  a  short  resistance,  he  followed  the  general 
line  of  MacMahon’s  retreat  towards  Saverne.  The  little  fort 
of  Petite  Pierre  was  taken  without  loss,  by  a  detachment  from 
his  army,  and  Phalsbourg,  a  small  fortress  which  guards  the 
direct  road  through  the  Yosges,  from  Saverne  to  Nancy  by 
way  of  Luneville,  was  invested.  Bitsche  was  also  invested. 

The  Cavalry  of  the  Crown  Prince  entered  Nancy  on  the 
12th,  and  on  the  14th  cut  the  railway  between  Frouard  junc¬ 
tion  and  Metz.  On  the  same  day  Toul  was  summoned  to 
surrender,  and  the  demand  being  refused,  the  fortress  was  in¬ 
vested.  On  the  15th  the  advance  of  the  3d  army  was  at  Com- 
mercy,  and  on  the  17th  between  Bar-le-Duc  and  Vitry.  The 
headquarters  of  the  army,  advancing  in  the  rear  of  the  troops, 
were  at  Luneville  on  the.  18th,  at  Nancy  on  the  19th,  Vau- 
couleurs  on  the  21st,  and  at  Ligny  on  the  24th.  Here  the 
march  was  suspended  for  a  day  to  await  the  arrival  of  the 
King,  who  was  coming  from  Metz. 

The  advance  of  the  conquering  army  into  France  is  thus 
described  by  a  writer  who  accompanied  the  headquarters  of 
the  Crown  Prince : 

“  One  must  needs  pity  these  conquered  provinces.  They 
do  not  suffer  any  of  what  are  technically  called  the  horrors 
of  war.  Young  girls  stand  at  the  cottage  doors  in  the  vil¬ 
lages,  or  at  the  street  corners  in  the  towns,  to  see  the  soldiers 
pass,  and  are  not  injured  by  them.  Shops  are  open  in  the 
towns  and  are  not  plundered;  peaceable  citizens  go  about 
their  business  without  fear  for  life  or  limb.  It  is  essentially 
a  civilized  war  in  these  respects.  But  fruit  and  vegetables 
are  taken  along  the  wayside,  horses  are  pressed  into  the  ser¬ 
vice,  soldiers  are  quartered  on  the  people,  and  large  supplies 

of  food  are  demanded  from  the  local  authorities . The 

luckless  village  that  lies  near  the  road  is  eaten  up  by  thou¬ 
sands  of  unwelcome  guests,  and  the  more  remote  village  es¬ 
capes  with  a  trifling  loss.  However,  there  is  hope  for  the 
world,  and  progress  in  even  the  laws  of  war.  This  is  a  bitter 
time  for  the  conquered  French,  and  many  farmers,  horse 
dealers,  and  wayside  cottagers  suffer  grievous  loss.  .  .  . 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


205 


"The  ancient  city  of  Nancy  is  sad  and  gloomy;  that  is  to 
say,  the  people  of  the  city  are  sad.  I  cannot  extend  such  a 
description  to  the  mere  outward  effect  of  the  streets.  True, 
the  shutters  are  closed  in  many  of  the  shops,  the  hotels  are 
almost  empty,  and  the  cafes  in  some  quarters  deserted. 
Things  do  not  sound  cheerful ;  yet  there  is  plenty  of  noise 
and  bustle.  Soldiers  are  here,  there,  and  everywhere.  Mili¬ 
tary  convoys  rumble  through  the  streets,  and  orderlies  with 
messages  go  clattering  in  and  out  of  the  gates.  There  is  no 
lack  of  movement  among  the  troops.  One  detachment  is  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  another  with  the  regularity  of  clockwork.  The 
railway  is  to  be  used  as  far  as  practicable  to  lighten  the  traffic 
on  the  roads,  and  everything  is  to  be  pushed  forward  as 
though  time  were  counted  by  hours  and  not  by  days.  Well 
may  the  citizens  stand  with  folded  arms  and  stare  gloomily  at 
the  passing  regiments.  Loud  sound  the  drums  and  trumpets, 
heavy  and  steady  is  the  tramp  of  the  soldiers’  feet.  You  look 
at  them  with  wonder  as  part  of  an  inexhaustible  conjuring 
trick.  Still  more  and  more  of  them  coming  westward. 
‘Alas!’  cry  the  conquered  people  of  Lorraine,  ‘it  is  not  an 
army,  but  a  nation  which  comes.’  Alas,  indeed,  for  the  way- 
side  cottages,  which  will  be  burdened  with  constant  billeting; 
alas  for  the  artisans  in  the  towns,  who  earn  so  little  in  these 
troubled  times,  and  must  entertain  military  lodgers  all  the 
same !  I  know  that  the  French  are  to  blame  for  the  war,  but 
I  cannot  help  being  sorry  for  the  individuals  who  suffer  so 
much  loss  and  discomfort.  They  say  that  as  mere  lodgers 
apart  from  the  question  of  feeding  them,  the  German  troops 
behave  quietly  enough.  They  behave  better  to  the  French 
than  the  Turcos  and  Zouaves  would  have  behaved  to  them 
in  their  German  towns.  No  doubt  they  do.  But  what  a 
long  way  off  that  other  side  of  the  picture  seems,  now  that 
Germany  has  struck  her  blow! 

“  The  roads  are  crowded  with  trains  of  ammunition  wagons, 
with  stores  of  provisions,  and  with  masses  of  infantry.  Woe 
to  the  luckless  wayside  villages ;  woe  to  the  farmers  who 


206 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


have  crops  in  wayside  fields.  There  is  no  danger  to  life  or 
limb  among  the  peaceable  inhabitants,  but  there  is  danger  of 
being  fairly  eaten  out  of  house  and  home.  There  is  an  un¬ 
avoidable  trampling  down  of  crops  in  the  fields  where  the 
soldiers  pass,  and  there  is  such  a  demand  for  means  of  trans¬ 
port  as  leaves  little  chance  to  the  farmer  of  keeping  his  horses 
for  himself.  He  gets  a  receipt*  of  some  sort  in  most  cases. 
But  no  amount  of  paper  security  will  comfort  the  average 

French  farmer  in  the  present  crisis . 

“  There  is  a  straight  and  rapid  march  westward  of  the 

3d  army . Three  or  four  columns  are  marching 

abreast  on  some  of  the  roads.  Two  go  by  the  road  itself,  and 
in  some  cases  two  more  move  through  the  fields  to  right  and 
left,  or  at  least  one  other  column  makes  a  way  which  is  a 
little  out  of  order  serve  the  purpose  of  the  moment.  Great 
are  the  1  blocks  ’  and  crushes,  tremendous  the  swearing  at 
critical  corners.  But,  on  the  whole,  it  is  remarkable  how 

*  “  One  point  which  we  took  the  greatest  pains  to  clear  up  was  the  oft- 
asserted  and  contradicted  integrity  of  the  Prussians,  in  paying  for  all  they 
took  by  means  of  bonds.  These,  which  might  more  properly  be  called  re¬ 
ceipts,  were  invariably  given  for  every  franc’s  worth  exacted ;  but  our  sus¬ 
picions  were  first  aroused  by  finding  that  their  recipients  looked  upon  them 
as  so  much  waste  paper,  and  considered  themselves  robbed.  Hence  the  con¬ 
tinual  phrase,  ‘Ils  nous  ont  pilld  partout.’  On  this  doubt,  then,  the  whole 
question  hinged;  and  in  order  to  remove  it  we  were  persevering  in  address¬ 
ing  our  inquiries  to  every  grade  of  authority,  high  and  low.  It  would  not 
perhaps  be  quite  fair  to  mention  their  names,  but  in  many  cases  their  status 
was  such  as  to  preclude  the  impossibility  of  inaccurate  information.  Our 
questions  usually  took  the  following  form :  Q.  ‘As  for  these  bonds,  do  you 
look  upon  them  as  redeemable  in  Berlin  after  the  war?’  A.  (with  a  laugh). 
‘  Certainly  not.  Our  own  national  pecuniary  losses  will  be  heavy  enough  as 
it  is,  without  our  burdening  ourselves  with  our  enemies’  debts.’  Q.  ‘But 
you  will  probably  obtain  an  indemnity  from  the  French  at  the  end  of  the 
war.  Will  not  this  be  calculated  on  a  score  which  may  enable  you  to  re¬ 
deem  these  bonds  ?’  A.,  ‘Ah,  no  1  We  shall  want  all  the  money  we  can  get 

to  pay  our  own  bill.’  Q.  ‘Well,  then,  you  will  at  least  make  it  one  of  the 
conditions  of  peace  that  the  French  Government  shall  take  up  and  honor 
them?’  A.  ‘I  think  you  misunderstand  the  whole  matter.  When  these 
bonds  are  once  signed  and  delivered,  we  entirely  wash  our  hands  of  them ; 
we  ignore  them  completely,  and  recognize  no  claim  founded  on  them.’  Q. 
‘Then  what  is  the  good  of  issuing  them?’  A.  (with  a  shrug).  ‘Well,  it  is 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


207 


well  these  columns  are  directed ;  how  carefully  they  choose 
their  routes  through  the  invaded  provinces.  Wheels  are 
rumbling  and  whips  are  cracking  along  many  a  road.  The 
columns  are  halted  to  rest  in  some  places,  and  there  may  be 
seen  the  bright  bivouac  fire  twinkling  in  the  fields,  or  long- 
lines  of  horses  standing  silently  at  supper.  Though  many 
columns  are  halted,  others  are  moving  on.  The  road  is  still 
alive  with  military  preparation.  Do  not  fancy  the  pomp  and 
circumstance  of  war  as  attending  the  march  of  the  columns  of 
supply.  It  is  a  pretty  sight  to  see  the  Lancers  or  Dragoons  who 
lead  the  invasion  trotting  over  hill  and  dale,  with  every  nerve 
strained  to  detect  a  possible  foe.  There  is  an  impressive  force 
about  the  advance  of  the  dusty  and  tired  infantry — the  mur¬ 
mur  of  many  voices,  and  tramp  of  many  feet  passing  forward 
like  a  storm  sighing  in  the  woods.  Even  the  weight  and 
slowness  of  the  guns  has  its  own  peculiar  dignity.  They  are 
deadly  weapons  in  charge  of  determined  fighting  men.  But 
the  innumerable  colums  of  supply,  the  baggage  and  a'mmuni- 


more  orderly.  Besides,  when  peace  is  concluded,  the  French  will  perhaps 
make  some  national  effort  to  relieve  the  poverty  of  the  North,  by  calling  for 
the  assistance  of  those  departments  which  have  not  suffered.  In  such  a  case 
our  bonds  will  enable  the  maires,  sous-prefets,  and  prefets  to  distribute  their 
funds  equitably.’  ....  We  think  it  is  indisputable  that  these  French 
peasants  are  as  completely  stripped  of  their  possessions  as  were  the  Ham¬ 
burgers  under  the  rule  of  Davoust,  only,  in  the  present  instance,  the  process 
is  carried  on  in  a  piore  civil  way.  The  medium  of  communication  is  the 
maire.  On  him  the  Prussian  commandant  issues  the  requisitions  for  forage, 
provisions,  billets,  carts,  horses,  rations,  etc.;  and  the  former  distributes  the 
burden  as  evenly  as  possible.  All  that  comes  under  the  head  of  luxuries  is 
supposed  to  be  paid  for,  though  even  in  this  respect  the  rule  does  not  seem 
to  be  very  clear.  For  instance,  we  noticed  at  Conflans  that,  instead  of  the 
everlasting  big,  hanging  pipe,  every  soldier  was  puffing  away  at  a  cigar.  On 
inquiry  the  Prussian  officers  told  us  that  they  had  that  day  ‘  obtained  ’  (?)  an 
unexpected  supply  from  the  neighborhood  of  six  thousand  cigars;  which,  dis¬ 
tributed  among  two  hundred  and  fifty,  gave  twenty-four  cigars  per  man.  There 
is  also  apparently  great  laxity  in  conniving  at  the  private  soldiers  helping 
themselves,  providing  there  is  no  theft  of  money.  They  laughingly  told  us 
that  their  men  were  very  sharp  in  discovering  the  hidden  treasures  of  best 
wine.” — Fnm  Sedan  to  Saarbruclc.  By  an  Officer  of  the  Royal  Artillery. 
Pp.  176-180 


208 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


tion,  the  food  and  provender,  are  very  prosaic,  though  very 
necesssary.  There  are  miles  of  hay  wagons — a  good  omen 
for  cavalry  horses.  Farther  on  are  other  miles  of  bread 
wagons,  of  bacon  and  beef  wagons.  Horned  cattle  are  led 
along  by  the  score  to  become  beef  in  due  time;  clothes  and 
equipments,  medicines,  and  blankets,  are  brought  rumbling 
on  into  France.  If  the  people  were  astonished  at  the  earlier 
stages  of  the  journey,  they  are  now  simply  bewildered  be¬ 
yond  all  power  of  recovery.  An  avalanche  has  fallen  upon 
them. 

“One  cannot  see  it  for  one’s  self,  but  the  sight  of  the  ad¬ 
vancing  host,  as  a  wayside  village  sees  it,  from  first  to  last, 
must  be  something  to  remember.  The  people  will  tell  in  a 
dreamy  way  how  they  heard  that  the  Prussians  were  coming. 
There  was  news  of  them  four,  five,  six  days  ago,  as  the  case 
may  be.  Yes,  raa  foi ,  they  heard  that  they  were  coming,  but 
did  not  believe  it.  Then  there  was  a  party  of  Lancers  seen 
upon  the  road.  The  people  wondered  what  would  happen. 
Monsieur  le  Curd  told  them  that  in  modern  wars  they  did 
not  kill  those  who  remained  quiet,  so  their  confidence  was 
enough  to  keep  them  at  home.  The  village  shop  was  shut, 
and  everybody  closed  his  door  and  peeped  from  the  window. 
Now  the  Lancers  rode  into  the  street,  and  a  few  came  forward 
to  the  principal  house — the  Hotel  de  Ville — if  the  place 
ranked  as  a  ‘  bourg,’  or  small  town.  The  soldiers  asked  for 
food  and  drink,  said  they  would  do  no  harm  if  they  were  not 
molested,  and  presently  got  off  their  horses.  With  details 
very  slightly  varying,  I  have  heard  of  this  first  entry  in  seve¬ 
ral  places,  and  have  heard  how  infantry  soon  began  to  come: 
one  regiment — two,  three,  a  dozen  regiments.  The  bread 
was  eaten,  the  wine  was  drunk,  and  the  people  were  well 
nigh  ruined  by  feeding  their  guests.  Were  they  bad  fellows 
in  their  way?  A  delicate  question  this,  and  one  to  which  a 
stranger  can  expect  but  a  guarded  answer.  What  sort  of  fel¬ 
lows  were  they,  these  invading  soldiers  ?  1  0,  not  very  bad, 

if  only  they  had  not  such  dreadful  appetites,  and  if  they 
could  make  themselves  understood.’  It  is  hard  to  be  shaken 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


209 


and  growled  at  in  La  Belle  France  itself  for  not  speaking  the 
language  of  the  German  Fatherland.  It  is  harder  still  to 
have  a  slip  of  paper,  negotiable  heaven  knows  when,  instead 
of  a  good  cart-horse,  or  fat  bullock.  But  the  conquered  people 
suffered  far  more  in  olden  times.  I  feel  sure  that  the  French 
will  be  very  angry  and  apt  to  magnify  their  ill-fortune,  great 
as  it  is,  and  I  think  that  the  best  thing  which  can  be  done  is 
to  state  frankly  the  sort  of  injury  endured  by  the  peasants, 
the  taking  of  cattle,  and  eating  up  of  bread,  whilst  stating  as 
frankly  that  I  have  heard  no  complaint  of  personal  violence, 
and  that  the  women  do  not  seem  at  all  afraid  of  the  rough, 
loud-voiced  fellows  who  swarm  around  them.  The  columns 
pour  steadily  on.  We  wonder  what  is  being  done  for  defence 
on  the  other  side,  and  cannot  but  admire  the  little  piece  of 
defensive  work  which  the  garrison  of  Toul  is  doing  close  to 
us.  Like  Phalsbourg,  the  city  of  Toul  is  a  point  of  gallant 
resistance,  but  not  in  any  way  a  rallying  point  for  the  sur¬ 
rounding  people.  The  fortress  is  held,  and  the  enemy  passes 
on  without  troubling  himself  to  take  it.  Both  at  Phalsbourg 
and  at  Toul  there  has  been  an  experimental  attack,  which 
has  given  the  garrison  an  opportunity  of  distinction.  I  should 
add  that  the  French  authorities  seem  disposed  to  avoid  un¬ 
necessary  destruction  of  property  by  merely  blowing  up  and 
knocking  dowu  to  hinder  the  Germans.  There  are  no  traces 
of  an  attempt  at  la  jietite  guerre ,  as  far  as  I  have  yet  seen. 
The  French  simply  retreat  clear  out  of  reach  when  they  do 
not  mean  to  fight  in  earnest,  and  leave  the  open  towns  and 
villages  to  be  quietly  occupied  by  the  advancing  foe. 

*•  There  is  such  bustle  in  the  streets  of  Yaucouleurs  that 
the  younger  portion  of  the  inhabitants  are  very  well  amused, 
in  spite  of  their  misgivings  about  the  public  safety.  Boys 
and  girls  who  are  old  enough  to  run  about  alone  get  into  snug 
corners  to  feast  their  eyes  on  the  horses  and  the  uniforms. 
Especially  do  they  like  to  gather  near  the  quarters  of  the 
Prince,  and  observe  from  a  little  distance  the  Royal  standard 
waving  over  the  entrance,  and  the  two  soldiers  in  spiked 


210  HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 

helmets  pacing  up  and  down.  It  is  no  idle  task  that  mount¬ 
ing  guard  at  the  Prince's  door,  for  the  number  of  officers  who 
pass  makes  the  duty  one  of  constant  saluting.  The  Germans 
neglect  nothing  on  account  of  the  war,  but  are  established 
here  as  tranquilly  as  they  might  be  at  Berlin  or  Munich. 
I  own  that  the  crowd  in  proportion  to  the  space  would  be 
appaling  for  a  city  in  time  of  peace.  But  there  is  such  order 
and  regularity  in  the  whole  system,  and  the  different  function¬ 
aries  settle  so  promptly  into  their  new  quarters,  that  they 
seem  to  have  been  here  two  months  rather  than  two  days.” 

While  a  single  chance  remained  to  Bazaine  at  Metz,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  Crown  Prince  should  suspend  his  advance 
upon  Chalons  in  order  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  to  the 
assistance  of  the  other  German  forces  in  case  of  need.  As 
we  have  seen,  affairs  on  the  Moselle  were  most  favorable  for 
the  Germans,  and  by  the  22d  of  August,  Marshal  Bazaine 
and  his  army  were  shut  up  within  the  lines  of  Metz,  and  their 
position  surrounded  by  the  lines  of  the  German  armies.  The 
German  leaders  were  well  aware  that  this  force  would  give 
them  no  further  trouble  in  the  field,  as  a  portion  of  their 
immense  army  would  enable  them  to  hold  it  at  Metz  until  its 
necessities  compelled  its  surrender.  They  could  thus  use  a 
large  portion  of  their  forces  for  active  operations  elsewhere. 

General  Von  Moltke  quickly  decided  on  his  plan  of  opera¬ 
tions.  The  only  organized  forces  of  the  French  remaining  to 
oppose  him  were  the  garrison  of  Paris  and  the  army  assem 
bling  under  MacMahon  at  Chalons;  and  he  determined  to 
advance  upon  the  Marshal  and  force  him  to  give  battle  or 
retreat  still  farther  into  the  interior  of  France.  A  4th 
army,  consisting  of  the  Guards,  the  Fourth  and  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  was  at  once  organized,  and  placed  under  the  command 
of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony.  This  left  seven  corps, 
viz: — First,  Second,  Third,  Seventh,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Tenth  — 
to  hold  Bazaine  at  Metz,  and  conduct  the  siege.  The  4th 
army  was  ordered  to  move  by  way  of  Verdun  and  Menehould 
to  Chalons,  and  at  the  same  time,  the  Crown  Prince  was  di¬ 
rected  to  resume  his  march  towards  the  same  place.  It  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


211 


confidently  expected  that  MacMahon,  having  no  adequate 
force  to  resist  this  concentration  of  over  two  hundred  thous¬ 
and  men,  would  retire  upon  Paris,  to  which  the  German  com¬ 
mander  was  resolved  to  follow  him  with  all  speed.  The 
4th  army  began  its  march  on  the  22d  of  August— 80,000 
strong.  The  next  day  the  King  left  the  army  of  Prince 
Frederick  Charles,  for  Ligny,  the  headquarters  of  the  Crown 
Prince,  where  he  arrived  on  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  accom¬ 
panied  by  General  Yon  Moltke  apd  Count  Von  Bismarck. 
The  next  day  the  royal  headquarters  were  at  Bar-le-Duc, 
where  the  German  commanders  received  tidings  which  caused 
an  entire  change  in  their  plans. 

Immediately  upon  his  arrival  at  Chalons,  Marshal  Mac 
Mahon  devoted  himself  to  the  task  of  getting  his  army  in 
readiness  for  resistance  to  the  enemy,  whom  he  knew  to  be 
following  him.  He  brought  with  him  the  remnants  of  his 
own  corps,  amounting  to  about  16,000  men,  De  Failly’s  corps, 
20,000,  and  Felix  Douay’s  corps,  15,000.  To  these  he  was 
able  to  add  15,000  troops  which  had  been  collected  by  Canro- 
bert  at  Chalons,  and  a  new  corps,  the  12th,  which  had  been 
collected  by  General  Trochu,  30,000 — making  in  all  a  force 
of  over  100,000  men,  including  the  artillery  •  and  450  guns. 
Later  still,  he  was  reenforced  with  about  35,000  of  the  Garde 
Mobile,  who  had  just  been  called  out,  and  who  were  totally 
untrained.  His  army,  though  respectable  in  numbers,  was 
sadly  lacking  in  discipline.  It  was  composed,  to  a  very  large 
extent,  of  troops  who  were  just  recovering  from  the  demora¬ 
lizing  effects  of  a  disastrous  defeat  and  retreat.  The  flower 
of  the  whole  army — the  remnant  of  MacMahon’s  First  Corps 
— veterans  who  had  fought  in  Africa — we  are  told  by  their 
chief,  were  “discouraged  and  mutinous,”  and  the  Marshal 
seriously  feared  the  effects  of  their  bad  example  upon  the 
other  troops.  De  Failly’s  corps  had  lost  its  baggage  on  the 
retreat  without  having  been  once  under  fire — Douay’s  Seventh 
Corps,  “  did  not  show  as  much  solidity  as  might  have  been 
desired.”  The  Twelfth,  was  a  new  corps,  and  was  composed 
of  three  divisions — the  first  formed  of  new  regiments,  the 


212 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


second  made  up  of  “  marching  regiments,”  out  of  “  fourth 
battalions,”  and  the  third  of  marines.  It  was  to  this  army, 
thus  constituted,  that  France  looked  for  the  recovery  of  her 
lost  prestige. 

The  Emperor,  as  we  have  seen,  repaired  to  Chalons  from 
Metz,  to  lend  his  efforts  to  the  exertions  that  were  being  made 
h}'  MacMahon.  It  had  been  his  intention,  upon  resigning  his 
command,  to  return  to  Paris  and  resume  his  duties  as  the  chief 
of  the  State  ;  but  he  had  been  advised  by  his  Ministers  to 
remain  with  the  army,  at  least  until  Bazaine  was  relieved 
from  his  unfortunate  situation  at  Metz.  On  the  10th  of  Au¬ 
gust,  as  soon  as  his  decision  was  known  to  the  Council  of  the 
Regency,  he  is  said  to  have  received  the  following  dispatch 
from  the  Empress: 

M.  Pietri’s  dispatch  lias  been  received.  Have  you  considered  the  con¬ 
sequences  of  a  return  to  Paris  under  the  blow  of  two  reverses?  I  decline 
the  responsibility  of  advising  you.  If  yon  have  decided,  would  it  not 
be  best  to  have  it  stated  to  the  country  thus  :  The  Emperor  returns  to 
Paris  to  reorganize  t lie  2d  army,  provisionally  intrusting  the  command- 
in  chief  of  the  army  of  the  Rhine  to  Razaine. 

The  Emperor,  however,  differed  from  his  Ministers  in  his 
estimate  of  the  state  of  affairs,  having  a  much  clearer  and 
more  intelligent  conception  of  the  real  nature  of  the  situation 
than  any  of  the  latter  seemed  capable  of.  Immediately  upon 
his  arrival  at  Chalons  a  council  of  war  was  held,  at  which  it 
was  resolved  that  General  Trochu  should  be  given  the  com¬ 
mand  of  the  army  of  Paris,  that  MacMahon  should  retire  with 
the  troops  under  him  from  Chalons  to  Paris,  and  that  the 
Emperor  should  return  to  the  Capital.  The  council  of  Min¬ 
isters  at  Paris,  which  did  nothing  during  its  existence  but 
bring  disaster  upon  France  by  its  ignorant  and  cowardly  inter¬ 
ference  with  the  army  in  the  field,  offered  the  most  decided 
objection  to  this  plan.  Paris,  they  said,  was  thoroughly  pre¬ 
pared  for  defence,  and  able  to  take  care  of  itself,  and  MacMa- 
hon’s  army  ought  to  march  at  once  to  the  relief  of  Bazaine. 
The  Emperor,  they  added,  must  not  think  of  returning  to 
Paris.  His  course  would  be  misunderstood  by  the  country. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  213 

No  opposition  was  offered  to  the  appointment  of  General 
Trochu,  and  on  the  17th  of  August  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Emperor  “Governor  of  Paris  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all 
the  forces  charged  to  provide  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital.’’ 
In  the  meantime,  however,  the  near  approach  of  the  3d 
German  army  rendered  MacMahon’s  position  more  insecure 
every  day,  and  it  was  necessary  to  do  something  at  once. 

Marshal  MacMahon  was  prompt  to  remonstrate  against  the 
plan  of  the  Ministers.  He  declared  that  the  movement  upon 
Metz  would  be  a  measure  of  the  “  greatest  imprudence,”  and 
pointed  out  the  danger  of  making  such  a  very  perilous  flank 
march  with  an  army  so  thoroughly  unorganized  and  undisci¬ 
plined  as  his  own,  in  the  face  of  an  enemy  superior  to  him 
both  in  numbers  and  preparation.  He  therefore  notified  the 
Ministers  that  he  was  about  to  take  position  with  his  army  at 
Rheims,  from  which  place  he  could  move  either  to  Sedan  or 
to  Paris.  He  said,  “It  is  only  under  the  walls  of  the  Capital 
that  my  army,  when  rested  and  reconstituted,  will  be  able  to 
offer  the  enemy  any  serious  resistance."  In  accordance  with 
this  resolution,  he  abandoned  the  entrenched  camp  at  Chalons, 
setting  fire  to  it  as  he  left  it,  and  marched  to  Rheims,  behind 
which  he  took  position  on  the.  21st  of  August.  Had  he  been 
left  to  his  own  guidance,  he  would  at  least  have  averted  many 
of  the  disasters  which  the  overruling  of  his  plans  brought 
upon  his  country.  But  it  was  not  to  be.  The  council  of  old 
women  at  Paris,  with  which  it  had  pleased  heaven  to  curse 
Prance,  was  wiser  in  its  own  conceit  in  military  matters  than 
the  hero  of  the  Malakoflf  and  Magenta.  “  The  language  of 
reason,”  says  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  “  was  not  understood  in 
Paris;  it  was  wished,  at  all  hazards,  to  give  public  opinion 
the  empty  hope  that  Marshal  Bazaine  could  still  be  succored, 
and  the  Duke  of  Magenta  received  from  the  council  of  Minis¬ 
ters,  to  which  had  been  joined  the  Privy  Council  and  the- 
Presidents  of  the  two  Chambers,  a  most  pressing  injunction  to 
march  to  Metz.”  The  die  was  cast.  There  was  nothing  but 
obedience  left  to  the  Marshal.  Accordingly  he  broke  up  his 
camp  at  Rheims  on  the  23rd  of  August,  and  marched  for 


214 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Place  du  Carrousel  :  Paris. 


Bethenville,  on  the  Suippe,  the  Emperor  accompanying  the 
army.  Upon  leaving  Rheims  the  troops  became  utterly  un¬ 
manageable,  and  plundered  the  provision  and  other  trains  of 
the  army  in  the  most  open  manner.  It  was  impossible,  under 
the  circumstances,  to  punish  the  disorder  as  it  deserved  ;  but 
it  must  have  been  a  terrible  sight  to  a  commander  whose 
judgment  condemned  the  whole  movement.  The  result  was 
soon  seen.  The  army  had  scarcely  left  Rheims,  when  a  lack 
of  supplies  compelled  the  Marshal  to  return  to  the  railroad  in 
order  to  procure  them.  He  reached  Rethel  on  the  24th,  and 
halted  there  to  obtain  food. 

This  was  the  news  that  reached  the  headquarters  of  King 
William,  at  Bar-le-Duc,  on  the  25th  of  August— that  Mac 
Mahon,  whom  the  King  expected  to  find  at  Chalons,  had 
abandoned  his  camp  there,  and  had  moved  first  to  Rheims, 
from  which  place  he  was  marching  rapidly  to  the  northward, 
evidently  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  Bazaine.  The  German 
commanders  were  astounded,  as  well  they  might  have  been, 
and  they  could  scarcely  believe  that  a  general  whose  genius 
they  so  readily  acknowledged  was  really  engaged  in  such  a 
foolhardy  enterprise.  But  their  reports  were  positive,  and 
were  supported  bv  evidence  too  clear  to  be  doubted.  Once 
convinced  of  the  fact  of  MacMahon’s  movement,  Von  Moltke 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


215 


saw  his  opportunity,  and  with  the  decision  of  genius  resolved 
to  profit  by  it.  The  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony  was  moving 
towards  Chalons  by  Verdun,  and  orders  were  at  once  dis¬ 
patched  to  him  to  throw  his  army  across  MacMahon’s  path¬ 
way  and  hold  him  in  the  Argonne  ;  while  the  Crown  Prince 
of  Prussia  was  ordered  to  hasten  to  the  northward  by  forced 
marches,  by  way  of  Clermont-en-Argonne  and  Grand  Pre,  and 
sweep  round  upon  MacMahon’s  right  flank,  and  drive  him 
back  upon  the  Belgian  frontier.  The  morning  of  the  26th 
saw  both  of  these  armies  in  motion,  and  hurrying  toward  their 
destinations. 

In  the  meantime  MacMahon  had  continued  his  northward 
movement — but  very  slowly.  Everything  depended  on  his 
speed,  upon  his  outstripping  the  Germans  in  the  celerity  of 
his  movements.  The  distance  from  Rheims  to  Sedan  and 
Beaumont  is  fifty  miles.  With  an  efficient  and  disciplined 
army,  the  Marshal  would  have  been  at  the  two  latter  places 
by  the  26th  at  the  latest — before  the  arrival  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  armies — but  with  the  disorganized,  half  mutinous,  and 
half  starved  force  under  his  command,  he  did  not  reach  Sedan 
and  Beaumont  until  the  30th,  having  spent  seven  days  in  the 
march  from  Rheims.  By  that  time  the  Crown  Prince  of 
Saxony  had  reached  the  Meuse  and  was  looking  for  him,  and 
“Fritz,”  with  the  3d  German  army,  was  hurrying  forward, 
having  already  passed  Grand  Pre.  MacMahon  heard  of  their 
approach  on  the  27th,  on  which  day  he  reached  Le  Chene 
Populeux.  At  a  glance  he  saw  his  danger,  and  determined  to 
save  his  army  by  a  prompt  and  speedy  retreat.  Orders  were 
given  for  the  movement,  and  every  precaution  was  taken  to 
secure  its  success.  All  to  no  purpose,  however  ;  for  after 
midnight  there  came  a  dispatch  from  Par-is,  peremptorily 
ordering  MacMahon  to  push  forward  to  Metz  and  succor 
Bazaine.  The  Emperor  was  present  when  these  orders  were 
received,  and  lie  should  have  countermanded  them  at  every 
hazard,  and  have  left  the  Marshal  free  to  act  in  accordance 
with  his  own  convictions;  but- he  says,  “  he  was  resolved  not 
to  oppose  the  decision  of  the  Regency,  and  had  resigned  him- 


216 


HISTORY  OP  THE  LATE  WAR. 


self  to  submit  to  the  consequences  of  the  fatality  which  at¬ 
tached  itself  to  all  the  resolutions  of  the  Government.”  There 
was  no  help  for  it.  MacMahon  yielded  to  the  command  of 
the  old  women  at  Paris,  and  gave  orders  to  abandon  the 
retrograde  movement.  The  army  was  then  directed  towards 
Stenay,  at  which  point  the  Marshal  intended  to  cross  the 
Meuse,  in  his  march  to  Montmedy,  but  a  reconnoissance  dis¬ 
closed  the  fact  that  Stenay  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the 
Germans.  The  Marshal  then  established  his  headquarters  at 
Raucourt,  intending  to  pass  the  Meuse  at  Mouzon,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  30th  of  August  the  left  wing  crossed  the 
river  at  that  place,  but  the  right  was  still  at  Beaumont. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  had  been  marching  hard  to  come 
up  with  the  French  before  they  passed  the  Meuse.  The  4th 
German  army  had  already  reached  and  attacked  Verdun 
when  the  news  of  MacMahon’s  movement  was  brought  to  the 
King’s  headquarters.  The  attack  was  made  on  the  26th,  and, 
being  unsuccessful,  the  Saxon  Crown  Prince  left  a  force  before 
Ycrdun  to  besiege  it,  and  continued  his  movement  towards 
Chalons.  The  Twelfth  Corps  had  already  passed  the  Meuse 
when  the  orders  to  intercept  MacMahon  were  received.  Gen¬ 
eral  Von  Moltke  detached  the  two  Bavarian  Corps  from  the 
Crown  Prince’s  army,  and  sent  them  to  reenforce  the  4th 
army,  by  the  way  of  Yarennes.  These,  with  the  Twelfth  Corps 
of  the  4th  army,  marched  up  the  left  or  western  bank  of  the 
Meuse,  while  the  Guards  and  the  Fourth  Corps,  comprising  • 
the  rest  of  the  4th  army,  moved  along  the  right  bank  in 
communication  with  the  others.  The  remaining  corps  of  the 
3d  army,  which  had  occupied  Rheims,  Chalons,  and  Yitry 
by  the  27th,  were  ordered  to  converge  in  the  general  direction 
of  Sedan.  These'  movements  were  executed  with  vigor  and 
promptness.  The  cavalry  were  as  usual  well  thrown  out, 
and  on  the  27th,  the  Third  Saxon  Cavalry,  belonging  to 
the  4th  army,  struck  a  sharp  blow  at  the  cavalry  of  De 
Failly’s  corps  near  Buzancv,  defeating  them.  On  the  30th 
the  4th  army,  moving  on  both  banks  of  the  river,  reached 
the  vicinity  of  Beaumont  and  the  point  immediately  opposite 


« 


2l1 


'I lie  Attack  on  the  Village  of  Mouzon  by  the  Prussians,  on  the  day  before  the 

battle  of  Sedan. 


218 


HISTORY  OP  THE  LATE  WAR 


that  place  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse,  while  the  Fifth  and 
Eleventh  Corps  of  the  3rd  army  were  at  Stonne,  seven  miles 
west  of  Beaumont. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  the  march  was  continued.  The 
Saxons  and  Bavarians  of  the  4th  army,  advancing  through 
a  wooded  country  from  Beaumont,  were  informed  by  their 
cavalry  scouts  that  a  strong  French  force  was  lying  just  be¬ 
yond  the  town.  This  was  De  Failly’s  corps,  constituting  the 
right  wing  of  the  French  army,  which  was  waiting  to  cross 
the  Meuse  that  day  at  Mouzon.  De  Failly,  with  criminal 
carelessness,  had  entirely  neglected  to  throw  out  pickets  or 
to  watch  the  Germans  with  his  cavalry,  although  he  must 
have  been  aware  of  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy.  “  Owing 
to  the  fine  weather,”  says  the  Count  de  la  Chappelle,  “  the 
general  had  given  orders  to  clean  the  chassepots,  and  to  at¬ 
tend  to  many  of  the  details  neglected  during  the  marche  forcee 
they  had  effected  from  Rheims.”  *  In  plain  English,  the 
French  camp  lay  entirely  exposed  to,  and  its  general  was  in 
utter  ignorance  of  the  advance  of  the  Germans. 

The  Saxon  Crown  Prince  was  prompt  to  profit  by  De 
Failly’s  blunder.  Skilfully  concealing  his  movements  under 
the  cover  of  the  woods,  he  hurled  the  Fourth  Corps,  suppor¬ 
ted  by  the  First  Bavarian  Corps  on  its  left  and  the  Twelfth 
Corps  on  the  right,  upon  the  French  camp,  taking  it  com¬ 
pletely  by  surprise.  “With  a  dashing  raid,”  says  the  writer 
just  quoted,  “executed  simultaneously,  they  precipitated  them¬ 
selves  in  masses  on  the  French  soldiers,  who  were  completely 
disarmed.  A  full  brigade  was  made  prisoners  before  having 
time  to  seize  their  chassepots.  Only  one  battery  of  the  strong 
artillery  of  De  Failly’s  had  time  to  take  position.  The  fight 
was,  however,  well  sustained  by  the  troops  who  had  the 
chance  to  handle  their  weapons.  The  engagement  lasted 
several  hours,  amidst  a  horrible  carnage,  and  at  last  the 
French  were  driven  back  across  the  Meuse  at  Mouzon.” 
Having  carried  Beaumont  so  brilliantly,  the  4th  army 


*  The  War  of  lSIO.  By  Count  de  la  Chapelle.  Pp.  88,  89 


MAP  OF  THE  COUNTRY  AROUND  SEDAN,  SHOWING  THE  BATTLE-FIELDS,  ETC. 


■'■■’I  )  31! !  :u  '■u.V 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  ‘zl9 

pushed  on  to  occupy  the  hills  which  enclose  Mouzon,  where 
De  Failly’s  Corps  passed  the  river;  and  from  these  heights, 
as  the  retreating  French  went  over  the  stream  at  dusk,  the 
Germans  rained  a  storm  of  shells  upon  the  crowded  bridges. 

The  disaster  suffered  by  De  Failly  made  it  necessary  for 
MacMahon  to  put  forth  a  decided  effort  to  hold  Mouzon 
against  the  attacks  of  the  Guards  and  Fourth  Corps  of  the 
4th  army,  operating  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse.  He 
succeeded  in  maintaining  his  position  there  until  De  Failly 
was  safely  over  the  river,  and  then  the  entire  French  force 
withdrew  towards  Sedan,  by  the  bridge  over  the  Chiers  at 
Douzy,  and  occupied  the  strong  heights  above  Bazeilles, 
covering  the  approach  to  Sedan.  The  loss  of  the  French 
army  on  this  memorable  day  footed  up  thirty  guns,  5000 
prisoners,  and  a  considerable  number  in  killed  and  wounded. 
The  loss  of  the  Germans  was  comparatively  small.  The  next 
day  King  William  sent  the  following  bulletin  to  the  Queen 
of  Prusisa : 

We  luid  yesterday  a  victorious  action  by  the  Fourth,  Twelfth  (Saxon), 
and  First  Bavarian  Corps.  MacMahon  beaten  and  pushed  back  from 
Beaumont  over  the  Meuse  to  Mouzon.  Twelve  guns,  some  thousands 
of  prisoners,  and  a  great  deal  of  material,  in  our  hands.  Losses  mod¬ 
erate.  1  return  immediately  to  the  battle-field  in  order  to  follow  up  the 
fruits  of  the  victory.  May  God  graciously  help  us  further,  as  thus  far. 

Wilhelm. 

The  French  army  now  faced  about,  and  took  position  to 
cover  Sedan.  The  morning  of  the  31st  saw  the  entire  army 
of  MacMahon  over  the  Meuse,  and  the  Marshal  passed  the 
day  in  establishing  his  new  line  and  preparing  for  the  great 
defensive  battle,  which  he  saw  was  inevitable.  He  had  with  him 
a  little  over  100,000  men.  The  centre  of  the  French  position 
was  the  fortress  of  Sedan,  their  flanks  extending  from  Floing 
on  the  right  to  Givonne  on  the  left.  The  position  was  very 
strong,  and  was  strengthened  by  MacMahon  with  every  means 
at  his  command.  In  front  of  his  line  lay  the  Chiers  river,  and 
the  villages  of  Balan  and  Bazeilles,  which  greatly  added  to 
its  strength.  In  front  of  the  French,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Chiers,  was  the  4th  army,  under  the  Saxon  Crown  Prince 


220 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  on  his  right  flank,  and  separated  from  him  by  the  Meuse, 
was  the  3d  army  under  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia,  in  all 
about  240,000  men,  with  artillery  in  proportion. 

The  Germans  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  31st  in  getting 
their  armies  well  into  position.  During  the  day  the  First 
Bavarian  Corps  made  a  sharp  attack  upon  the  town  of  Ba- 
zeilles,  and  were  repulsed  with  severe  loss.  The  rest  of  the 
day  was  spent  by  the  Germans  in  making  such  dispositions 
as  would  enable  them  to  enclose  MacMahon’s  forces  within 
their  advancing  lines,  and  shut  them  up  in  Sedan.  The  posi¬ 
tion  of  each  part  of  the  German  army  is  thus  stated  in  the 
official  report  of  General  Yon  Roon,  the  Minister  of  War. 

“  Our  line  of  battle  was  formed  in  this  wise  :  On  our  right 
we  had  the  army  of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony.  Iiis  van 
consisted  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  d’Armee,  next  came  the  Fourth 
and  the  Guards,  the  rear  being  brought  up  by  the  Fourth  Di¬ 
vision  of  cavalTy,  with  their  back  to  Remilly.  Those  troops 
of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony  still  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Meuse,  crossed  at  Douzy.  To  the  left  of  this  army  was  stationed 
the  First  Bavarian  Corps,  and  behind  this  the  Second.  The 
Bavarians  threw  their  bridge  opposite  the  village  of  Bazeilles. 
The  Eleventh  Prussian  Corps  had  placed  its  pontoons  during 
the  night  about  one  thousand  paces  below  Donchery.  A  little 
to  the  left  crossed  the  Fifth  Corps  on  another  bridge,  and  still 
further  in  the  same  direction,  near  the  village  of  Dom-le-Mes- 
nil,  the  Wtirtembergers.  The  Sixth  Corps,  as  a  reserve,  was 
stationed  between  Attigny  and  Le  Chen'e.” 

It  was  originally  intended  by  the  King  to  put  off  the  de¬ 
cisive  blow  until  the  2d  of  September,  in  order  to  give  a  day’s 
rest  to  the  troops  who  were  somewhat  fatigued  from  their  long 
and  rapid  marches,  but  at  a  council  of  war  held  at  Crown 
Prince  “  Fritz’s  ”  headquarters  about  sunset  on  the  31st  of 
August,  it  was  resolved  to  make  the  attack  at  once  lest  Mac- 
Mahon  should  attempt  to  escape  by  way  of  Mezihres ;  and 
orders  were  sent  to  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony  to  advance 
at  one  o’clock  the  next  morning,  and  open  fire  at  five  o’clock. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  September, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY"  AND  FRANCE. 


221 


the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  left  his  headquarters  at  Chenery, 
and  proceeded  to  a  hill  near  Donchery,  not  far  from  a  small 
mansion  called  Chateau  Donchery,  from  which  point  the 
whole  array  of  the  German  army  could  be  surveyed,  and  the 
progress  of  the  battle  watched  in  every  direction.  About  eight 
o’clock  King  William  took  his  stand  on  the  heights  in  the 
rear  of  the  Bavarian  position.  A  light  fog  overhung  the 
country  as  the  day  opened,  and  the  Prussians  took  advantage 
of  this  to  get  their  troops  destined  to  act  against  the  French 
right  into  a  better  position.  About  half  past  seven,  the  sun 
broke  through  the  mist,  and  the  day  became  bright  and  clear, 
but  hot  and  sultry. 

The  scene  from  the  position  of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia 
is  thus  described  by  an  eye  witness* 

“The  whole  country  as  far  as  the  frontier  lies  spread  out 
like  a  map  before  us,  Donchery  is  as  clearly  to  be  seen  as 
though  a  biscuit  could  be  tossed  down  into  it ;  and  when  the 
mist  rises  still  farther,  the  course  of  the  Meuse  may  be  traced 
by  stunted  willows  in  the  great  bend  northward  which  it 
makes  hereabouts.  There  is  no  better  way  of  realizing  the 
features  of  the  locality  than  by  taking  a  horseshoe,  producing 
one  end  straight  to  your  left,  and  the  other  end  somewhat 
backward  to  your  right.  On  the  part  straight  to  your  left  is 
Donchery,  with  its  line  of  hills  across  the  back  of  the  shoe. 
On  the  part  prolonged  to  ymur  right  is  Bazeilles,  with  a  rail¬ 
way  bridge  in  excellent  condition.  Sedan  lies  on  the  river 
to  the  right  hand,  where  the  first  nail  would  be,  and  the  off¬ 
side  of  the  horseshoe  bend.  Cazal  and  Floing  are  farther 
along  on  the  right  side,  and  St.  Menges  is  about  at  the  front 
of  the  shoe.  The  villages  of  Dasigy  and  Givonne  lie  back  to 
the  right,  or  behind  tire  town,  where  the  country  is  hilly  and 
wooded.  The  great  plain  is  to  the  left  of  the  bend,  and  as 
the  Prussian  troops  arrive  on  that  side  they  move  quickly  for¬ 
ward  across  the  plain  to  turn  round  the  end  of  the  horseshoe 
and  come  back  down  its  right  side.  The  Belgian  frontier  is 


Correspondent  of  the  London  Daily  News. 


222 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


a  little  way  beyond  the  front  of  the  shoe,  so  that  there  is 
ample  room  for  the  Fifth  and  Eleventh  Corps  to  act  upon  the 
line  of  retreat  from  Sedan  in  that  direction.  We  can  hear  a 
constant  rumbling  of  wagons  and  clattering  of  hoofs,  as  the 
German  left  is  advanced,  whilst  there  is  a  louder  and  louder 
roll  of  musketry,  and  booming  of  cannon  where  the  Bavarians 
are  holding  the  French  in  play  to  the  right.  At  first  there  is 
a  line  of  white  smoke  puffs,  forming  less  than  a  semicircle  to 
the  south,  southwest,  and  southeast  of  the  French.  The 
battle  is  hotly  maintained  near  Bazeilles,  and  the.  French  re¬ 
spond  with  energy  to  the  attack  of  the  Germans.  It  is  a 
very  sultry  day.  The  smoke-clouds  hang  lower  and  lower 
over  the  Meuse,  as  the  mist  was  hanging  a  few  hours  earlier.” 

From  the  position  of  the  King,  the  view  was  not  so  exten¬ 
sive,  but  more  central,  and  is  thus  described  by  the  corres¬ 
pondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune: 

“  As  I  rode  on  to  the  crest  of  .the  hill  which  rises  sharply 
about  600  or  700  feet  above  the  little  hamlet  of  Ohevange, 
nestled  in  a  grove  below,  a  most  glorious  panorama  burst  on 
my  view.  As  General  Forsyth,  of  the  United  States  Army, 
remarked  to  me  later  in  the  day,  it  would  have  been  worth 
the  coming,  merely  to  see  so  splendid  a  scene,  without  ‘  bat¬ 
tle’s  magnificently  stern  array.’  In  the  lovely  valley  below 
us,  from  the  knoll  on  which  I  stood  with  the  King  and  his 
staff,  we  could  see  not  only  the  whole  Valley  of  the  Meuse  (or 
Maas,  as  the  Germans  love  to  call  the  river  that  Louis  XIV. 
stole  from  them),  but  also  beyond  the  great  woods  of  Bois-de- 
Loup  and  Francheval,  into  Belgium,  and  as  far  as  the  hilly 
forest  of  Numo,  on  the  other  side  of  the  frontier.  Bight  at 
our  feet  lay  the  little  town  of  Sedan,  famous  for  its  fortifica¬ 
tions  by  Vauban,  and  as  the  birthplace  of  Turenne,  the  great 
Marshal.  It  is  known,  also,  as  the  place  where  sedan  chairs 
originated.  As  we  were  only  about  two  and  a  quarter  miles 
from  the  town,  we  could  easily  distinguish  its  principal  edi¬ 
fices  without  the  aid  of  our  field-glasses.  On  the  left  was  a 
pretty  church,  its  Gothic  spire  of  sandstone  offering  a  con¬ 
spicuous  target  for  the  Prussian  guns,  had  General  Moltke 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


223 


thought  fit  to  bombard  the  town.  To  the  right,  on  the  south¬ 
east  of  the  church,  was  a  large  barrack,  with  the  fortifications 
of  the  citadel.  Behind  it  and  beyond  this  to  the  southeast 
again  was  the  old  chateau  of  Sedan,  with  picturesque,  round- 
turreted  towers  of  the  sixteenth  century,  very  useless,  even 
against  four-pounder  Krupp  field-pieces.  This  building,  I 
believe,  is  now  an  arsenal.  Beyond  this  was  the  citadel  — 
the  heart  of  Sedan,  on  a  rising  hill  above  the  Meuse  to  the 
southeast,  but  completely  commanded  by  the  hills  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  which  runs  in  front  of  the  citadel. 

“The  French  had  flooded  the  low  meadows  in  the  valley 
before  coming  to  the  railway  bridge  at  Bazeilles,  in  order  to 
stop  the  Germans  from  advancing  on  the  town  in  that  direc¬ 
tion.  With  their  usual  stupidity  (for  one  can  find  no  other 
word  for  it),  the  French  had  failed  to  mine  the  bridge  at  Ba- 
zeills,  and  it  was  of  immense  service  to  the  Prussians  through¬ 
out  the  battle.  The  Prussians  actually  threw  up  earthworks 
on  the  iron  bridge  itself  to  protect  it  from  the  French,  who 
more  than  once  attempted  early  in  the  day  to  storm  the 
bridge,  in  the  hope  of  breaking  the  Bavarian  communication 
between  the  right  and  left  banks  of  the  Meuse.  This  they 
were  unable  to  do;  and  although  their  cannon-shot  have 
almost  demolished  the  parapet,  the  bridge  itself  was  never 
materially  damaged. 

“  On  the  projecting  spurs  of  the  hill,  crowned  by  the  woods 
of  La  Marfee,  of  which  I  have  already  spoken,  the  Bavarians 
had  posted  two  batteries  of  six-pounder  rifled  breech-loading 
steel  Krupp  guns,  which  kept  up  a  duello  till  the  very  end 
of  the  day  with  the  siege-guns  of  Sedan  across  the  Meuse. 
Still  further  to  the  right  flank,  or  rather  to  the  east  (for  our 
line  was  a  circular  one  —  a  crescent  at  first,  with  Sedan  in  the 
centre,  like  the  star  on  the  Turkish  standard),  was  an  undu¬ 
lating  plain  above  the  villageof  Bazeilles.  Terminating  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  Sedan,  at  the  woods  near  Rubecourt, 
midway  —  that  is  to  say,  in  a  line  from  Bazeilles  north  —  there 
is  a  ravine  watered  by  a  tiny  brook,  which  was  the  scene  of 
the  most  desperate  struggle  and  of  the  most  frightful  slaughter 


{ 


224 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


of  the  whole  battle.  This  stream,  whose  name  I  have  forgot¬ 
ten,  if  it  ever  had  one,  runs  right  behind  the  town  of  Sedan. 

“  From  the  woods  of  Fleigreuse  on  the  north,  behind  the 
town,  rises  a  hill  dotted  with  cottages  and  fruit  laden  orchards, 
and  crowned  by  the  wood  of  La  Givonne,  which  runs  down 
to  the  valley  of  which  I  have  just  spoken.  Between  this 
wood  and  the  town  were  several  French  camps,  their  white 
shelter-tents  standing  out  clear  among  the  dark  fruit-trees. 
In  these  camps  one  could  see  throughout  the  day  huge  masses 
of  troops  which  were  never  used.  Even  during  the  height 
of  the  battle  they  stood  as  idle  as  Fitz-John  Porter’s  at  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  We  imagined  that  they  must  have 
been  undisciplined  Gardes  Mobiles,  whom  the  French  Gen¬ 
erals  dared  not  bring  out  against  their  enemy. 

“  To  the  Prussian  left  of  these  French  camps,  separated  from 
them  by  a  wooded  ravine,  was  a  long  bare  hill,  something  like 
one  of  the  hills  on  Long  Island.  This  hill,  on  which  was 
some  of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  day,  formed  one  of  the 
keys  of  the  position  of  the  French  army.  When  once  its 
crests  were  covered  with  Prussian  artillery,  the  whole  town 
of  Sedan  was  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  German  guns, 
as  they  were  not  only  above  the  town,  but  the  town  was  al¬ 
most  within  musket-range  of  them. 

“  Still  further  to  the  left  lay  the  village  of  Illy,  set  on  fire 
early  in  the  day  by  the  French  shells.  South  of  this  the 
broken  railway-bridge,  blown  up  by  the  French  to  protect 
their  right,  was  a  conspicuous  object. 

“Right  above  the  railway-bridge,  on  the  line  to  Mezi^res, 
was  the  wooded  hill  crowded  by  the  new  and  most  hideous 
‘  chateau,’  as  he  calls  it,  of  one  Monsieur  Pave.  It  was  here 
the  Crown  Prince  and  his  staff  stood  during  the  day,  having 
a  rather  more  extensive  but  less  central  view,  and  therefore 
less  desirable  than  ours,  where  stood  the  King,  Count  Bis¬ 
marck,  Von  Roon,  the  War  Minister,  General  Moltke,  and 
Generals  Sheridan  and  Forsyth  — to  say  nothing  of  your  cor¬ 
respondent.” 

Shortly  after  five  o’clock  the  4th  army  commenced  its 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


225 


advance,  and  at  half-past  six  o’clock  opened  the  battle  by  a 
sharp  attack  on  the  French  left,  which  being  strongly  posted 
was  able  to  make  a  stout  resistance.  This  attack  was  begun 
in  the  direction  of  Givonne,  and  was  soon  followed  by  an  at¬ 
tack  upon  the  French  centre,  at  Bazeilles,  in  front  of  Sedan, 
by  the  Bavarians.  About  the  same  time  the  Fifth  and  Elev¬ 
enth  Corps  of  the  3d  army  passed  the  river  near  Donchery,  and 
prepared,  the  latter  to  attack,  the  former  to  turn,  the  works 
in  which  MacMahon’s  right  was  posted,  under  Ducrot,  in  the 
intrenched  heights  above  Floing.  All  these  movements 
were  executed  with  the  vigor  and  enthusiasm  which  the  Ger¬ 
mans  had  exhibited  during  the  whole  war.  They  were  gal¬ 
lantly  met,  and  for  some  time  the  French  held  their  own. 
At  first  the  fighting  was  confined  chiefly  to  the  artillery, 
which,  towards  nine  o’clock,  was  hotly  engaged.  A  little 
after  eleven,  the  infantry  came  into  action  to  the  northeast 
of  Sedan,  the  object  of  the  3d  and  4th  armies  being  to 
drive  the  French  back  upon  Sedan,  and  unite  their  own  col¬ 
umns  in  the  vicinity  of  Givonne  and  Floing.  The  French 
put  forth  every  effort  to  maintain  their  position,  but  they 
were  steadily  driven  back.  In  vain  the  terrible  mitrailleuse 
poured  its  death-dealing  volleys  into  the  German  ranks,  in 
vain  the  French  cavalry  thundered  down  upon  them.  Noth¬ 
ing  could  stop  the  onward  marching  of  those  miles  of  men, 
and  the  French  were  gradually  driven  in  towards  Sedan. 

On  the  German  left,  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  had 
thrown  out  the  Wurtembergers  to  watch  Mezitires,  and  pre¬ 
vent  assistance  reaching  MacMahon  from  that  place,  while 
the  Fifth  and  Eleventh  Corps  turned  and  drove  in  the  French 
right.  The  key  point  to  the  French  position  here  was  the 
Floing  hill,  a  semi-circular  bluff  which  rises  sharply  above 
the  village  of  Floing,  almost  immediately  opposite  Don¬ 
chery,  and  but  a  mile  or  two  from  it  in  an  air  line,  but  dis¬ 
tant  six  or  seven  miles  by  the  road  which  follows  the  winding 
course  of  the  river.  From  the  plateau  of  Floing  the  ground 
falls  toward  the  Meuse,  but  retains  its  elevation  and  bluff-like 
formation  towards  the  north,  cut  by  several  deep  ravines, 
15 


226 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


running  generally  north  and  south.  The  country  is  thickly 
wooded,  and  affords  excellent  facilities  for  defensive  opera¬ 
tions. 

The  Crown  Prince  opened  his  attack  with  his  artillery,  which 
was  posted  with  the  most  daring  skill,  and  hurried  forward  his 
infantry  to  storm  the  French  intrenchments  on  the  Floing  hill. 
The  French  were  almost  entirely  concealed  from  the  view  of 
the  Prussians  by  their  intrenchments  and  by  the  formation  of 
the  hill.  They  watched  the  advance  of  the  storming  column 
with  a  fierce  exultation,  ready  to  wither  it  with  their  infantry 
and  mitrailleuse  fire,  and  holding  a  brigade  of  cavalry  in 
readiness  to  fall  upon  its  flank.  Preceded  by  their  skirmish¬ 
ers,  the  Prussians  advanced  until  they  could  see  the  heads  of 
the  French  over  the  breastworks,  when  they  opened  fire. 
Instantly  the  whole  French  line  blazed  with  a  terrible  volley, 
and  the  cavalry  thundered  down  on  the  staggered  column. 
The  effect  was  fearful.  The  storming  party  was  almost  an¬ 
nihilated.  Many  were  forced  over  into  the  ravines,  and  many 
were  sabred  by  the  French  troopers  as  they  tried  to  escape. 
The  charge,  however,  was  as  fatal  to  the  French  as  to  the 
Prussians.  The  main  body  of  the  Crown  Prince’s  forces  had 
by  this  time  occupied  the  village  of  Floing,  and  as  the 
French  cavalry  swept  by  on  their  return  from  the  charge, 
they  were  decimated  by  a  terrible  infantry  fire.  A  second 
attempt,  with  a  stronger  force,  was  made  to  carry  the  heights. 
The  column  was  driven  back  by  the  severe  fire  of  the  French, 
and  the  French  infantry  followed  in  pursuit,  while  the  cavalry 
again  dashed  at  the  German  flank.  This  time,  however,  the 
Prussians  rallied,  and  their  supports  came  hurrying  up  with 
all  speed.  The  French  horsemen  were  received  with  a  terri¬ 
ble  volley  from  the  Prussian  infantry,  which  broke  them  in 
utter  ruin.  A  second  column  of  cavalry  now  followed  the 
first  at  a  gallop,  and  again  the  terrible  fire  of  the  Prussian  in¬ 
fantry  broke  forth.  The  horsemen  were  literally  swept  from 
the  face  of  the  earth,  and  the  Prussians,  now  joined  by  their 
supports,  made  another  dash  at  the  breastworks,  from  which 
the  French  infantry  for  some  time  maintained  a  rolling  fire 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


227 


in  reply  to  the  Prussian  volleys.  A  Prussian  battery  now 
came  up  at  a  gallop,  and,  regardless  of  the  fire  of  the  French 
riflemen  who  sought  to  drive  it  back,  took  position  on  the 
extreme  French  right,  and  began  to  enfilade  their  line.  The 
French  had  no  artillery  to  reply  to  the  Prussians,  and  in  a 
little  while  they  abandoned  their  breastworks  and  retreated 
to  a  belt  of  woods  in  their  rear.  They  were  followed  rapidly 
by  the  Eleventh  German  Corps,  which  repulsed  a  furious 
effort  to  regain  the  Floing  hill.  The  French  artillery  now 
opened  on  the  advancing  columns,  but  was  soon  driven  back  by 
the  German  guns,  and  by  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
right  of  the  French  line  was  in  the  hands  of  Crown  Prince 
Fritz.  This  was  the  key  point  to  their  whole  line. 

The  movements  of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony  were  also 
successful.  The  country  through  which  the  4th  army  had  to 
advance  was  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  but  in  spite  of  the 
difficulties  in  their  way,  the  Germans  pushed  forward,  their 
infantry  closing  with  the  French  soon  after  eleven  o’clock. 
By  one  o’clock,  the  French  position  at  Givonne  was  car¬ 
ried,  and  about  the  same  time  the  junction  of  the  3d  and  4th 
armies  was  effected  behind  Sedan.  Both  German  columns 
followed  up  their  successes  with  vigor,  and  the  French  were 
gradually  pressed  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  fortifications  of 
Sedan. 

In  the  centre  the  fighting  was  very  obstinate.  A  portion 
of  the  Bavarians  held  the  tongue  of  land  to  the  west  of  Sedan 
to  close  that  opening,  while  the  rest  passed  the  Meuse  and 
made  a  sharp  attack  on  the  town  of  Bazeilles,  which  lay  just 
two  miles  to  the  southeast  o  Sedan.  They  suffered  enor¬ 
mously  in  the  execution  of  this  movement,  being  under  fire 
not  only  from  the  defenders  of  the  town  but  from  the  guns 
of  Sedan.  The  French  Marines  particularly  distinguished 
themselves  by  the  gallantry  with  which  they  sought  to  drive 
back  the  Bavarian  advance.  The  village  was  several  times 
taken  by  the  Germans  and  recaptured  by  the  French,  but  at 
length  it  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Bavarians,  who 
pressing  forward,  carried  Balan,  between  Bazeilles  and  Sedan, 


228 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TATE  WAR 


and  almost  under  the  walls  of  the  latter  place.  *  Here  bring¬ 
ing  their  artillery  into  play  they  cleared  the  way  for  the  left 
of  the  4th  army,  which  was  able  to  press  forward  with 
increased  success.  Thus,  hour  by  hour,  the  French  lines 
were  contracted  beneath  the  iron  pressure  of  the  German 
columns.  Success  everywhere  greeted  the  latter,  and  by  three 
o’clock  the  French  forces  were  all  driven  back  to  the  vicinity 


*  After  the  close  of  the  battle,  the  Bavarians  returned  to  Bazeilles  and  set 
fire  to  the  town,  destroying  with  it  men,  women,  and  children.  The  Ger¬ 
mans  declared  that  they  were  driven  to  this  severe  step  because  of  the  bar¬ 
barous  conduct  of  the  villagers,  who  not  only  treated  the  German  wounded 
with  the  most  horrible  barbarity,  but  fired  on  the  Bavarians  from  the  houses 
after  the  town  had  surrendered.  A  party  of  English  officers,  who  questioned 
the  German  officers  in  the  vicinity  and  the  few  remaining  villagers  three 
weeks  after  the  battle,  give  the  following  as  the  result  of  their  inquiries : 

“  So  much  has  been  asserted  concerning  the  ferocity  of  the  troops  who 
captured  the  town,  that  we  made  numerous  inquiries  from  every  available 
source,  with  a  view  of  eliciting  the  truth.  The  replies  were  of  course  very 
contradictory;  but,  after  carefully  sifting  and  comparing  evidence,  there  is, 
we  think,  little  doubt  but  that,  after  the  town  had  surrendered,  many  of  the 
attacking  forces  were  shot  down  in  the  streets  from  the  houses  by  men  not 
in  uniform,  and  even  by  women.  Some  of  the  former,  perhaps,  were  Francs- 
Tireurs  ;  but  many  were  without  doubt  ordinary  working  men.  Thereupon 
the  Bavarians  broke  into  the  houses,  made  prisoners  of  the  villagers  found 
with  arms  in  their  hands,  and  some  hours  later,  by  order  of  the  Prussian 
authorities,  burned  the  town  and  shot  their  captives.  The  number  so  exe¬ 
cuted  is  admitted  by  the  Prussians  themselves  to  have  been  at  least  forty, 
including  three,  if  not  more,  women. 

11 1  will  quote  two  instances  in  support  of  our  assertions  that  this  severity 
was  not  entirely  unprovoked.  A  Prussian  staff  officer  of  the  commandant  at 
Sedan  assured  us  it  had  come  to  his  undoubted  knowledge  that  one  old  wo¬ 
man  was  seen  to  shoot  three  Bavarian  officers  in  succession  with  a  pistol 
fired  from  the  window.  She  was  subsequently  included  in  the  number  of 
those  executed.  Again,  at  Mouzon,  near  Sedan,  a  Prussian  officer  connected 
with  the  ambulance  corps  informed  us  that  he  had  had  under  his  care  a  Ba¬ 
varian  officer  over  whom  the  inhabitants  had  poured  hot  oil  as  he  lay 
wounded  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Bazeilles.  On  our  testifying  some  incredu¬ 
lity  at  such  monstrous  cruelty,  our  informant  added:  ‘The  wounded  officer 
is  now  lying  in  a  room  in  this  house ;  he  will  probably  ere  long  die ;  but  he 
is  at  present  quite  sensible ;  and  you  may,  if  you  please,  question  him  as  to 
the  truth  of  my  assertion.’ 

“It  need  hardly  be  said  that  we  did  not  disturb  the  dying  man.  Now  it 
must  be  admitted  that  retaliation  is  frequently  dangerously  akin  to  butchery; 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


229 


of  Sedan,  and  completely  invested  on  all  sides.  Having  thus 
securely  hemmed  in  the  French,  the  German  guns  ceased 
tiring  at  about  half  past  three  o’clock,  to  give  the  French  an 
opportunity  of  deciding  what  they  would  do  in  their  embar¬ 
rassed  position.  About  four  o’clock  the  Crown  Prince  arrived 
at  the  position  of  the  King,  and  reported  a  complete  victory 
for  his  troops.  Other  reports  of  a  similar  character  were 
coming  in  from  the  east  of  the  army,  and  there  was  consid- 


but,  under  the  above  circumstances,  it  would  hardly  appear  that  the  Prus¬ 
sians  exceeded  the  strict  rules  of  stern  justice.” — From  Sedan  to  Saarbruck. 
By  an  Officer  of  the  Royal  Artillery.  Pp.  20-22. 

The  French,  on  their  part,  utterly  denied  the  charges  of  the  Germans,  and 
asserted  that  the  burning  of  the  town  was  an  act  of  wanton  cruelty.  Their 
version  of  the  story  is  best  expressed  in  the  following  narrative,  which  was 
communicated  to  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  World  by  the  Curd  of 
Bazeilles,  in  London.  Said  the  Cure : 

“  It  was  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  and  I  was  celebrating  mass  among 
my  people  in  Bazeilles.  I  could  almost  say  that  we  knew  nothing  of  the  war 
beyond  the  fact  that  it  had  been  declared  and  that  it  was  being  waged  in 
France.  Our  village  seemed  to  lie  out  of  the  way  of  all  trouble  ;  for  though 
of  its  kind  it  was  a  somewhat  considerable  place,  containing  a  population  of 
2000  souls,  it  had  known  no  other  strife  than  that  friendly  one  engendered 
by  the  competition  of  an  industry  that  held  out  the  prospect  of  some  reward 
for  all.  We  were  but  a  short  half  hour's  journey  from  Sedan — our  hamlet 
might  almost  be  said,  in  fact,  to  be  a  distant  suburb  of  that  town.  Yet  none 
of  the  city’s  bustle  reached  us.  The  strife,  indeed,  had  not  then  reached  the 
city  itself.  Mighty  armies,  it  seems,  were  all  about  preparing  to  enfold  us  in 
their  black  and  hateful  wings,  yet  we  had  no  notice  of  their  presence  beyond 
a  rumor  from  some  terrified  villager,  vague  enough  to  occasion  no  other  feel¬ 
ing  than  one  of  thankfulness  for  our  own  security.  The  alarmist  himself  had 
no  sooner  breathed  the  air  of  our  peaceful  dwelling  than  he  began  to  ridicule 
his  own  fears,  for  it  was  impossible  to  look  at  Bazeilles  and  believe  that  it 
could  ever  by  any  possibility  become  the  bone  of  contention  between  two 
great  nations  struggling  for  the  empire  of  the  world.  We  were  completely 
happy  then,  because  our  minds  were  completely  at  rest.  There  were  all  the 
soothing  influences  of  religion  to  intensify  this  impression,  and  as  I  stood  at 
the  altar  and  looked  down  upon  my  kneeling  flock,  I  thought  I  had  never 
beheld  a  more  beautiful  exemplification  of  the  peace  of  holiness.  For  the 
war  must  needs  be  in  our  minds  at  every  hour  and  minute  of  the  day,  and 
our  repose  was  intensified  bv  this  striking  contrast  of  what  we  saw  to  that 
of  which  we  thanked  heaven  we  had  only  heard.  The  service  went  on  :  it 
was  drawing  near  its  close,  when  on  a  sudden  the  low  gentle  sound  of  the 
murmured  responses  of  the  congregation  was  overpowered  and  lost  to  the  car 


230 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


erable  speculation  as  to  what  the  French  would  do  next.  An 
American  gentleman,  present,  suggested  to  Count  Bismarck, 
who  accompanied  the  King,  that  the  French  would  probably 
force  their  way  into  Belgium.  “I  have  told  the  Belgian 
Minister  of  War,”  said  Count  Bismarck,  “that,  so  long  as  the 
Belgian  troops  do  their  utmost  to  disarm  any  number  of 
French  soldiers  who  may  cross  the  frontier,  I  will  strictly 
respect  the  neutrality  of  Belgium;  but  if,  on  the  contrary, 
the  Belgians,  either  through  negligepce  or  inability,  do  not 

by  the  loud,  report  of  a  single  gun.  The  great  battle  of  Sedan  had  com¬ 
menced. 

“  It  was  impossible  for  the  worshippers  to  repress  a  movement  of  anguish 
and  of  terror.  This  was  but  momentary,  however,  and  our  supreme  obliga¬ 
tion  to  give  the  first  thoughts  of  our  hearts  at  all  times  to  the  solemn  obser¬ 
vances  of  our  religion  was  rendered  to  the  full.  The  service  over,  I  did  not 
even  pause  to  address  my  parishioners — as  I  should  most  assuredly  have 
done  had  I  known  the  extent  of  our  danger — but  I  hurried  to  my  dwelling) 
which  commanded  a  good  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  in  order  to  ascer¬ 
tain  the  exact  condition  of  affairs. 

“  I  left  my  aged  father  and  mother  in  the  basement,  and  I  mounted  to  the 
roof  of  the  house  alone.  A  spectacle  met  my  eye  which  will  never  be  effaced 
from  my  memory  to  my  dying  day.  Not  alone  had  the  great  battle  of  Sedan 
commenced,  but  we  were  in  the  very  centre  of  the  battle.  The  strife  was 
raging  all  around  us,  and  the  very  horizon  seemed  to  flash  with  fire  on 
whichever  side  I  turned  my  gaze.  The  air  trembled  with  the  reports  of  the 
guns,  and  soon  the  great  masses  of  smoke  began  to  converge  towards  us  till 
they  rested  above  our  heads  like  some  great  cloud-omen  of  doom.  Then 
from  out  of  the  cloud,  as  it  seemed,  came  down  an  iron  hail  that  crashed 
through  the  rafters  of  houses  or  the  bones  of  men  wherever  it  fell.  The  time 
for  contemplation  had  passed,  the  hour  for  action  had  come.  I  left  my  post 
of  observation  and  descended  to  the  salle-ii-manger,  whither  my  footsteps 
were  attracted  by  a  confused  sound  of  mingled  weeping  and  praying  which 
told  me  that  the  terrified  women  and  children  had  fled  for  support  and  con¬ 
solation  to  the  shelter  of  my  roof. 

“For  a  moment  I  hesitated  as  to  what  to  do.  It  was  evident  that  in  their  pres¬ 
ent  mortal  danger  my  first  duty  was  to  administer  to  them  the  last  consolations 
of  religion,  and  yet  such  was  their  intense  anguish  of  terror  that  I  shrank  from 
increasing  it  by  any  act  which  would  serve  to  remind  them  of  their  peril. 
I  could  not,  out  of  regard  for  truth,  tell  them  they  had  nothing  to  fear,  while 
all  around  the  very  place  in  which  we  were  assembled  could  be  heard  very 
distinctly  the  rattle  of  the  enemy’s  shot.  I  was  about  to  say  some  few  words 
to  put  them  in  a  more  Christian,  because  in  a  more  composed,  frame  of  mind, 
when  I  was  at  once  relieved  of  all  further  difficulty  by  a  spontaneous  request 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


231 


disarm  and  capture  every  man  in  French  uniform  who  sets 
his  foot  in  their  country,  we  shall  at  once  follow  the  enemy 
into  neutral  territory  with  our  troops,  considering  that  the 
French  have  been  the  first  to  violate  the  Belgian  soil.  I 
have  been  down  to  have  a  look  at  the  Belgian  troops  near 
the  frontier,”  added  Count  Bismarck,  “and  I  confess  they  do 
not  inspire  me  with  a  very  high  opinion  of  their  martial 
ardor  or  discipline.  When  they  have  their  great-coats  on, 
one  can  see  a  great  deal  of  paletot,  but  hardly  any  soldier.” 


of  one  woman,  which  was  speedily  echoed  by  the  rest,  that  I  should  admin¬ 
ister  final  absolution  to  them  at  once. 

“I  was  engaged  in  the  performance  of  this  solemn  rite  when  a  dreadful 
uproar  was  heard  at  the  end  of  the  street,  and  soon  a  crowd  of  our  disbanded 
soldiers  rushed  past  the  door,  calling  out  to  us  to  shut  ourselves  up  in  the 
cellars  at  once  if  we  valued  our  lives.  I  hurried  the  terrified  crowd  out  of 
sight  of  the  coming  tumult  as  quickly  as  I  could,  remaining  myself  to  watch 
what  was  passing  in  the  street  in  a  post  which  I  judged  to  be  tolerably  se¬ 
cure.  Soon  on  the  heels  of  the  fugitive  Frenchmen  a  troop  of  Bavarians  tore 
along  the  narrow  way,  but  they  had  scarcely  passed  when  they  came  pouring 
back  again  at  even  greater  speed,  and  frantic  with  rage  and  disappointment. 
The  retreating  French  had  found  time  to  throw  up  a  barricade,  and  it 
was  ordained  that  the  stand  of  the  day  should  be  made  in  the  village  of 
Bazeilles. 

“  Meantime  the  Prussian  shells  had  set  some  of  our  houses  on  fire,  and  by 
the  light  of  the  flames,  for  it  was  now  growing  dark,  the  most  fearful  conflict 
I  think  it  could  ever  have  been  man’s  lot  to  witness  was  waged  for  the  pos¬ 
session  of  the  barricades.  1  cannot  trust  myself  to  trace  correctly  the  epi¬ 
sodes  of  that  inhuman  struggle.  Desperate  and  maddened  creatures  in  the 
uniform  of  either  army  by  turns  passed  and  repassed  m3-  house  at  one  mo¬ 
ment  as  pursuers,  at  another  as  pursued.  In  the  momentary  intervals  of  the 
deadly  fusilade  and  the  deadlier  bayonet  charges,  we  darted  from  our  hiding 
place  to  drag  in  some  wounded  brother,  never  pausing  to  look  at  his  uniform 
until  we  had  attended  to  his  bodily,  and  in  some  measure  to  his  spiritual 
wants.  Utter  darkness  at  length  caused  a  partial  cessation  of  the  strife,  and 
the  women,  who  have  been  so  falsely  charged  with  having  participated  in 
the  conflict,  for  the  first  time  appeared  on  the  scene  as  tender  nurses  of  friend 
and  foe  alike.  Here,  if  there  had  been  any  disposition  to  vengeance  on  the 
part  of  m}-  unhappy  parishioners,  was  the  time  to  show  it,  for  the  wounded 
were  at  the  absolute  merc3r  of  those  in  whose  houses  they  la3r.  And  yet,  as 
I  unhesitatingly  aflirm,  no  unchristian  deed  disgraced  any  member  of  103- 
flock.  The  occasion  was  indeed  inopportune  for  that,  for  mere  national 
hatred  seemed  puerile  beside  the  awful  feelings  and  emotions  of  the  hour. 

“With  the  dawning  morn  the  battle  was  renewed,  and  not  alone  in  our 


232 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


No  message  having  been  received  from  the  French,  the 
King  ordered  the  German  batteries  to  open  fire  again  at  half 
past  four.  The  Bavarian  guns  were  the  first  to  execute  the 
order,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  one  of  their  explosive 
shells  set  fire  to  a  straw  shed,  and  a  thick  column  of  black 
smoke  rose  immediately  to  the  sky.  A  few  minutes  later  a 
French  officer  appeared  on  the  walls,  waving  a  white  flag. 
The  firing  was  immediately  discontinued. 

Within  the  French  lines  matters  were  very  bad.  We 
have  seen  how  little  hope  MacMahon  had  of  accomplishing 


streets,  but  in  the  plain  beyond  the  village,  where  one  of  the  main  bodies  of 
the  enemy  was  making  a  determined  attempt  to  gain  possession  of  the  place. 
The  fighting  centred  about  a  bridge  which  spanned  the  swollen  river  and 
the  possession  of  which  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  vast 
military  plan  which  it  seems  the  Germans  had  formed.  This  bridge  should 
have  been  blown  up  on  the  first  appearance  of  danger.  It  had  been  under¬ 
mined  for  the  purpose,  and  moreover  the  very  powder  had  been  stored  in  the 
village  some  days  before.  The  materials  were  all  in  readiness,  but  alas,  the 
man  for  the  work — the  man  was  wanting  in  Bazeilles,  as  he  was  wanting 
everywhere  else  on  that  fatal  day.  The  bridge  was  lost ;  the  enemy  poured 
into  the  town  ;  the  barricades  remained  in  his  possession ;  Bazeilles  (and  in 
due  time  Sedan)  was  won,  and  on  the  evening  of  Thursday  the  Emperor  sent 
his  sword  to  the  King. 

“  It  was  then  that  believing  all  danger  for  us  was  over,  I  went  through  the 
village  from  one  end  to  the  other  to  make  an  exact  inventory  of  our  losses. 
Exactly  thirty-two  houses  and  no  more  Tiad  been  burnt — the  majority  were 
therefore  left  standing.  Not  a  woman  or  child  was  injured.  This  fact  is 
conclusive  to  my  mind  as  to  the  no  share  these  defenceless  creatures  had  in 
the  fray,  for  had  they  taken  part  in  it,  as  was  afterwards  alleged,  the  enemy 
would  certainly  not  have  scrupled  to  shoot  them  with  the  arms  in  their 
hands." 

The  priest  paused  here  as  if  from  some  unconquerable  unwillingness  to 
continue.  He  appeared  to  be  greatly  agitated  in  spite  of  repeated  attempts 
to  maintain  his  self-possession.  I  could  not  fail  to  guess  the  cause,  and  yet 
I  was  compelled  to  urge  him  to  proceed  to  give  the  necessary  completeness 
to  his  narrative.  I  had  observed  that  the  order  of  his  relation  was  chrono¬ 
logical,  and  that  he  carried  it  down  to  the  Thursday  night  on  which  the  Em¬ 
peror  had  sent  in  the  formal  offer  of  his  capitulation. 

“And  what  followed  the  events  of  the  Thursday  night,  reverend  father?” 
I  asked. 

The  priest  made  no  answer,  but  he  looked  straight  towards  me,  though  not 
at  me,  for  his  eyes  seemed  fixed  on  vacancy,  and  as  he  gazed  the  color  began 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


233 


the  task  assigned  him  by  the  Ministers.  Still,  like  a  brave 
soldier,  he  went  to  his  work  resolved  to  do  his  best.  Appre¬ 
ciating  the  numerical  advantage  of  his  enemy,  he  endeavored 
to  make  up  for  it  as  far  as  possible  by  his  personal  example. 
He  went  everywhere,  cheering  on  his  men.  and  exerting 
himself  with  a  lieorism  worthy  of  the  most  brilliant  Marshal 
of  France.  Outwardly  lie  was  calm  and  smiling,  but  his 
heart  was  full  of  despair,  for  he  saw  at  the  very  outset  of  the 
battle  what  the  result  would  be.  As  his  troops  began  to 
give  way  he  dashed  to  the  front  with  an  impetuosity  which 

to  fade  from  his  face  by  patches  until  his  cheeks  and  forehead  were  one  great 
stain  of  deadly  white. 

I  repeated  my  question. 

“My  son,”  said  the  father,  “there  are  some  things  which  are  too  dreadful 
for  anger,  too  mournful  for  pity,  which  are,  in  short,  beyond  the  utmost 
range  of  expression  permitted  to  human  emotion.  Such  a  thing  was  that 
which  followed  after  the  announcement  of  the  capitulation  of  the  Emperor 
on  Thursday  night,  that  thing  being  the  burning  of  Bazeilles  and  the  massacre 
of  its  inhabitants.  My  outline  of  the  barest  facts  of  the  atrocity  shall  be  of 
the  briefest  possible  kind.  Let  this  suffice.  In  the  midst  of  the  profound 
calm,  as  of  death,  which  followed  the  cessation  of  the  fighting  all  along  the 
line,  and  while  I,  with  others,  was  engaged  in  an  equally  assiduous  attention 
on  the  wounded,  both  friend  and  foe,  I  was  horrified  on  leaving  one  dwelling 
to  pass  to  another  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  to  discover  that  the 
whole  village  was  rapidly  becoming  a  mass  of  newly-kindled  flames.  The 
thirty  odd  houses  which  had  been  burned  during  the  struggle  for  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  village  had  long  since  been  put  out.  The  fires  which  were  now 
raging  had  been  deliberately  lit  since  the  capitulation  of  the  Emperor,  and 
the  consequent  cessation  of  all  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  regular  armies, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  defenceless  civil  populations  whose  dwellings  happened 
to  lie  within  the  circle  of  strife. 

“  The  work  was  begun  at  night,  but  the  morning  was  reserved  for  its  com¬ 
pletion.  House  after  house  was  deliberately  fired.  The  villagers  were  more 
bent  on  saving  their  own  lives  than  on  defending  their  property,  but  they 
were  not  to  be  permitted  to  do  either.  In  the  middle  of  the  lane  of  fire 
formed  by  the  two  sides  of  the  burning  streets  stood  the  conquering,  and  as 
men,  women,  and  children  rushed  shrieking  from  the  flames  - ,  0,  Mon¬ 

sieur  1”  (The  priest  had  broken  down.)  “  Monsieur,  I  cannot,  I  dare  not  go 
further;  the  story  of  Bazeilles  has  yet  to  be  written,  in  characters  of  fire  and 
of  blood,  but  the  time  has  not  yet  come  for  this  supreme  trial  of  duty  to  the 
living  and  devotion  to  the  dead.  I  cannot,  I  must  not  go  on.” 

I  understood  him,  and  took  my  leave  in  silence,  with  an  affectionate  pres¬ 
sure  of  his  hand. 


234 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


his  friends  sought  in  vain  to  restrain.  The  truth  is  the  brave 
old  Marshal  had  but  one  hope  left,  to  meet  with  a  soldier’s 
death.  “  Leave  me,  my  friends,”  he  said  to  his  aides  who 
sought  to  keep  him  from  going  forward.  “  I  am  going  to 
show  those  Kings,  those  Princes,  who  hide  behind  their 
masses  of  men,  that  a  Marshal  of  France  knows  how  to  fight, 
and  when  beaten  how  to  die.”  A  little  later  he  was  struck 
down,  terribly  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  MacMahon  was  wounded, 
General  Duorot,  as  Chief  of  the  Staff,  at  once  assumed  the 
command  of  the  army,  but  General  De  Wimpffen  claimed  the 
command  in  virtue  of  the  order  of  the  Emperor,  who  had 
given  him  a  sealed  letter  at  the  opening  of  the  battle,  direct¬ 
ing  him  to  assume  the  command  in  case  of  any  accident  to 
MacMahon.  MacMahon  had  fallen  in  an  effort  to  drive  the 
Bavarians  out  of  Bazeilles,  and  De  Wimpften’s  first  duty  was 
to  endeavor  to  hold  Balan  against  them. 

The  Emperor  went  with  the  column  with  which  De  Wim¬ 
pffen  met  the  Bavarian  advance  upon  Balan,  declaring  that 
he  was  serving  only  as  a  private  soldier,  and  not  as  an  officer. 
Shot  and  shell  fell  fast  about  him,  and  one  of  the  shells  burst¬ 
ing  near  him  enveloped  his  person  in  smoke.  He  was  seek¬ 
ing  death  on  the  field,  and  was  with  difficulty  persuaded  by 
his  officers  to  retire  just  as  the  Bavarians  made  their  forward 
movement  from  'Bazeilles,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
Balan.* 

The  scene  in  Sedan- after  the  army  commenced  to  retreat 
into  the  town  is  thus  described  by  Captain  Jeannerod,  a 
French  officer,  in  a  letter  to  the  New  York  Tribune. 


*  “  The  Emperor,  since  the  morning,  had  been  in  the  thick  of  the  fire,  sword 
in  hand,  exciting  the  troops,  and  braving  all  dangers.  Marching  at  the  head 
of  a  column  of  attack,  Napoleon  III.  was  for  a  few  hours  exposed  to  the 
greatest  danger;  and  as  an  ocular  witness,  I  can  vouch  for  the  truthfulness 
of  the  fact.  The  bullets,  the  shells,  were  falling  in  showers  around  him. 
The  Emperor  sustained  the  fame  of  personal  bravery  of  his  early  years.  On 
the  instance  of  his  staff,  at  last,  not  finding  the  glorious  death  he  was  looking 
for,  he  retreated  into  the  fortress,  and  presided  at  the  last  sorties  of  the  brave 
troops.” — The  War  of  1870.  By  Count  de  la  Chapelle.  Pp.  107-8. 


View  of  the  Village  of  Bazcilles  after  the  Battle. 


236 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


“  When  I  reached  the  suburb  of  the  Porte  de  Balan,  T  found 
it  encumbered  with  soldiers  of  all  corps,  hastening,  as  I  was, 
into  the  town.  It  was  a  defeat,  evidently,  yet  it  was  not  eleven 
o’clock,  and  the  battle  was  destined  to  continue  at  various 
points  for  some  time  longer,  though  continuing  without  any 
real  hope  of  victory. 

“To  one  entering  the  town  as  I  did,  there  was  no  longer 
any  battle  to  describe.  It  was  first  a  retreat,  and  too  soon  a 
rout.  I  thought  myself  lucky  to  get  away  from  the  field  as  I 
did ;  for,  an  hour  afterward,  the  rout  of  those  forces  that  had 
been  near  by  me  was  complete.  Already  soldiers  were  crush¬ 
ing  against  each  other  in  the  struggle  to  get  inside  the  town. 
Dismounted  cavalry  were  trying  to  make  their  way,  some 
even  by  the  ramparts,  leaping  down  from  the  counterscarp, 
others  forcing  their  way  in  by  the  postern  gates.  From  a 
nook  of  the  ramparts,  where  I  rested  a  moment,  I  saw  also 
cuirassiers  jumping — horses  and  all — into  the  moat,  the  hor¬ 
ses  breaking  their  legs  and  ribs.  Men  were  scrambling  over 
each  other.  There  were  officers  of  all  ranks — -colonels,  and 
even  generals,  in  uniforms  which  it  was  impossible  to  mistake 
— mixed  in  this  shameful  melee.  Behind  all  came  guns,  with 
their  heavy  carriages  and  powerful  horses,  forcing  their  way 
into  the  throng,  maiming  and  crushing  the  fugitives  on  foot. 

“  To  add  to  the  confusion  and  horror,  the  Prussian  batteries 
had  by  this  time  advanced  within  range,  and  the  Prussian 
shells  began  falling  among  the  struggling  masses  of  men.  On 
the  ramparts  were  the  National  Guards  manning  the  guns  of 
the  town,  and  replying  with  more  or  less  effect  to  the  nearest 
Prussian  batteries.  It  was  a  scene  horrible  enough  to  have 
suited  the  fancy  of  Gustave  Dore  himself.  I  could  form  but 
one  idea  of  our  unhappy  army — that  it  was  at  the  bottom  of 
a  seething  caldron. 

“  I  hurried  back  as  best  I  could  to  my  hotel,  following  the 
narrow  streets,  where  the  shells  were  least  likely  to  reach  the 
ground.  Wherever  there  was  a  square  or  open  place,  I  came 
upon  the  bodies  of  horses  and  men  quite  dead  or  still  quiver¬ 
ing,  mown  to  pieces  by  bursting  shells.  Reaching  my  hotel, 


'I  he  Field  Guns  captured  from  the  Army  ol  MacMuhon  by  the  Prussians  at  Sedan. 


238 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


I  found  the  street  iu  which  it  stood  choked,  like  the  rest,  with 
wagons,  guns,  horses,  and  men.  Most  luckily,  at  this  moment 
the  Prussian  fire  did  not  enfilade  this  street ;  for  a  train  of 
caissons  filled  with  powder  blocked  the  whole  way,  itself  una¬ 
ble  to  move  backward  or  forward.  There  was  every  chance 
that  these  caissons  would  explode,  the  town  being  then  on  fire 
in  two  places  ;  and  I  began  to  think  Sedan  was  a  place  more 
uncomfortable  than  even  the  battle-field  over  which  a  victori¬ 
ous  enemy  was  swiftly  advancing. 

“  From  friends  whom  I  found  at  the  hotel  I  learned  that 
the  Emperor,  who  had  started  early  in  the  morning  for  the 
field  of  battle,  had  returned  about  the  same  time  that  I  did, 
and  passed  through  the  streets  with  his  staff.  One  of  my 
friends  was  near  him  on  the  Place  Turenne,  when  a  shell  fell 
under  the  Emperor’s  horse,  and,  bursting,  killed  the  horse  of 
a  general  who  was  behind  him.  He  himself  was  untouched, 
and  turned  around  and  smiled  ;  though  my  friend  thought  he 
saw  tears  in  his  eyes,  which  he  wiped  away  with  his  glove. 
Indeed,  he  had  cause  enough  for  tears  on  that  fatal  1st  of  Sep¬ 
tember. 

“  Meantime,  shells  began  to  fall  in  the  direction  of  our 
street  and  hotel.  We  all  stood  under  the  vaulted  stone  en¬ 
trance,  as  the  safest  shelter  we  could  find.  I  trembled  on 
account  of  the  caissons  still  standing  in  the  street,  and  filling 
all  the  space  from  end  to  end.  It  was  at  this  time  when  we 
waited,  watching  painfully  for  the  shell  which  would  have 
sent  us  all  together  into  another  world,  that  General  De  Wimp- 
ffen  came  past,  making  a  vain  effort  to  rally  and  inspirit  his 
flying  troops.  He  shouted,  ‘  Vive  la  FraYice  !  En  avant!' 
But  there  was  no  response.  He  cried  out  that  Bazaine  was 
taking  the  Prussians  in  the  rear.  News  which  had  been  cur¬ 
rent  all  the  morning  at  intervals,  coming  now  from  the  mouth 
of  General  De  AVimpffen,  seemed  to  be  believed,  and  a  few 
thousand  men  were  rallied,  and  followed  him  out  of  the  town. 
People  began  to  have  hope,  and  for  one  brief  moment  we  be¬ 
lieved  the  day  might  yet  be  saved.  Need  I  say  that  this  intel¬ 
ligence  was  a  patriotic  falsehood  of  brave  General  De  Wimp- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


239 


ffen  ?  Mad  with  anguish,  and  in  direct  opposition  to  the 
Emperor’s  orders,  he  had  resolved  to  rally  what  men  he  could, 
and  make  a  stand.  He  could  not  have  known  that  he  was 
bound  in  the  grasp  of  at  least  300,000  men. 

“The  bugle  and  the  trumpet  ring  out  on  all  sides.  A  few 
thousand  men  harken  to  the  sound.  My  friend  Rene  de  Gui- 
roye,  of  the  Chasseurs  d’Afrique,  whom  I  have  just  met,  after 
losing  sight  of  him  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  got  on  horseback 
again  and  joined  the  General.  The  sortie  took  place  thus : 
They  went  out  at  the  Porte  de  Balan.  The  houses  of  the 
suburb  are  already  full  of  Prussians,  who  fire  on  the  French 
out  of  every  window.  The  church,  especially,  is  strongly 
garrisoned,  and  its  heavy  doors  are  closed.  The  General  sent 
off  De  Guiroye  to  bring  two  pieces  of  cannon.  These  soon 
arrived,  and  with  them  the  door  of  the  church  was  blown  in, 
and  200  Prussians  were  captured  and  brought  back  with  the 
French,  who,  in  spite  of  all  efforts,  were  themselves  soon 
obliged  to  retire  into  the  town.  It  was  the  last  incident  of  the 
battle — the  last  struggle. 

“  While  this  took  place  at  the  Porte  de  Balan,  the  Prussian 
shelling  went  on,  and  the  shells  began  to  fall  into  the  hotel. 
Shocking  scenes  followed.  A  boy,  the  son  of  a  tradesman 
around  the  corner  of  the  street,  came  in  crying,  and  asking  for 
a  surgeon.  His  father’s  leg  had  been  shot  off.  A  woman  in 
front  of  the  house  met  the  same  fate.  The  doctor  who  went 
to  the  tradesman  found  him  dead  ;  and,  returning,  attempted 
to  carry  the  woman  to  an  ambulance.  He  had  scarcely  made 
a  step,  when  she  was  shot  dead  in  his  arms.  Those  of  us  who 
stand  in  the  gateway  and  witness  such  scenes  have  got  beyond 
the  feeling  of  personal  fear.  Any  one  of  us,  I  will  venture  to 
say,  would  give  his  life  to  spare  France  on  this  dreadful  day. 
Yet  we  stand  pale  and  shuddering  at  the  sight  of  the  fate  which 
befals  the  poor  people  of  the  town. 

“  I  care  not  to  dwell  upon  horrors,  which,  nevertheless,  I 
shall  never  be  able  to  forget.  I  can  mention  more  than  one 
brave  officer  who  did  not  fear  to  own  that  he  shrank  from  the 
sight  of  what  had  become  a  mere  massacre.  Those  who  were 


240 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


safely  out  of  the  way  as  prisoners,  whether  officers  or  men, 
needed  no  pity.  When,  after  a  time,  it  became  clear  that  there 
was  no  sign  of  Bazaine,  the  hopes  of  the  French  again  depar¬ 
ted.  A  sullen  sort  of  right  still  went  on.  The  guns  of  the 
town  answered  the  Prussians.  An  aid-de-camp  of  the  Empe¬ 
ror  went  by  on  foot,  and  I  heard  him  ask  the  officers  near  by 
to  help  him  in  putting  an  end  to  the  fire.  Such  being  the 
Emperor’s  wish,  at  length  the  white  flag  was  hoisted  on  the 
citadel.  The  cannonade  ceased  suddenly  about  4.30  o’clock. 
Eager  as  we  were  to  kndw  the  cause,  we  cannot  leave  the 
house,  for  the  street  is  impassable,  and  we  have  to  be  content 
with  learning  the  mere  fact  of  the  surrender.  As  night  drew 
on,  the  crowd  a  little  diminished,  and  by  some  effort  it  was 
possible  to  make  one’s  way  about  the  town.  The  spectacle  it 
offered  was  more  horrible  than  war.  Dead  were  lying  every¬ 
where;  civilians  and  soldiers  mingled  in  the  slaughter.  In 
one  suburb  I  counted  more  than  fifty  bodies  of  peasants  and 
bourgeois — a  few  women  among  them,  and  one  child.  The 
ground  was  strewn  with  splinters  of  shells.  Starving  soldiers 
were  cutting  up  the  dead  horses  to  cook  and  eat,  for  provisions 
had  again  failed  us,  as  everything  has  failed  since  this  cam¬ 
paign  began.” 

Meanwhile  the  firing  had  begun  from  the  Prussian  guns, 
and  their  lines  had  been  pressed  forward  nearer  to  Sedan.  A 
little  before  five  o’clock,  King  William,  seeing  the  hopeless 
situation  of  the  French,  ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  and  sent 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Yon  Bronsart,  of  the  staff,  with  a  white 
flag,  as  truce  bearer,  offering  capitulation  to  the  army  and 
fortress.  Before  the  King’s  orders  could  be  executed,  the 
white  flag  was  seen  on  the  walls  of  Sedan,  and  the  firing  im¬ 
mediately  ceased.  Colonel  Yon  Bronsart  was  met  by  a  Bava¬ 
rian  officer,  who  informed  him  that  a  messenger  from  the 
French  lines  was  on  his  way  to  the  German  headquarters. 
He  kept  on  his  way  to  the  gates  of  Sedan,  however,  and  upon 
his  inquiry  for  the  Commander-in-Chief,  he  was  unexpectedly 
conducted  before  the  Emperor,  who  informed  him  that  he 
had  written  a  letter  to  the  King  of  Prussia,  which  he  desired 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


241 


him  (Bronsart)  to  convey  to  his  Majesty.  The  Emperor  then 
asked  the  Colonel  the  nature  of  his  orders;  and  was  answered, 
“To  summon  the  army  and  fortress  to  surrender.”  The  Em¬ 
peror  then  informed  him  that  he  must  address  himself  to 
General  De  Wimpffcn,  who  was  the  commander  of  the  army, 
and  added  that  he  would  send  his  letter  to  the  King  by  his 
Adjutant-General  Reille. 

Meanwhile,  the  French  officer  sent  out  from  Sedan,  had 
made  his  way  to  the  King’s  station,  escorted  by  two  Uhlans. 
He  stated  that  he  had  been  sent  to  ask  the  terms  upon 
which  the  King  would  receive  the  surrender  of  the  French 
.forces. 

A  short  conversation  ensued  between  the  King  and  General 
Von  Moltke,  after  which  the  latter  informed  the  bearer  of  the 
flag  of  truce  that,  in  a  matter  of  such  magnitude  as  the. sur¬ 
render  of  at  least  80,000  men,  and  an  important  fortress,  it 
was  necessary  to  send  an  officer  of  high  rank.  “You  are, 
therefore,”  continued  the  General,  “to  return  to  Sedan  and 
tell  the  Governor  of  the  town  that  he  must  at  once  repair  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  King  of  Prussia.  If  he  does  not 
arrive  within  an  hour,  our  guns  will  immediately  open  fire. 
You  may  tell  the  commandant  that  there  is  no  use  of  his 
trying  to  obtain  any  other  terms  than  unconditional  sur¬ 
render.”  The  messenger  at  once  departed. 

The  French  offer  was  eagerly  discussed  by  the  German 
commanders  and  their  officers ;  and  when,  about  half  past 
six,  it  became  known  that  the  Emperor  was  in  Sedan,  their 
exultation  was  unbounded. 

A  little  before  seven,  a  second  flag  of  truce  was  seen  ap¬ 
proaching  from  Sedan.  The  royal  escort  was  drawn  up  in 
two  lines,  with  the  staff  in  front,  and  the  King  took  his  posi¬ 
tion  ten  yards  in  front  of  the  staff  to  receive  the  French 
envoy,  who  proved  to  be  General  Reille.  As  he  reached  the 
spot,  General  Reilld  dismounted,  and  uncovering,  and  ap¬ 
proaching  the  King,  handed  him  the  Emperor’s  letter,  adding 
that  he  had  no  further  orders.  The  King  received  the  missive, 
but  before  opening  it,  said  to  the  General,  “I  demand  as  a 
16 


242 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


first  condition,  that  the  army  lay  down  their  arms.”  He  then 
read  the  Emperor’s  letter,  which  was  as  follows: 

Sirf.  mv  Brother: — Not  having  been  able  to  die  in  the  midst  of  my 
troops,  it  only  remains  for  me  to  place  my  sword  in  the  hands  of  your 
Majesty.  I  am  your  Majesty’s  good  brother,  Napoleon. 

General  Keille  was  kindly  received  by  the  King,  who  had 
known  him  in  more  peaceful  times,  and  was  bidden  to  cover 
his  head.  He  very  readily  entered  into  conversation  with  the 
German  officers  who  surrounded  him,  maintaining  all  the 
while  an  admirable  coolness  and  self-possession  in  a  position 
which  could  not  be  but  trying  to  him.  A  consultation  was 
promptly  held  by  the  King,  the  Crown  Prince,  Count  Bis¬ 
marck,  .General  Yon  Moltke,  and  General  Yon  Boon,  the 
Minister  of  War.  Its  object  was  to  decide  upon  a  suitable 
reply  to  the  Emperor’s  note.  As  the  answer  was  decided 
upon,  the  words  were  written  down  by  Count  Hatsfield,  long 
time  Attache  to  the  Prussian  Embassy  in  Paris.  Two  aides- 
de-camp  then  held  up  a  chair  to  serve  as  a  writing  desk,  and 
upon  this  the  King  wrote  out  the  following  reply  to  the  Em¬ 
peror  : 

Sire  my  Brother  : — Regretting  the  circumstances  under  which  we 
meet,  I  accept  the  sword  of  your  Majesty,  and  I  invite  you  to  designate 
one  of  your  officers  provided  with  full  powers  to  treat  for  the  capitula¬ 
tion  of  the  army,  which  has  so  bravely  fought  under  your  command. 
On  my  side,  I  have  named  General  Moltke  for  this  purpose.— I  am  your 
Majesty’s  good  brother,  Wilhelm. 

Before  Sedan,  Sept.  1,  1870. 

General  Reille,  upon  receiving  this  letter,  departed  for  Se¬ 
dan  at  forty  minutes  after  seven  o’clock,  and  the  King,  direct¬ 
ing  Count  Bismarck  to  remain  with  General  Moltke  in  case 
political  questions  should  come  up,  returned  to  his  headquar¬ 
ters  at  Yendresse.  * 

*  The  King’s  letter  to  Queen  Augusta,  describing  the  events  of  the  day,  is 
as  follows  : 

:l  Yendresse,  September  3d,  lSVO. 

“You  now  know  from  my  three  telegrams  the  entire  extent  of  the  great 
historical  event  that  has  occurred.  It  is  like  a  dream,  even  when  one  has 
seen  it  develop  hour  by  hour. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


243 


The  news  spread  rapidly  through  the  German  lines,  and 
was  received  with  the  wildest  enthusiasm.  The  air  rang 
with  the  hurrahs  of  the  victors,  and  on  all  sides  were  heard 
the  national  hymn  and  patriotic  German  songs. 

Meanwhile  there  was  nothing  but  sadness  and  despair  in 
Sedan.  It  was  very  clear  to  the  Emperor  that  there  was  no 
hope  of  saving  the  army,  and  that  further  resistance  would 


“When  I  remember  that,  after  a  great,  fortunate  war,  I  had  nothing  more 
glorious  to  expect  during  my  reign,  and  now  see  this  world-historic  act  com¬ 
pleted,  I  bow  myself  before  God,  who  alone,  my  Lord  and  my  Helper,  has 
chosen  me  to  fulfil  this  work,  and  has  ordained  us  to  be  instruments  of  His 
will.  Only  in  this  sense  did  I  venture  to  undertake  the  work — that  in  hu¬ 
mility  I  might  praise  God’s  guidance  and  mercy. 

“  Now  for  a  picture  of  the  battle  and  its  consequences,  in  condensed  terms  : 

“The  army  had  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  31st,  and  early  on  the  1st, 
in  the  positions  before  described,  round  about  Sedan.  The  Bavarians  had 
the  left  wing  at  Bazeilles  on  the  Meuse ;  near  them  the  Saxons,  toward  Mon- 
celles  and  Daigny;  the  Guards  still  on  the  march  toward  Givonne  ;  the  Fifth 
and  Eleventh  Corps  toward  St.  Menges  and  Fleigneux.  The  Meuse  makes 
here  a  sharp  curve,  and  therefore  from  St.  Menges  to  Donchery  there  was  no 
corps  placed,  but  in  the  latter  town  Wurtembergers,  who  at  the  same  time 
covered  the  rear  against  attacks  from  Mezi&res.  The  Cavalry  Division  of 
Count  Stolberg  was  in  the  plain  of  Donchery  as  right  wing;  in  the  front  to¬ 
ward  Sedan,  the  rest  of  the  Bavarians. 

“The  battle  began  at  Bazeilles  early  on  the  1st  in  spite  of  a  thick  fog,  and 
a  very  heavy  fight  gradually  spread,  in  which  we  were  obliged  to  take  house 
by  house,  which  lasted  nearly  the  whole  day,  and  in  which  Schuler's  Erfurt 
Division  (from  the  reserve  Fourth  Corps)  had  to  take  part.  Just  as  I  arrived 
on  the  front  before  Sedan,  at  8  o’clock,  the  great  battery  began  its  fire  against 
the  fortifications.  A  tremendous  artillery  battle  now  spread  on  all  sides, 
continuing  for  hours,  and  during  which  ground  was  gradually  won  by  our 
side.  The  villages  named  were  taken. 

“  Very  deep-cut  ravines  with  woods  made  the  advance  of  the  infantry 
difficult,  and  favored  the  defence.  The  villages  of  Illy  and  Floing  were  taken, 
and  the  ring  of  fire  drew  itself  gradually  closer  and  closer  around  Sedan.  It 
was  a  grand  sight  from  our  position  on  a  commanding  height  behind  the 
before-named  battery,  before  and  on  the  right  of  Frfnois  village,  above  St. 
Torcy. 

“  The  determined  resistance  of  the  enemy  began  gradually  to  slacken,  as 
we  could  discover  by  the  disordered  battalions  which  ran  hastily  back  out 
of  the  woods  and  villages.  The  cavalry  tried  an  attack  against  some  battal¬ 
ions  of  our  Fifth  Corps,  which  maintained  an  excellent  bearing;  the  cavalry 
rushed  through  the  intervals  between  the  battalions,  then  turned  around  and 


244 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


result  simply  in  the  massacre  of  his  troops.  As  the  actual 
situation  became  known  to  General  De  Wimpffen,  he  sent 
two  of  his  staff  to  the  Emperor  with  a  letter,  in  which  he  pro¬ 
posed  to  his  Majesty  that  he  (the  Emperor)  should  make  an 
attempt  to  save  himself,  by  placing  himself  in  the  midst  of  a 
strong  column,  and  endeavoring  to  reach  Carignan,  which 
lies  close  to  the  Belgian  frontier ;  but  the  Emperor  refused 


back  by  the  same  way  ;  which  was  repeated  three  times  by  different  regi¬ 
ments,  so  that  the  field  was  strewn  with  corpses  and  horses,  all  of  which  we 
could  clearly  see  from  our  position.  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn  the 
number  of  that  brave  regiment. 

“  The  retreat  of  the  enemy  in  many  places  becoming  a  rout,  and  all — in¬ 
fantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery — crowding  into  the  town  and  the  nearest  sur¬ 
roundings,  but  still  no  indication  appearing  of  the  disposition  of  the  enemy 
to  save  himself  from  this  desperate  condition  by  capitulation,  nothing 
remained  but  to  order  the  town  to  be  bombarded  by  the  battery  before  men¬ 
tioned. 

“  In  less  than  twenty  minutes  it  was  burning  in  several  places ;  that,  to¬ 
gether  with  the  many  burning  villages  in  the  whole  radius  of  the  battle, 
made  an  appalling  impression,  and  I  ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  and  sent 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Von  Bronsart,  of  the  staff,  with  a  white  flag,  as  truce- 
bearer,  offering  capitulation  to  the  army  and  fortress.  He  was  met  by  a 
Bavarian  officer,  who  reported  that  a  French  truce-bearer  with  a  white  flag 
had  appeared  at  the  gate.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Von  Bronsart  was  admitted, 
and  upon  his  inquiry  for  the  General-in-Chief,  he  was  unexpectedly  conducted 
before  the  Emperor,  who  wanted  at  once  to  deliver  him  a  letter  addressed  to 
me.  When  upon  inquiry  by  the  Emperor  what  his  orders  were,  the  reply 
was  given  :  To  summon  army  and  fortress  to  surrender. 

“  The  Emperor  directed  Bronsart  to  address  himself  in  the  matter  to  Gene¬ 
ral  De  Wimpffen,  who  had  just  assumed  command  in  place  of  MacMahon, 
wounded,  and  stated  that  he  w'ould  send  his  letter  to  me  by  Adjutant-General 
Reille.  It  was  seven  o’clock  when  Reill6  and  Bronsart  came  to  me.  You  can 
imagine  what  impression  it  made  upon  me  especially,  and  upon  all.  Reille 
dismounted,  and  delivered  to  me  the  letter  of  his  Emperor,  adding  that  he 
had  no  further  orders.  Before  opening  the  letter  I  said  to  him:  ‘But  I  de¬ 
mand  as  first  condition,  that  the  army  lay  down  their  arms.’  The  letter 
commences  thus  :  ‘  N’avant  pas  pu  mourir  h  la  tile  de  mes  troupes,  je  ddpose  mon 
£p£e  d  Voire  Majesty’  (not  having  been  able  to  die  at  the  head  of  my  troops, 
I  lay  down  my  sword  before  your  Majesty),— leaving  everything  further  to 
my  discretion. 

“My  reply  was,  that  I  regretted  the  manner  in  which  we  had  met,  and  re¬ 
quested  that  a  plenipotentiary  be  sent,  when  the  capitulation  could  be  con¬ 
cluded.  I  had  given  the  letter  to  General  ReilKj.  I  spoke  a  few  words  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


245 


to  sacrifice  so  many  soldiers  in  order  to  save  himself.  He 
added,  “  Carignan  is  occupied  by  the  Prussians,  but  if  the 
General  thinks  he  can  save  some  portion  of  the  army,  let  him 
do  so.”  As  soon  as  this  answer  was  conveyed  to  De  Wimp- 
ffen,  he  informed  General  Lebrun  that  it  was  his  intention  to 
collect  a  column  of  2000  or  3000  men,  place  himself  at  their 
head,  and  cut  his  way  through  the  Prussian  lines.  “You 
will  cause  3000  more  men  to  be  killed,”  said  Lebrun,  “  and 
you  will  not  succeed  ;  but  if  you  wish  to  try,  I  will  willingly 
go  there  with  you.” 

A  little  later,  De  Wimpffen  was  convinced  that  his  plan 
was  hopeless.  He  could  not  find  the  men  he  wished,  and  had 


him  as  an  old  acquaintance,  and  thus  ended  this  act.  I  gave  Moltke  full  powers 
to  treat,  and  directed  Bismarck  to  remain  behind,  in  case  political  questions 
should  come  up,  and  then  rode  to  my  carriage,  and  drove  to  this  place. 

“I  was  everywhere  on  the  road  saluted  with  thundering  hurrahs  by  the 
trains  moving  up,  and  soldiers  were  singing  everywhere  the  national  hymn. 
It  was  sublime.  Everywhere  lights  had  been  lit,  so  that  now  and  then  we 
drove  in  the  midst  of  an  improvised  illumination.  I  arrived  here  at  11 
o’clock,  and  drank  with  my  suite  the  welfare  of  the  army  that  had  accom¬ 
plished  this  great  result.  No  report  having  reached  me  from  Moltke  up  to 
the  morning  of  the  2d  of  the  result  of  the  capitulation  treaty  which  was  to 
have  been  made  in  Donchery,  I  drove  at  8  o’clock,  according  to  arrangement, 
to  the  battle-field,  and  there  met  Moltke,  who  came  to  get  my  consent  to  the 
capitulation  which  he  presented,  and  at  the  same  time  pointed  out  that  the 
Emperor  had  left  Sedan  at  5  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  had  also  come  to 
Donchery.  Since  he  wished  to  speak  to  me,  and  there  was  a  little  castle  in 
the  park,  I  chose  this  for  the  meeting.  At  10  o’clock  I  arrived  on  the  height 
before  Sedan.  At  12  o’clock  Moltke  and  Bismarck  appeared  with  the  com¬ 
pleted  terms  of  capitulation.  At  1  o’clock  I  placed  myself  in  motion  with 
Fritz,  accompanied  by  the  staff  cavalry  escort.  I  alighted  before  the  castle, 
where  the  Emperor  came  to  meet  me.  The  visit  lasted  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
We  were  both  very  much  moved  at  thus  seeing  each  other  again.  All  that  I 
felt,  after  having  seen  Napoleon  only  three  years  before  at  the  summit  of  his 
power,  I  cannot  describe. 

“After  this  meeting  I  rode  from  2.30  to  7.30  o’clock  through  the  entire 
army  around  Sedan. 

“  The  reception  by  the  troops,  the  sight  of  the  decimated  Guards — all  that, 
I  cannot  describe  to  you  to-day.  I  was  profoundly  moved  by  so  many  proofs 
of  love  and  fidelity. 

“  Now,  lebe  wold.  With  an  agitated  heart  at  the  end  of  such  a  letter, 

“  Wilhelm.” 


246 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


he  been  a  ole  to  do  so,  he  would  only  have  led  them  to  certain 
death.  He  was  now  convinced  that  there  was  nothing  left 
bnt  a  surrender ;  but  against  this  course  the  gallant  soldier 
revolted.  He  had  just  arrived  a  few  days  previous,  and  it 
was  hard  indeed  that  his  first  day  of  command  should  close 
so  disastrously.  He  accordingly  sent  the  following  letter  to 
the  Emperor : 

Sire  I  shall  never  forget  the  marks  of  kindness  which  you  have  ac¬ 
corded  to  me,  and  I  should  have  been  happy,  for  the  sake  of  both  France 
and  of  yourself,  to  have  been  able  to  terminate  to-day’s  engagement  with 
glorious  success.  I  have  not  been  able  to  bring  about  the  result,  and  I 
think  I  shall  do  well  if  I  leave  to  others  the  duty  of  leading  our  armies. 
Under  these  circumstances  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  resign  my  post  of 
(Jommander-in-Chief,  and  to  ask  that  I  may  be  allowed  to  retire. 

I  am  etc.  etc.,  Dk  Wi.mpffen 

To  this  note  the  Emperor  replied  as  follows  : 

General: — You  cannot  resign  at  the  moment  when  the  army  may  be 
still  saved  by  an  honorable  capitulation.  Y  ou  have  done  your  duty  all 
day  :  do  it  still.  You  will  render  a  great  service  to  the  country.  The 
King  lias  accepted  the  armistice,  and  I  am  waiting  for  his  propositions. 
Believe  in  my  friendship.  Napoleon. 

General  De  Wimpffen  now  saw  the  matter  in  its  true  light. 
He  might  indeed  be  able  to  retire  alone,  and  thus  avoid  per¬ 
sonal  captivity  and  the  mortification  of  a  surrender,  but  he 
would  by  so  doing  abandon  to  its  fate  the  gallant  army  that- 
had  fought  so  well  under  bim  during  the  whole  day.  For¬ 
tune  had  placed  the  chief  command  in  his  hands,  and  it  was 
his  duty  to  stay  with  his  men  to  the  last.  He  thereupon  de¬ 
cided  to  perform  his  painful  task  to  the  letter.  * 


*  An  officer  of  General  De  Wimpffen’s  staff  published  in  the  Paris  Patric, 
after  the  surrender,  an  account  of  the  events  preceding  the  capitulation,  in 
which  he  stated  that  the  Emperor  had  compelled  De  Wimpffen  to  surrender 
the  army  when  there  was  a  fair  chance  of  escape,  of  which  the  General  was 
anxious  to  avail  himself,  and  that  De  Wimpffen  had  been  hampered  and 
thwarted  by  Napoleon  during  the  whole  day.  These  charges  drew  from  the 
members  of  the  Emperor’s  staff  the  following  denial : 

“The  letter  which  appeared  in  the  Patrie  of  the  11th  of  September,  and 
which  is  attributed  to  an  officer  of  the  staff  of  General  Wimpffen,  implicates 
in  so  grave  and  so  unjust  a  manner  the  responsibility  of  the  Emperor  in  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


247 


The  news  of  the  surrender  was  received  by  the  French 
army  with  the  most  violent  rage.  They  loaded  the  names  of 
the  Emperor  and  their  officers  with  bitter  curses — never  re¬ 
flecting  that  to  the  humanity  of  the  Emperor  alone  they  owed 
their  escape  from  utter  annihilation  by  the  Prussians,  who 
held  them  fast,  with  every  avenue  of  escape  closed.  We 
have  seen  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  march  the  men  were 


catastrophe  of  Sedan,  that  the  officers  who  had  the  honor  to  remain  with  His 
Majesty  cannot  allow  such  assertions  to  be  made  without  stating  the  true 
facts  of  the  case.  When  the  different  commanders  of  army  corps  came  to 
warn  the  Emperor  that  their  troops  were  repulsed,  dispersed,  and  in  part 
driven  back  into  the  town,  the  Emperor  sent  them  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  in  order  that  he  might  ascertain  from  them  the  actual  situation.  At 
the  same  time  the  Commander-in-Chief  sent  to  the  Emperor  two  officers  of 
his  staff  with  a  letter,  in  which  he  proposed  to  His  Majesty  not  to  save  the 
army,  but  to  save  his  person,  by  placing  him  in  the  midst  of  a  strong  column, 
with  which  he  said  an  attempt  might  be  made  to  reach  Carignan.  The  Em¬ 
peror  refused  to  sacrifice  a  large  number  of  soldiers  in  order  to  save  himself; 
1  besides,’  said  he,  ‘  Carignan  is  occupied  by  the  Prussians  ;  but  if  the  General 
thinks  he  can  save  some  portion  of  the  army,  let  him  do  so.’  At  the  same 
time  that  the  reply  of  the  Emperor  reached  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the 
latter  imparted  to  General  Lebrun,  the  commander  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  his 
project  to  collect  2000  or  3000  men,  to  put  himself  at  their  head,  and  to  make 
a  gap  in  the  Prussian  lines.  General  Lebrun  answered  him  : *  1  You  will  cause 
3000  more  men  to  be  killed,  and  you  will  not  succeed,  but  if  you  wish  to  try, 

I  will  willingly  go  there  with  you.’  They  left  each  other,  indeed,  and  less 
than  half  an  hour  afterward  General  Wimpffen  was  convinced  that  his  attempt 
was  impracticable,  and  no  other  course  was  open  to  him  except  laying  down 
arms.  General  Wimpffen  went  back  to  Sedan,  and  considering  that  it  was 
hard  for  him,  who  had  only  taken  the  command  ad  interim ,  to  affix  his  signa¬ 
ture  to  a  capitulation,  he  sent  his  resignation  to  the  Emperor  in  the  following 
terms : 

“  ‘  Sire  :  I  shall  never  forget  the  marks  of  kindness  which  you  have  ac¬ 
corded  to  me,  and  I  should  have  been  happy,  for  the  sake  both  of  France  and 
of  yourself,  to  have  been  able  to  terminate  to-day’s  engagement  by  a  glorious 
success.  I  have  not  been  able  to  bring  about  the  result,  and  I  think  I  shall 
do  well  if  I  leave  to  others  the  duty  of  leading  our  armies. 

“  ‘  Under  these  circumstances  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  resign  my  post  of  Com¬ 
mander-in-Chief,  and  to  ask  that  I  may  be  allowed  to  retire. 

“  1 1  am,  etc.,  De  Wimpffen.’ 

“  The  Emperor  refused  to  accept  the  resignation.  It  was  necessary,  indeed, 
that  he  who  had  had  the  honor  of  the  command  during  the  battle  should  se- 


248 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


wholly  unrestrained  by  discipline.  Their  condition  after  the 
battle  was  lost,  and  they  were  huddled  like  sheep  in  and 
around  Sedan — crowded  so  thickly  that  as  a  rule  none  of 
them  could  have  kept  their  ranks  had  they  tried — was  a  state 
of  utter  demoralization.  Their  officers  had  no  longer  any 
control  over  them.  The  French  officer  whom  we  have  al¬ 
ready  quoted  in  describing  the  condition  of  Sedan  during  the 
battle,  thus  speaks  of  the  state  of  the  army  after  the  surren¬ 
der  : 

u  On  Saturday  the  whole  force  laid  down  their  arms.  Not 
a  few  soldiers,  in  their  rage  broke,  rather  than  give  up  their 
arms,  and  the  streets  were  littered  with  fragments  of  all  kinds 
of  weapons  broken :  swords,  rifles,  pistols,  lances,  helmets, 
cuirasses,  even  mitrailleuses  covered  the  ground  ;  and  in  one 


cure,  as  far  as  possible,  the  safety  of  what  remained  of  the  army.  The  Gene¬ 
ral  understood  these  reasons,  and  withdrew  his  resignation.  It  was  then  9 
o’clock  in  the  evening,  and  the  firing  had  ceased  at  nightfall.  It  is  entirely 
false  to  say  that  the  General  was  opposed  by  the  Emperor  in  his  ideas  and 
in  the  orders  he  was  able  to  give,  for  His  Majesty  only  met  him  for  a  moment 
on  the  field  of  battle  between  9  and  10  o’clock.  The  General  was  coming 
from  Balan,  and  the  Emperor  asked  him  how  the  battle  was  proceeding  on 
that  side.  The  General  replied  : 

“  ‘  Sire,  things  are  going  on  as  well  as  possible,  and  we  are  gaining 
ground.’ 

“To  the  observation  which  His  Majesty  made  that  an  officer  had  just 
warned  him  that  a  considerable  corps  of  the  enemy  was  outflanking  our  left, 
the  General  replied : 

“  ‘Very  well,  so  much  the  better.  It  is  necessary  to  let  them  do  so;  we 
will  drive  them  into  the  Meuse  and  we  shall  gain  the  victory.’ 

“  These  are  the  only  relations  which  the  Emperor  had  with  General 
Wimpffen  during  the  action,  and  it  is  equally  false  to  say  that  there  was  the 
slightest  altercation  between  the  Emperor  ■•and  the  General.  When  they 
separated  the  Emperor  embraced  the  General  most  affectionately. 

(Signed)  “Prince  de  la  Moskowa, 

“Castelnau, 

“  De  Waubert, 

“  Count  Reille, 

“  Viscount  Pajol, 

“  Generals  Aides-de-Camp  of  the  Emperor.’ 

So  far  as  is  known,  General  De  Wimpffen  had  no  share  in  the  writing  or 
publication  of  the  letter  to  the  Palrie. 


Bird  s-eye  View  of  the  Louvre  and  Tuileries  :  Paris. 

'Sogclpcrfpcttioc  oom  i!ou»ro  unt  fccn  Xuilcrun :  'Varid. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


249 


place,  where  the  Meuse  runs  through  the  town,  the  heaps  of 
such  fragments  choked  the  stream  and  rose  above  the  surface. 
The  mud  of  the  streets  was  black  with  gunpowder.  The 
horses  had  been  tied  to  the  houses  and  gun-carriages,  but 
nobody  remembered  to  feed  or  water  them,  and  in  the  frenzy 
of  hunger  and  thirst  they  broke  loose  and  ran  wild  through 
the  town.  Whoever  liked  might  have  a  horse — even  officers’ 
horses,  which  were  private  property — for  the  trouble  of 
catching  them. 

“When  the  Prussians  came  into  the  town  they  were  very 
sore  and  angry  at  the  sight  of  all  this  destruction  and  waste. 
What  must  have  pleased  them  still  less,  was  the  state  in  which 
they  found  the  military  chest.  As  soon  as  the  surrender  was 
resolved  on,  the  French  officers  were  told  to  make  out  the 
best  accounts  they  could,  present  them,  and  receive  payment. 
Naturally,  the  statements  thus  brought  in  soon  proved  suffi- 
cent  to  empty  the  treasury.  I  know  of  officers  who  demanded 
and  received  payment  for  horses  that  were  not  killed  and 
baggage  which  had  not  been  lost.  Demoralization  showed 
itself  in  every  way.  Even  the  standards  were  burned  or 
buried — an  act  of  bad  faith,  not  to  be  palliated  even  by  the 
rage  of  a  beaten  army. 

“  Their  rage  is  greater  against  no  one  than  General  De 
Failly.  He  had  a  room  in  the  hotel  where  I  was  staying. 
On  Friday  a  great  multitude  of  soldiers  gathered  before  the 
house,  the  doors  of  which  were  closed,  demanding  General 
De  Failly  with  such  shouts  and  menaces  that  the  landlord 
thought  it  prudent  to  hurry  him  out  of  a  back  window. 
The  soldiers,  could  they  have  reached  him,  would  have  torn 
him  to  pieces.  Since  then  I  have  heard  the  report  that  he 
was  shot  by  one  of  his  own  men  ;  but  no  such  event  had 
happened  on  Saturday,  and  could  not  well  happen  later. 

“  It  was  a  relief  on  Saturday  when  the  Prussians  came  in 
and  occupied  the  town,  and  restored  order.  I  am  sorry  to 
have  to  acknowledge,  that  all  through  the  campaign  the 
French  have  acted  much  more  like  a  conquering  army  in  a 
hostile  country  than  the  Prussians.  All  the  annoyance  I 


250 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


have  experienced  personally  came  from  my  own  countrymen’ 
from  the  peasants,  who,  above  all,  saw  a  spy  in  every  stranger. 
When  I  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Prussians,  I  found  them 
courtesy  itself.  On  leaving  Sedan,  and  thence  to  the  frontier, 
in  passing  through  the  Prussian  posts,  I  was  stopped  often. 
1  had  but  to  say,  ‘  I  am  the  correspondent  of  an  American 
journal,’  and  I  was  at  once  sent  kindly  forward.  On  the 
back  of  my  military  pass  the  Prussian  staff  had  endorsed  a 
Prussian  safe-conduct.  Often  I  was  not  obliged  even  to  show 
my  papers:  my  word  was  taken;  and  once  out  of  Sedan  I 
Avas  speedily  through. 

“  When  I  left  Sedan  on  Sunday  morning  things  were 
rapidly  getting  in  order.  The  streets  Avere  cleared  of  dead 
horses  and  men.  The  indescribable  filth  of  the  town  Avas 
swept  into  the  river.  The  shops  Avere  opening  again.  Dis¬ 
cipline  had  taken  the  place  of  disorder.  I  saw  enough  of 
Prussian  organization  and  energy  to  change,  if  the  grievous 
defeat  of  a  noble  army  had  not  already  changed,  the  opinion 
I  have  so  often  expressed,  that  ultimate  victory  for  France 
Avas  sure. 

I  have  followed  MacMahon  from  the  day  when  I  found 
him  reorganizing  his  army  at  Chalons  to  the  fatal  day  at  Se¬ 
dan,  Avhen  he  surrendered  the  last  organized  force  in  France, 
save  the  remnant  of  that  Avhich  is  shut  up  in  Metz.  Certainly, 
Avhen  I  was  at  the  camp  of  Chalons,  and  then  at  Rheims,  I 
had  observed  that  the  number  of  stragglers  Avas  enormous, 
and  I  continually  met  soldiers  Avho  did  not  knoAV  where  their 
regiments  Avere.  I  had  seen  men  and  officers  disabled  bv 
Avounds  Avhich  French  soldiers  of  other  days  would  have  de¬ 
spised  ;  I  had  remarked  how  untidy  and  careless  the  men 
were  allowed  to  be  about  their  dress  and  equipments.  These 
things,  slight,  but  significant  to  a  military  eye,  had  caused 
me,  no  doubt,  some  misgivings  as  to  the  rapidity  of  the  suc¬ 
cess  we  had  a  right  to  expect.  I  saw  also  how  prone  French 
officers  were  to  avoid  the  fatigues  of  long  marches  and  the 
discomfort  of  bivouacs.  I  remember  how  often  I  have  tra¬ 
versed  the  French  lines  at  dead  of  night  and  at  early  dawn, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


251 


and  never  heard  a  challange,  never  came  across  a  French  vi- 
dette,  never  have  fallen  in  with  a  party  of  scouts.  On  the 
other  hand,  I  have  seen  officers  spend  the  time  that  ought  to 
have  been  given  to  their  men,  in  cafes  or  in  poor  village 
inns.  Often  even  officers  of  the  staff  seemed  to  neglect  their 
duties  for  paltry  amusements,  showing  themselves  ignorant 
sometimes  even  of  the  name  of  the  Department  in  which  they 
were;  so  that  I  have  known  a  French  General  obliged  to  ask 
his  way  from  peasants  at  the  meeting  of  two  roads.  I  strug¬ 
gled  long  against  all  this  kind  of  evidence,  but  the  end  is  only 
too  clear.  Painful  it  is  to  me,  but  I  am  bound  to  declare  my 
belief  that  any  further  effort  France  may  make  can  only 
cause  useless  bloodshed,  and  that  a  means  of  escape  from  her 
peril  must  now  be  sought  otherwise  than  by  force  of  arms.  ’’ 

On  the  night  of  the  1st  of  September,  Count  Bismarck  and 
General  Yon  Moltke  met  General  De  Wimpffen  and  the 
officers  appointed  on  the  French  side,  at  Donchery.  General 
Yon  Moltke  promptly  informed  the  French  commander  that 
no  other  condition  than  the  laying  down  of  the  arms  would 
be  accepted,  and  that  the  bombardment  would  begin  again  at 
nine  o’clock  the  next  morning  if  the  capitulation  were  not 
concluded  by  that  time.  General  De  Wimpffen  asked  for 
time  to  consider  these  terms,  which  was  granted.  At  one 
o’clock  the  conference  broke  up,  the  French  officers  returning 
to  their  own  lines.  The  next  morning  the  conference  was 
resumed,  the  French  accepting  the  terms  expressed  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  cartel : 

Sedan,  September  2. 

By  the  chief  of  the  stuff  of  His  Majesty  King  William,  Commander-in 
Chief  of  the  German  armies,  and  the  General  Commanding-in-Ohief  of 
the  French  armies,  both  with  full  powers  from  His  Majesty  the  King  and 
the  Emperor  of  the  French,  the  following  agreement  lias  been  concluded  : 

Article  1.  The  French  army,  under  the  command  of  General  Wirap- 
ffen,  surrounded  actually  by  superior  forces  around  Sedan,  are  prisoners 
of  war. 

Article  2.  Owing  to  the  valorous  defence  of  that  army,  an  exception 
(espmption)  is  made  for  all  the  generals  and  officers,  and  for  the  superior 
employes  having  rank  of  officers  in  the  military  list,  who  will  give  their 
word  of  honor  in  writing  not  to  take  up  arms  against  Germany,  nor  to 


252 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


act  in  any  way  against  the  interests  of  that  nation,  till  the  end  of  the 
present  war.  The  officers  and  employes  accepting  that  condition  will 
keep  their  arras  and  the  effects  belonging  to  them  personally. 

Article  3.  All  the  other  arms  and  the  army  material,  consisting  of 
flags,  eagles,  cannons,  horses,  war  ammunitions,  military  trains,  will  be 
surrendered  at  Sedan  by  a  military  commission  named  by  the  com¬ 
mander-in-chief,  to  be  given  at  once  to  the  German  commissary. 

Article  4.  The  town  of  Sedan  will  be  given  up  at  once,  in  its  present 
state,  and  not  later  than  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  September,  to  be  put 
at  the  disposal  of  the  King  of  Prussia. 

Article  5.  The  officers  who  will  not  undertake  the  engagement  men¬ 
tioned  in  Article  2,  and  the  troops  of  the  armies,  will  be  conducted  with 
their  regiments,  in  their  corps,  and  in  military  order. 

This  measure  will  commence  on  the  2d  of  September,  and  will  termi¬ 
nate  on  the  3d;  the  soldiers  will  be  brought  up  by  the  Meuse,  near 
D’Yzes,.and  put  in  the  hands  of  the  German  commissary  by  their 
officers,  who  will  then  give  their  commands  to  their  non-commissioned 
officers.  The  military  surgeons  will  remain,  without  exception,  at  the 
rear  to  take  care  of  the  wounded. 

(Signed,)  De  Wimpffen. 

Yon  Moltke. 

Immediately  upon  the  ratification  of  this  agreement,  Gen¬ 
eral  Von  Moltke  issued  the  following  order  for  carrying  out 
the  capitulation : 

Headquarters,  Frf.nois,  September  2,  1870. 

The  French  army  lying  in  and  about  Sedan  has  capitulated.  Officers 
will  be  liberated  on  their  word  of  honor;  the  under  officers  and  common 
soldiers  are  prisoners  of  war.  Arms  and  army  material  will  be  given  up. 

The  prisoners  of  war,  whose  number  is  not  yet  ascertained,  will  be 
assembled  in  the  bend  of  the  Meuse,  near  Villette  and  Iges,  and  after¬ 
ward  conducted  away  in  6clielons.  The  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Royal 
Bavarian  Army  Corps,  under  the  gener.al  command  of  General  Yon  der 
Tann,  are  appointed  to  the  first  guard.  The  supplying  of  the  prisoners, 
for  which,  according  to  the  promise  of  the  French  general  commanding, 
stores  are  to  be  brought  from  Mezi&res  to  near  Donchery  by  railroad, 
will  also  be  regulated  by  General  Von  der  Tann.  That  no  difficulty  in 
the  approach  of  trains  is  laid  in  the  way,  is  carefully  to  be  observed.  An 
infantry  regiment  from  the  Eleventh  Corps  will  be  placed  in  the  fortress 
as  garrison  to-morrow  after  Sedan  shall  have  been  evacuated. 

The  withdrawal  of  the  prisoners  in  two  lines  by  way  of  Stenay,  Etain, 
and  Gorze  to  Reinilly,  and  Buzancy,  Clermont,  and  St.  Mihiel  to  P#nt- 
it-Mousson,  will  be  conducted  by  the  army  under  his  Royal  Highness 
the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony  and  the  royal  commander-in-chief  of  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


253 


3d  army,  according  to  the  order  of  this  morning.  In  order  to  avoid 
every  doubt,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that  the  French  officers  captured  yes¬ 
terday  in  battle,  and  to-day  before  the  close  of  the  capitulation  at  11 
o’clock,  are  to  be  treated  in  accordance  with  the  rules  previously  in  force. 

Officers  and  officials  who  give  their  parole  must  themselves  prepare 
the  proper  notification.  Both  classes  must  report  as  soon  as  possible 
to  the  quartermaster-general  of  the  army.  The  horses  to  be  delivered 
on  the  part  of  the  French  army,  shall,  in  accordance  with  the  orders  of 
Ilis  Majesty  the  King,  be  distributed  for  the  benefit  of  all  the  active 
German  forces,  and  the  army  commanders  will  be  hearafter  informed 
upon  their  respective  quotas. 

The  clearing  up  of  the  battle-field  is  the  duty  of  the  General  of  Depot- 
Inspection  of  the  army  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Crown  Prince  of 
Saxony.  The  burial  of  the  dead  is  to  be  hastened  by  means  of  the  civil 
authorities.  Yon  Moltke. 

“The  bearing  of  General  De  Wimpffen,  as  well  as  that  of 
the  other  French  generals,  on  the  night  before,”  says  Count 
Bismarck,  in  describing  to  the  King  the  close  of  the  negotia¬ 
tions,  “  was  very  dignified  ;  and  this  brave  officer  could  not 
restrain  himself  from  expressing  to  me  his  deep  pain  that  he 
should  be  just  the  one  to  be  called,  forty-eight  hours  after  his 
arrival  from  Africa,  and  half  a  day  after  assuming  the  com¬ 
mand,  to  place  his  name  under  a  capitulation,  so  ominous  to 
French  arms ;  nevertheless,  the  lack  of  provisions  and  muni¬ 
tions,  and  the  absolute  impossibility  of  any  further  defence, 
laid  upon  him  the  duty,  as  a  general,  of  restraining  his 
personal  feelings,  since,  in  the  existing  situation,  a  further 
shedding  of  blood  could  alter  nothing.  The  acquiescence  in 
the  dismissal  of  the  officers  upon  their  word  of  honor  was 
recognized  with  great  thankfulness,  as  an  expression  of  your 
Majesty’s  intention  not  to  trample  upon  the  feelings  of  an 
army  which  had  fought  bravely,  beyond  the  line  which,  in 
view  of  our  political  and  military  interests,  was  necessarily 
drawn.  General  De  Wimpffen  has  also  subsequently  given 
expression  to  this  feeling,  in  a  letter  in  which  he  spoke  his 
thanks  to  General  Von  Moltke  for  the  considerate  forms  in 
which  the  negotiations  have  been  carried  on  from  his  side.” 

Meanwhile  the  Emperor  Napoleon  had  exerted  himself  to 
gain  better  terms  for  his  army.  At  daylight  on  the  morning 


254 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


of  the  2d  of  September,  he  left  Sedan,  in  his  carriage,  accom¬ 
panied  by  his  aides,  and  drove  into  the  German  lines.  Hasten¬ 
ing  to  Donchery,  he  drove  to  the  headquarters  of  Count  Yon 
Bismarck,  sending  forward  General  Reille  to  announce  his 
approach.  Reille  reached  the  Count’s  headquarters  at  six 
o’clock,  and  delivered  his  message,  and  the  Count  requested 
him  to  return  to  the  Emperor  and  inform  him  that  he  (Bis¬ 
marck)  would  immediately  hasten  to  meet  him.  Dressing 
hastily,  the  Count  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  after  General 
Reille.  About  half  way  between  Sedan  and  Donchery,  he 
met  the  Emperor  in  an  open  carriage,  with  three  general 
officers,  and  three  more  in  attendance  on  horseback.  “  Of  the 
latter,”  says  the  Count,  “Generals  Castelnau,  Reille,  Vaubert, 
and  Moskowa,  were  personally  known  to  me,  the  last  named 
appearing  to  be  wounded  in  the  foot.” 

Upon  reaching  the  carriage,  Bismarck  dismounted,  and 
removing  his  cap,  saluted  the  Emperor.  Napoleon  requested 
him  at  once  to  cover  his  head,  whereupon  the  Count  remarked 
with  respect,  “  Sire,  I  receive  your  Majesty  as  I  would  my 
own  royal  master.”  Then  approaching  the  side  of  the  carri¬ 
age  on  which  Napoleon  sat,  he  mounted  on  the  step,  and  de¬ 
sired  to  know  the  Emperor’s  wishes. 

The  Emperor  replied  that  he  wished  to  see  King  William, 
whom  he  supposed  to  be  in  Donchery,  and  was  informed  by 
Bismarck  that  the  King’s  headquarters  were  at  Yendresse, 
fifteen  miles  distant.  He  then  asked  if  the  King  had  fixed 
upon  a  place  to  which  he  should  go  at  once,  and  asked  the 
Count  what  he  should  do  in  the  matter.  The  Count  replied 
that  he  had  come  to  the  neighborhood  in  the  night,  and  was 
totally  ignorant  of  the  country,  but  that  he  would  place  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Emperor  the  house  which  he  had  himself 
occupied  in  Donchery  on  the  previous  night,  and  which  he 
would  instantly  vacate.  The  Emperor  accepted  his  offer,  and 
the  party  rode  slowly  towards  Donchery. 

Upon  reaching  a  point  near  the  bridge  over  the  Meuse  leading 
into  the  town,  the  Emperor  drew  up  in  front  of  a  laborer’s  house 
standing  by  itself,  and  asked  Count  Bismarck  to  descend  with 


The  Emperor  Napoleon  on  his  way  to  Bcllvue  Castle. 


256 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


him  there.  The  Count  first  caused  the  house  to  be  examined, 
and  finding  that  there  were  no  wounded  in  it,  and  that  it  was 
clean,  though  humble,  followed  the  Emperor  into  the  princi¬ 
pal  room,  in  which  were  a  table  and  two  chairs. 

“Here,”  says  the  Count,  in  his  report  to  the  King,  “I  had 
a  conversation  of  about  an  hour  with  the  Emperor.  His 
Majesty  expressed  chiefly  the  wish  to  obtain  more  favorable 
terms  of  capitulation  for  the  army.  I  declined  absolutely  to 
consider  this  project  with  His  Majesty,  as  this  purely  military 
question  was  to  be  settled  between  General  Von  Moltke  and 
General  De  Wimpffen.  In  return  I  asked  the  Emperor  if 
His  Majesty  was  inclined  to  negotiations  for  peace.  The  Em¬ 
peror  replied  that,  as  a  prisoner,  he  was  not  now  in  a  condi¬ 
tion  to  treat  for  peace;  and  to  my  further  question  to  whom, 
according  to  his  views,  the  Government  of  France  would  not 
revert,  His  Majesty  referred  me  to  the  existing  Govern¬ 
ment  in  Paris.  After  explanation  of  this  point,  which  was 
not  to  be  decided  with  certainty  from  yesterday’s  letter  of  the 
Emperor  to  your  Majesty,  I  perceived  that  the  situation  to¬ 
day,  as  yesterday,  offered  no  other  practical  question  than  the 
military  one;  nor  did  I  conceal  this  from  the  Emperer,  but 
expressed  the  necessity  which  resulted  therefrom  to  us  of  ob¬ 
taining  before  all  things,  by  the  capitulation,  a  substantial 
means  of  securing  the  military  results  which  we  had  won. 
I  had  already,  yesterday  evening,  weighed  the  question  in 
every  direction  with  General  Von  Moltke,  whether  it  would  be 
possible,  without  injury  to  German  interests,  to  offer  better 
terms  than  those  fixed  upon  to  the  members  of  an  army  that 
had  fought  well.  After  due  consideration,  we  were  both 
forced  to  hold  the  negative  of  this  question.  When,  there¬ 
fore,  General  Von  Moltke,  who  meanwhile  had  approached 
from  the  city  (Donchery),  went  to  your  Majesty  in  order  to 
lay  before  your  Majesty  the  wish  of  the  Emperor,  this  was 
done,  as  your  Majesty  knows,  not  with  the  purpose  of  sup¬ 
porting  the  same.” 

The  day  being  warm,  the  Emperor  then  went  out  into  the 
open  air  ;  Count  Bismarck  followed  him  with  the  chairs  from 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


257 


the  cottage,  and  they  seated  themselves  near  the  doorway. 
“  The  Emperor,”  says  an  eye  witness,  “wore  the  undress  uni¬ 
form  of  a  general,  but  with  one  decoration  on  his  breast,  and 
with  the  usual  kepi  of  the  French  service.  Count  Bismarck 
was  in  his  white  cuirassier  uniform  undress,  with  a  flat  cap 
and  long  boots.  If  you  picture  them  sitting  outside  the  small 
house,  with  the  staff  officers  present  lying  on  the  patch  of 
grass  not  far  off,  and  the  tall  poplar  trees  flanking  the  chaussue 
as  far  as  it  can  be  seen,  you  will  realize  this  striking  episode. 
Napoleon  looked  better  in  health  than  last  year,  but  anxious 
and  care  worn.” 

The  Emperor  now  asked  the  Count  if  it  were  not  possible 
to  allow  the  French  army  to  go  over  the  Belgian  frontier,  in 
order  to  have  it  disarmed  and  disposed  there  ;  “  but,”  says  the 
Count,  “  I  had  also  discussed  this  possibility  with  General 
Von  Moltke  the  evening  before,  and  quoting  the  motives  indi¬ 
cated  above,  I  declined  to  go  into  the  discussion  of  this  method. 
In  regard  to  the  political  situation,  I  took,  for  my  part,  no 
initiative,  and  the  Emperor  only  in  so  far  as  be  bewailed  the 
misfortunes  ot  the  war,  and  declared  that  he  himself  had  not 
desired  the  war,  but  had  been  forced  to  it  by  the  pressure  of 
public  opinion  in  France.” 

It  was  now  made  known  to  the  Count  by  the  officers  of 
the  staff,  who  had  been  sent  to  examine  it,  that  Bellvue  Castle, 
near  Frenois,  was  suited  to  the  reception  of  the  Emperor, 
and  that  there  were  no  wounded  there.  Count  Bismarck  at 
once  notified  the  Emperor  that  he  would  propose  this  castle 
to  the  King  as  the  most  fitting  place  for  the  interview  between 
the  sovereigns,  and  requested  the  Emperor  to  repair  thither 
at  once,  as  he  would  be  more  comfortable  there  than  in  the 
laborer’s  cottage.  The  Emperor  willingly  agreed  to  the  pro¬ 
posal,  and  was  escorted  by  the  Count  to  Bellvue  Castle,  the 
party  being  preceded  by  an  escort  of  honor  from  the  King  of 
Prussia’s  body-guard  of  cuirassiers,  and  to  that  place  the  car¬ 
riages  and  suite  of  the  Emperor  also  repaired. 

The  King  declined  to  see  the  Emperor  until  after  the  treaty 
was  signed.  This  act  was  performed  on  the  morning  of  the 
17 


258 


niSTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


2d,  and  was  reported  to  the  King  about  noon.  The  King  was 
standing  on  a  hill  near  Donclierv,  surrounded  by  his  staff  and 
the  principal  commanders  of  his  army,  when  a  copy  of  the 
terms  of  the  capitulation  was  brought  to  him.  At  the  royal 
command,  Adjutant-General  Treskow  read  it  aloud  to  the 
assembled  princes  and  officers.  When  the  reading  of  the 
memorable  document  was  ended,  the  King  turned  to  his  com¬ 
panions,  and  said : 

You  now  know,  gentlemen,  what  a  great  historical  event  has  taken 
place.  I  owe  this  to  the  distinguished  deeds  of  the  allied  armies,  to 
whom  I  feel  bound  on  this  occasion  to  express  my  kingly  thanks,  especi¬ 
ally  as  this  success  is  well  adapted  to  knit  more  firmly  the  chain  which 
unites  the  friends  of  the  North  German  Confederacy  and  my  other  allies, 
whose  princely  representatives  I  see  numerously  assembled  round  me  at 
this  moment.  We  may  hope,  therefore,  for  a  happy  future.  Our  task, 
however,  is  not  completed  with  what  has  happened  under  our  eyes,  for 
we  do  not  know  how  the  rest  of  France  will  accept  and  judge  it.  We 
must,  therefore,  remain  ready  for  blows  ;  but  I  already  give  my  thanks 
to  every  one  who  has  contributed  a  leaf  to  the  laurel  crown  of  fame  of 
our  fatherland. 

As  he  spoke  of  his  allies,  the  King  glanced  significantly  at 
Prince  Leopold  of  Bavaria  and  Prince  William  of  Wiirtem- 
berg,  to  whom  he  subsequently  gave  his  hand.  He  then 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  through  the  various  bivouacs  of 
the  army.  lie  was  engaged  in  this  inspection  for  several  hours, 
and  was  every  where  received  with  enthusiasm. 

About  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  King  reached  Bell- 
vue  Castle,  where  the  Emperor  awaited  him.  The  Emperor 
met  him  in  the  principal  room  of  the  mansion,  and  received 
him  with  grave  courtesy.  The  sovereigns  shook  hands,  and 
after  a  few  moments  conversation  withdrew  to  the  conserva¬ 
tory,  which  was  close  at  hand.  The  Crown  Prince,  who  had 
accompanied  his  father,  stepped  to  the  door,  and  closed  it.* 

*  Several  reports  of  the  conversation  between  the  sovereigns  have  been 
published.  The  following  is  the  version  given  by  the  London  Times: 

“King  William.  God  has  given  our  arms  victory  in  the  war  you  have  pre¬ 
cipitated. 

Emperor  Nap'oleon.  The  war  was  not  sought  by  me,  but  was  imposed  upon 
me  by  public  opinion. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


259 


In  a  short  while  the  sovereigns  returned,  and  the  King  and 
the  Prince  took  their  leave.  It  was  then  announced  that  the 
King  had  assigned  the  Emperor  the  Palace  or  Castle  of  Wil- 
helmshdhe,  in  Germany,  for  a  residence  during  his  captivity. 

The  King  was  greatly  moved  by  the  misfortunes  of  the 
Emperor,  and  his  bearing  towards  him  during  their  interview 
was  marked  by  the  profoundest  courtesy  and  consideration. 
The  Emperor  was  much  affected  by  the  King’s  conduct,  and 
feelingly  expressed  to  the  Crown  Prince  his  sense  of  the 
generous  manner  in  which  he  had  been  treated.  During  his 
captivity  he  has  been  treated  more  like  a  guest  than  a  pris¬ 
oner,  by  the  King.* 


King  (assenting  emphatically).  Your  ministers  created  that  opinion.  Your 
army,  however,  certainly  fought  bravely. 

Emperor.  But  the  Prussians  had  the  discipline  that  mine  has  recently 
lacked. 

King.  Before  and  since  1866  we  studied  carefully  the  experience  and  the 
invention  of  other  nations. 

Emperor.  Your  artillery  won  everything.  It  is  the  finest  in  the  world. 

King.  In  the  matter  of  artillery  particularly,  we  have  utilized  the  experi¬ 
ence  of  other  nations. 

Emperor.  Prince  Frederick  Charles  decided  the  event  of  the  last  battle,  his 
army  carrying  our  last  position. 

King.  You  err.  It  was  my  son  who  fought  at  Sedan. 

Emperor.  Where,  then,  was  Prince  Frederick  Charles? 

King.  His  army  corps  is  before  Metz. 

The  Emperor’s  self-possession  apparently  deserted  him  momentarily  on  re¬ 
ceiving  this  intelligence.  The  King  continued  : 

King.  Have  you  anything  to  propose? 

Emperor.  Nothing  whatever.  I  am  a  prisoner. 

King.  With  whom,  then,  have  I  to  treat  ? 

Emperor.  With  the  Empress.  With  the  Government  at  Paris.  I  am  pow¬ 
erless  ;  can  make  no  terms  ;  give  no  orders. 

King.  Will  Wilhelmshohe  suit  you  as  a  residence? 

Emperor.  Yes. 

The  conversation  was  continued  for  a  short  time,  the  King  expressing  con¬ 
dolence  for  the  Emperor's  misfortune.  He  at  length  withdrew  with  every 
mark  of  respect.” 

*  After  the  interview  the  King  sent  the  following  bulletin  to  the  Queen: 

“  What  a  thrilling  moment,  that  of  the  meeting  with  Napoleon  !  He  was 
bowed,  but  dignified  and  resigned.  I  have  given  him  Wilhelmshohe,  near 
Cassel,  for  a  residence.  Our  meeting  took  place  in  a  little  castle  before  the 


2C0 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


The  Emperor  was  given  the  choice  by  the  King  of  travel¬ 
ling  to  Wilhelmshohe  through  either  France,  Belgium,  or 
Germany.  He  chose  the  route  through  Belgium,  and  sent  a 
telegram  to  King  Leopold  requesting  to  be  allowed  to  make 
the  journey  through  his  kingdom.  After  consulting  with  the 
Great  Powers,  the  King  of  Belgium  accorded  the  desired 
permission,  and  appointed  Lieutenant-General  Baron  Chazal, 
the  commander  of  the  Belgian  army  on  the  frontier,  to  attend 
the  Imperial  captive  through  Belgium. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  September,  the  Emperor  and 
his  suite  drove  rapidly  out  of  Donchery,  in  the  Imperial 
carriages,  which  the  King  of  Prussia  had  allowed  him  to  re- 
tain.  He  was  very  pale,  and  his  face  was  firm-set,  but  with 
no  overwhelming  depression  upon  it.  He  scrupulously  re¬ 
turned  the  salutations  of  the  few  who  raised  their  hats  to 
him  as  he  passed  by.  His  journey  to  Wilhelmshohe  is  thus 
described  in  the  journals  of  the  day  : 

On  leaving  Sedan,  Napoleon’s  first  halt  was  at  the  Chateau  de  Burr, 
near  Bouillon,  the  headquarters  of  Lieutenant-General  Chazal.  Break¬ 
fast  was  offered  to  the  Emperor  at  the  Belgian  quarters,  where  his  pre¬ 
sence  excited  mournful  interest.  An  hour  afterwards  Napoleon  entered 
a  carriage  proceeding  towards  Libramont,  the  nearest  station  of  the 
Luxembourg  railway.  Lieutenant-General  Chazal,  followed  by  his  aide- 
de-camp,  M.  Sterx,  had  to  escort  the  Emperor  over  the  Belgian  terri¬ 
tory.  Thirty  mounted  Belgian  chasseurs  formed  the  escort  to  Libra¬ 
mont.  The  Imperial  cortege  arrived  at  this  station  at  about  1.45. 
There  they  had  to  wait  three-quarters  of  an  hour  for  the  plain  berlines 
of  the  Brussels  Court  which  were  to  convey  Napoleon  the  Third  and 
his  suite  to  the  Prussian  frontier.  At  a  quarter  to  three  o’clock  the 
special  train  left  Libramont,  stopping  for  a  few  minutes  at  Jumelle, 
whence  it  proceeded  by  the  Ourthe  line,  arriving  at  Liege  precisely  at  4 
o’clock  P.  M. 

The  Emperor  was  seated  with  his  aide-de-camp  on  a  fauteuil  of  green 
velvet  in  the  centre  compartment  of  the  State  berline.  He  wore  a  red 
kepi,  a  gray  cloak,  and  the  uniform  of  a  general  officer,  the  Cross  of  the 


western  glacis  of  Sedan.  From  there  I  rode  through  the  army  about  Sedan. 
You  can  imagine  the  reception  by  the  troops — indescribable  !  At  dusk— 7.30 
o'clock— I  had  finished  the  five  hours’  ride,  but  returned  here  only  at  1 
o’clock.  God  help  further  1  Wilhelm.” 


2C1 


A  Prussian  Officer  receiving  the  parole  of  French  Officers  included  in  the 
Capitulation  of  Sedan. 


262 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Legion  of  Honor  and  several  other  decorations.  He  had  expressed  a 
wish  to  read  some  newspapers,  and  he  was  supplied  with  several  num¬ 
bers  of  L'  Indip  endance,  L’Etoile,  and  La  Meuse.  The  time  for  the  ar¬ 
rival  of  the  imperial  cortege  at  Guillemins  had  been  kept  secret,  to  avoid 
a  large  concourse  of  spectators.  Only  about  a  hundred  witnessed  its 
entry  into  the  station.  After  a  stay  of  ten  minutes  the  train  went  on 
its  way.  Napoleon  several  times  saluting  those  who  came  near  his  car¬ 
riage.  The  imperial  train  was  to  be  followed  in  a  few  seconds  by  the 
train  carrying  the  Germans.  These  trains  took  the  same  route,  but 
what  very  different  thoughts  occupied  the  minds  of  the  travellers  they 
carried  ! 

On  leaving  the  train  at  Yerviers,  Napoleon  III.  entered  one  of  the 
shabby  fiacres  w'aiting  at  the  station,  and  was  surrounded  by  his  suite 
and  some  other  persons,  who,  on  seeing  the  Emperor,  raised  a  cry  of 
“  Vive  la  France  /”  Immediately  on  his  arrival  at  the  hotel  Napoleon 
asked  for  pens  and  paper,  and  commenced  writing.  An  immense  crowd 
quickly  gathered  under  the  windows  of  the  hotel  where  the  Emperor 
passed  the  night.  But  the  people  observed  a  quiet  demeanor. 

September  3, 1810. 

At  two  o'clock  to-day  the  Emperor  passed  through  Cologne  without 
stopping,  the  engines  having  been  changed  outside  the  city.  The  train 
consisted,  of  ten  cars.  It  left  Yerviers  this  morning  at  eleven  o’clock, 
and  Aix-la-Ohapelle  at  noon.  Another  long  train  with  the  Imperial 
household  had  preceded  it.  The  various  railway  stations  were  thronged 
with  people  who  were  curious  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  Emperor.  By 
order  of  King  William,  two  Chamberlains  of  the  Court  of  Prussia  are  in 
attendance  on  the  Emperor. 

Wilhelmshohe,  September  5. 

The  Imperial  train  reached  this  station  at  thirty-five  minutes  past 
nine  p.  si.,  where  the  garrison  officers,  General  Plonske  and  resident 
officials  of  the  province  had  assembled.  The  Emperor  on  alighting 
passed  to  Plonske’s  carriage,  saluting  the  officers  of  the  corps,  who  were 
drawn  up  with  presented  arms.  He  tvore  the  undress  uniform  of  a  gen¬ 
eral,  with  a  riding  cape  of  the  Garibaldian  pattern.  The  crowd  was 
silent,  respectful  and  sympathetic. 

Meanwhile  the  capitulation  was  being  carried  out  at  Sedan.* 
The  anger  and  mortification  of  the  French  were  extreme  ; 

*  General  De  Wimpffen  issued  the  following  order  to  his  troops,  announ¬ 
cing  the  true  state  of  affairs  : 

“  Sedan,  September  3,  1870. 

“  Soldiers  : — On  Thursday  you  fought  against  a  force  greatly  superior  in 
numbers,  from  daybreak  until  dark.  You  resisted  the  enemy  with  the  utmost 
bravery.  When  you  had  fired  your  last  cartridge,  were  worn  out  with  fight- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


2G3 


but  there  was  no  help  for  it.  Many  of  the  officers  refused  to 
give  their  paroles  and  went  into  captivity  with  their  men. 
The  majority,  however,  were  released  on  parole,  and  the  non¬ 
commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  collected  in  detach¬ 
ments,  and  sent  off  to  Germany  as  prisoners ’of  war,  under  a 
strong  guard.  A  correspondent,  writing  from  Sedan  cn  the 
3d  of  September,  says:  “  I  hear  that  the  same  angry  despair¬ 
ing  astonishment  at  what  has  happened,  makes  it  hard  to 
manage  the  eighty  thousand  prisoners,  or  more,  who  have 
been  taken  first  and  last  about  Sedan.  There  was  actual 
danger  of  bloodshed  this  morning  when  the  prisoners  began 
to  move  out  of  the  town.  Happily  the  officers  in  command 
showed  admirable  #tact  and  firmness.  The  French  kept  their 
old  authority  by  not  straining  the  cord  too  tight,  the  Germans 
by  not  showing  themselves  too  much  on  the  scene.  Thous¬ 
ands  of  men  have  been  coaxed  out  of  the  camp  to-day,  thous¬ 
ands  will  come  out  to-morrow.  Sedan  is  presenting  the 

ing,  and  not  being  able  to  respond  to  the  call  of  generals  and  officers  to  at¬ 
tempt  to  rejoin  Marshal  Bazaine  on  the  road  to  Montmedy,  you  were  forced 
to  retreat  on  Sedan.  In  this  desperate  effort  but  2000  men  could  be  got  to¬ 
gether,  and  your  General  deemed  the  attempt  utterly  hopeless  and  impracti¬ 
cable.  Your  General  found,  with  deep  regret,  when  the  army  was  reunited 
within  the  walls  of  the  town,  that  it  had  supplies  neither  of  food  nor  ammu¬ 
nition  ;  could  neither  leave  the  place  nor  defend  it,  means  of  existence  being 
alike  wanting  for  the  population.  I  was  therefore  reduced  to  the  sad  alter¬ 
native  of  treating  with  the  enemy.  I  sent,  yesterday,  to  the  Prussian  head¬ 
quarters,  with  full  powers  from  the  Emperor,  but  could  not  at  first  bring 
myself  to  accept  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  enemy.  This  morning, 
however,  menaced  by  a  bombardment  to  which  we  could  not  reply,  I  decided 
to  make  a  fresh  attempt  to  get  honorable  terms.  I  have  obtained  conditions 
by  which  we  are  saved  much  of  the  possible  annoying  and  insulting  formali¬ 
ties  which  the  usages  of  war  generally  impose. 

“  Under  the  circumstances  in  which  we  find  ourselves,  it  only  remains  for 
us,  officers  and  soldiers,  to  accept  with  resignation  the  consequences  of  this 
surrender.  We  have  at  least  the  consolation  of  knowing  a  useless  massacre 
has  been  avoided,  and  we  yield  only  under  circumstances  against  which  no 
army  could  fight,  namely,  want  of  food  and  ammunition.  Now,  soldiers,  in 
conclusion,  let  me  say,  that  you  are  still  able  to  render  brilliant  services  to 
your  country,  without  being  needlessly  slaughtered. 

“  De  Wimpffen, 

“  General  Commanding.in-Chief.’ 


264 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


wildest  scene  of  confusion  which  you  can  imagine.  Narrow 
streets  deep  in  mud — for  we  have  had  heavy  rain  to-da}r — the 
soldiers  half-drunk  with  the  stores  of  liquor,  the  houses  half- 
burnt,  and  dead  bodies  lying  everywhere . 

“  The  evacuation  of  the  town  has  gone  on  in  earnest  to-day. 
Already  there  is  a  great  camp  on  the  peninsula  within  the 
bend  of  the  Meuse.  The  prisoners  taken  in  the  battle  have 
gone  away  in  strong  detachments,  guarded  by  German  troops, 
and  those  who  were  upon  the  rainy,  muddy  road  to  the  rear 
last  night,  as  was  the  present  writer,  saw  columns  of  French¬ 
men  tramping  briskly  along,  with  the  German  escort  march¬ 
ing  by  their  side  in  the  worst  of  humors  at  being  so  employed, 
and  with  blankets  muffled  over  the  men’s  heads  to  keep  off 
the  rain.  Well  might  the  villagers  stare  at  so  novel  a  sight 
— their  own  countrymen  blocking  the  way,  but  blocking  it 
as  prisoners — their  own  uniform  dragged  to  prison,  as  if  it 
were  a  capital  crime  to  be  a  Frenchman.  The  poor  folks 
seemed  chiefly  anxious  to  avoid  further  loss,  and  chiefly  sus¬ 
picious  of  soldiers  of  any  kind.  But  it  was  clear  that  amid 
all  their  terror  and  all  their  fear  of  downright  starvation, 
they  had  a  warm  corner  in  their  hearts  for  the  lads  of  their 
own  language  and  nation.” 

By  the  surrender  of  Sedan,  the  whole  of  MacMahon’s  army 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Prussians.  A  number  of  prisoners 
had  been  taken  during  the  battle,  and  the  losses  on  both  sides 
were  heavy  in  killed  and  wounded.  By  the  surrender  the 
Germans  made  prisoners  of  the  following  troops  : 

First  Corps . 32,400 

Fifth  Corps . 11,106 

Seventh  Corps . 15,618 

Twelfth  Corps  . .• .  25,309 

Total . 84.433 

Of  these  4000  were  officers,  and  14,000  were  wounded. 
About  3000  French  soldiers  and  officers  succeeded  in  escaping 
through  the  Prussian  lines,  and  in  making  their  way  across 
the  frontier  into  Belgium,  where  they  were  arrested  and  im¬ 
prisoned  by  the  Belgian  authorities.  The  Prussians  took 


265 


French  Prisoners  of  War  on  the  March,  at  Night,  after  the  Battle  of  Sedan. 


2GG 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  MAR 


25,000  prisoners  at  Beaumont  and  Sedan.  More  than  400 
field-pieces,  70  mitrailleuses,  150  fortress  guns,  10,000  horses, 
and  an  enormous  amount  of  war  materials  were  also  surren 
dered  by  the  French. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Generals  who  were  included 
in  the  capitulation : 

First  Army  Corps  : — Gen.  Ducrot,*  commander  of  Corps ;  Brig-Gen. 
Joly  Frigola,  commanding  artillery;  Gen.  Pelle,  commanding  Second 
Division  ;  Gen.  L’Heviller,  commanding  Third  Division ;  Gen.  Lartig- 
nes,  commanding  Fourth  Division  ;  Gen.  Michel  (now  dead),  command¬ 
ing  cavalry;  Brig.-Gen.  De  Montmarie,  First  Brigade  ;  Brig.-Gen.  Gran- 
dil,  Second  Brigade;  and  Brig.-Gens.  L6ffevre,  Paterettre-Court,  Fra- 
boulet  de  Kerleadec,  De  Belle  Mare,  and  Leforestier  de  Yaudceuvre, 
commanding  cavalry  brigade. 

Fifth  Army  Corps  : — Division-Gen.  Goze  ;  Gen.De  TAbadie  d’Agdrin, 
commanding  Second  Division ;  Brig.-Gen.  Abbatncci,  commanding 
Second  Division ;  De  Mauziferes,  Chief  of  Staff  ;  Brig.-Gens.  Saurin  and 
Baron  Nicolas-Nicolas. 

Seventh  Corps : — Division  Gen.  Felix  Douay,  commanding  Corps  ; 
Gen.  Renson,  Chief  of  Staff;  Gen.  Louis  Doutrelaine ;  Brig.-Gen.  De 
St.  Hilaire,  commanding  First  Division ;  Gen.  Lieberd,  commanding 
Second  Division  ;  Gen.  Brodas,  commanding  Third  Division ;  Division- 
Gen.  Baron  Ameil,  commanding  cavalry,  and  Brig.-Gens.  De  la  Bastide 
and  De  Liegard. 

Twelfth  Corps  :■ — Gen.  Lebrun,  commanding  Corps  ;  Brig.-Gens.  Gres- 
ley,  Chief  of  Staff ;  Gen.  Grandchamp,  commanding  First  Division; 
Gen.  Lacretelle,  Second  Division;  Gen.  De  Yassoigne,  Third  Division; 
Gen.  D’Ouvrier  de  Villegly,  commanding  artillery ;  Division-Gen.  Bu- 
cape  ;  Brig.-Gens.  Cambriels,  Marquiseau,  Reboul,  Cadart,  Labaske,  and 
Bertrand.  Gen.  Wiinpffen,  with  his  Staff,  is  not  included,  because  he 
was  accorded  the  privilege  to  leave  before  the  surrender  was  consumma¬ 
ted  ;  and  Marshal  MacMahon  is  not  mentioned,  because  he,  when  the 
capitulation  took  place,  lay  wounded  in  a  village  near  Sedan. 

The  capitulation  of  Sedan  was  the  most  important  event  of 
its  kind  in  history.  An  Emperor  of  France,  and  an  army  of 
over  80,000  men  were  made  prisoners.  It  was  indeed  a  great 
victory  for  Germany.  It  not  only  secured  the  German 
States  absolute  immunity  from  French  interference  for  many 

*  General  Ducrot  refused  to  sign  Ills  parole,  and  made  bis  escape  from  Se¬ 
dan  during  the  3d,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  Paris. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


2G7 


years  to  come,  but  it  made  certain  the  union  of  those  States 
in  one  great  Empire.  It  was  hailed  with  rejoicings  in  all 
parts  of  Germany.  Every  city,  town,  and  village  was  ablaze 
with  patriotic  excitement,  and  even  the  mourning  for  the 
brave  fellows  who  had  paid  for  the  accomplishment  with 
their  lives,  was  suspended  for  awhile  in  the  presence  of  the 
grandest  triumph  German  valor  had  ever  won. 


Prince  Frederick  Charles. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


268 


CHAPTER  VII. 


MATTERS  IN  PARIS — CITY  BECOMES  CALMER— EFFORTS  OF  THE  OPPOSITION 
TO  EMBARRASS  THE  GOVERNMENT  — DEMAND  FOR  ARMS — THREATS  OF 
TnE  LEFT— A  CHANGE  OF  MINISTRY — THE  NEW  MINISTERS — STORMY 
SCENES  IN  THE  CORPS  LEGISLATIF — M.  THIERS  DECLARES  THE  EMPIRE 
DEAD — ENERGETIC  EFFORTS  OF  THE  NEW  MINISTERS — THE  CITY  BE¬ 
COMES  MORE  EXCITED — OMINOUS  SIGNS —EXPULSION  OF  THE  GERMANS 
FROM  FRANCE — SUCCESS  OF  THE  FINANCIAL  POLICY  OF  THE  GOVERN¬ 
MENT-RED  REPUBLICAN  DEMONSTRATIONS  IN  PARIS— THE  RIOT  AT  LA 
VILLETTE  —  GENERAL  TROCnU  APPOINTED  GOVERNOR  OF  PARIS— FOR¬ 
MATION  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  DEFENCE — CRITICAL  STATE  OF  AFFAIRS 
— TIMOROUS  AND  DECEPTIVE  POLICY  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT — UNTRUTH¬ 
FUL  STATEMENTS  OF  THE  MINISTER  OF  WAR  — THE  NATIONAL  GUARD  OF 
PARIS  ORGANIZED  AND  ARMED — ANXIETY  TO  HEAR  FROM  MACMAHON — 
TnE  NEWS  FROM  SEDAN — PALIKAO’S  STATEMENT  TO  THE  CHAMBER — 
MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  OPPOSITION — PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  MINISTERS — 
EXCITEMENT  IN  THE  CITY — THE  MIDNIGHT  SESSION  OF  THE  CHAMBER — 
FALIKAO  TELLS  THE  TRUTH— JULES  FAVRE  PROPOSES  THE  DECHEANCE — 
PARIS  ON  THE  4tH  OF  SEPTEMBER — THE  REVOLUTION  BEGUN— SCENES 
IN  THE  CITY — A  PEACEFUL  REVOLUTION — LAST  MEETING  OF  THE  SEN¬ 
ATE — THE  MOB  OCCUPY  THE  PLACE  DE  LA  CONCORDE — THE  NATIONAL 
GUARD  PASS  THE  RIVER  AND  REACT  TnE  HALL  OF  THE  CORPS  LEGIS¬ 
LATIF— TnE  HALL  INVADED  BY  THE  MOB — EFFORTS  OF  TnE  DEPUTIES 
OF  THE  LEFT  TO  CALM  THE  PEOPLE — LAST  MEETING  OF  TnE  CORPS 
LEGISLATIF— THE  THREE  PROPOSITIONS — THE  HALL  INVADED  BY  THE 
“SOVEREIGN  PEOPLE” — THE  SITTING  BROKEN  UP— GAMBETTA  PRO¬ 
CLAIMS  THE  OVERTHROW  OF  THE  EMPIRE — “  TO  THE  HOTEL  DE  VILLE  ” 
— FORMATION  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  GOVERNMENT — CHARACTERISTIC 
SCENES— LAST  MEETING  OF  TnE  DEPUTIES — THEY  ARE  TOO  LATE — THE 
“SOVEREIGN  PEOPLE”  FORCE  THE  GATES  OF  THE  TUILERIES,  AND 
OCCUPY  THEIR  PALACE — SCENES  IN  THE  TUI LEIERS — THE  EMPRESS 
ALONE — TIER  DISPATCT  TO  HER  MOTHER — HER  APPEAL  TO  PALIKAO — 
HIS  PROMISE— PALIKAO  BREAKS  HIS  WORD— FLIGHT  OF  THE  COURTIERS 
— TnE  THREE  HEROINES — ARRIVAL  OF  M.  LESSEPS  AT  THE  TUILERIES — 
FLIGHT  OF  TnE  EMPRESS — HER  DEPARTURE  FROM  PARIS — ARRIVAL  OF 
THE  FUGITIVES  AT  DEAUVILLE — DE  LESSEPS  FINDS  A  FRIEND — THE 
FUGITIVES  LEAVE  FRANCE — ARRIVAL  OF  ’  THE  EMPRESS  IN  ENGLAND — 
DEPUTY  GAMBETTA’S  PROCLAMATIONS— THE  “  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE 
NATIONAL  DEFENCE  ”  —  JULES  FAVRE’S  FOREIGN  CIRCULAR — BISMARCK’S 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


269 


REPLY — RED  REPUBLICAN  DISTURBANCES  IN  LYONS  AND  MARSEILLES  — 
1IOW  TnE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED  ITS  AUTHORITY 
THROUGHOUT  THE  COUNTRY — CLAIMS  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  EXAMINED 
— THE  UNITED  STATES  RECOGNIZES  TnE  REPUBLIC— ELECTIONS  ORDERED 
— THE  ORDER  RESCINDED  — DIVISION  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT — THREE  MEM¬ 
BERS  SENT  TO  TOURS — DEPARTURE  OF  TnE  DIPLOMATIC  CORPS  FOR 
TOURS — INTERVIEW  BETWEEN  JULES  FAVRE  AND  BISMARCK — FAILURE 
OF  THE  NEGOTIATIONS — FAVRE’s  VERSION  OF  TnE  INTERVIEW— BIS¬ 
MARCK’S  DENIAL — PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT — BISMARCK’S 
COMMENTS — GENERAL  BURNSIDE’S  NEGOTIATIONS  — M.  THIERS,  DIPLO¬ 
MATIC  TOUR — ITS  FAILURE — HIS  RETURN  TO  TOURS. 


^E  must  now  return  to  Paris,  which  we  left  profoundly 
agitated  over  the  news  of  the  disasters  of  the  6th  of 
August.  The  city  became  calmer  after  the  extent 
of  the  reverses  was  fully  known,  for  it  was  hoped 
that  Bazaine  would  be  able  to  hold  the  Germans  in 
check  until  MacMahon  could  organize  a  new  army  at  Chalons. 

The  excitement  in  the  Corps  Legislatif,  however,  con¬ 
tinued  to  increase.  On  the  9th  of  August  a  resolution  was 
offered  in  that  body  by  Deputy  Clement  Duvernois,  declar¬ 
ing  that  the  ministry  did  not  possess  the  confidence  of  the 
nation  or  Chamber.  It  was  adopted  by  a  large  majority, 
notwithstanding  M.  Ollivier’s  request  to  suspend  the  sitting 
for  awhile.  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  session  was 
resumed.  M.  Jules  Favre  demanded  the  immediate  and  com¬ 
plete  armament  of  the  National  Guard  in  Paris  and  the  de¬ 
partments  on  the  basis  of  the  law  of  1831 ;  and  after  denounc¬ 
ing  the  General-in-Chief  as  responsible  for  the  reverses  of  the 
campaign,  by  reason  of  his  utter  incapacity,  demanded  that 
the  Emperor  should  relinquish  the  command,  and  that  the 
direction  of  affairs  should  be  vested  in  the  Legislative  Body. 
His  remarks  were  greeted  with  applause  by  the  members  of 
the  Left  or  Opposition,  but  with  emphatic  protest  from  the 
Right,  or  supporters  of  the  Government,  one  of  whom,  Gra- 
nier  de  Cassagnac  declared  that  such  a  motion  was  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  Revolution.  In  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  M.  Picard 
declared  that  if  arms  were  refused  to  the  people  of  Paris,  they 
would  procure  them  by  all  possible  means.  He  demanded  a 


270 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


change  of  ministry.  Count  Keratry  followed  him, demanding 
the  abdication  of  the  Emperor,  but  was  called  to  order.  The 
President  immediately  closed  the  session. 

The  hall  of  the  Corps  Legislatif  during  this  sitting  was 
surrounded  with  a  vast  and  anxious  crowd,  and  it  was  neces¬ 
sary  to  keep  the  approaches  clear  by  armed  guards. 

That  night  an  order  was  received  by  the  Government  from 
the  Emperor  to  yield  to  the  popular  wish,  and  form  a  new 
Ministry.  The  next  day,  the  10th,  the  names  of  the  new  Min¬ 
isters  were  announced  to  the  Chamber  by  Count  De  Palikao, 
who  succeeded  M.  Ollivier  as  Premier.  They  were  as  follows : 

General  Cousin-Montauban  (Count  De  Palikao).  Minister  of  War. 

M.  Chevreau,  Minister  of  the  Interior. 

M.  Magne,  Minister  of  Finance. 

M.  Clement-Duvernois,  Minister  of  Commerce  and  Agricidture. 

Admiral  Eigault  de  Genouilly,  Minister  of  Marine. 

Baron  Jerome  David,  Minister  of  Public  Works. 

Prince  De  la  Tour  d’Auvergne,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 

M.  Grandperret,  Minister  of  Justice. 

M.  Jules  Brame,  Minister  of  Public  Instruction. 

M.  Busson-Billault,  President  of  the  Council  of  State. 

The  session  of  the  10th  of  August  was  a  stormy  one.  The 
only  thing  of  real  practical  importance  that  was  done,  was  the 
adoption  by  the  Chamber  of  Count  Keratry’s  project  for  call¬ 
ing  under  arms  all  unmarried  men  of  the  classes  of  1859  to 
1864  inclusive,  which  call  was  also  extended  to  all  unmarried 
men  between  the  ages  of  twenty-five  and  thirty-five,  not 
already  enrolled  in  the  Garde  Mobile. 

The  new  Ministry  did  not  command  the  confidence  of  the 
Chamber,  though  the  appointments  were  received  without 
objection.  It  was  evident  that  the  choice  of  these  men  was  a 
mere  expedient  to  gain  time. 

M.  Thiers  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  debate  in  the  Corps 
Legislatif  on  the  state  of  the  country.  He  said:  “  The  Em¬ 
pire  is  henceforth  out  of  the  question.  There  can  be  no  Em¬ 
pire  without  an  Emperor.  The  Eepublic  is  inevitable.” 
Jules  Favre  proposed  that  the  Chambers  should  assume 
full  power  to  save  the  country,  declaring  that  since  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


271 


incapacity  of  the  Emperor  to  command  the  army  had  been 
too  conclusively  proved,  he  should  be  recalled.  This  brought 
on  a  storm  of  excitement  and  confusion.  The  President  de¬ 
clared  M.  Favre’s  proposition  unconstitutional.  In  the  midst 
of  the  uproar,  Count  Keratry  proposed  that  “  the  Chamber 
should  treat  Napoleon  III.  as  a  Chamber  treated  Napoleon  I. 
in  1815.”  The  excitement  now  became  so  intense  that  the 
Government  and  Opposition  deputies,  in  one  or  two  instances, 
actually  came  to  blows. 

The  new  Ministry  began  its  career  by  a  commendable  dis¬ 
play  of  energy.  Reinforcements  were  hurried  to  MacMahon 
at  Chalons ;  the  new  levies  were  brought  forward  as  rapidly 
as  possible,  and  efforts  were  made  to  provide  supplies  and 
equipments  with  promptness  to  the  troops  already  in  the 
field.  The  Minister  of  the  Interior,  on  the  11th,  addressed 
a  communication  to  the  Prefects  of  communes  through¬ 
out  the  Empire,  urging  them  to  organize  corps  of  free  soldiers, 
who  were  to  receive  one  franc  per  day.  These  bands  after¬ 
wards  became  famous  as  the  Francs-Tireurs.  Efforts  were 
made  to  place  the  city  of  Paris  in  a  state  of  defence.  On  the 
24th  of  August,  all  the  old  soldiers,  married  or  unmarried,  in 
the  Empire,  between  the  ages  of  twenty-five  and  thirty-five, 
were  called  out,  to  the  number  of  300,000  men.  Officers 
under  sixty  years  of  age,  and  generals  capable  of  service 
under  seventy,  were  ordered  to  report  for  duty.  It  was  hoped 
by  this  measure  to  be  able  to  put  in  the  field  a  body  of  vet¬ 
eran  troops  in  a  short  time.  On  the  26th  measures  were 
taken  to  render  the  conscription  more  vigorous  and  effective. 

Meanwhile  the  excitement  in  Paris  grew  more  intense.  The 
opponents  of  the  Empire  became  bolder  every  day,  and 
their  numbers  were  augmented  daily  by  accessions  from  all 
classes  of  the  people  of  Paris,  even  from  those  who  had  been 
staunch  Imperialists  when  the  Emperor  had  favors  to  bestow. 
It  became  well  understood  in  Paris,  and  in  some  of  the  large 
cities,  that  the  Empire  was  on  its  last  trial.  The  people  seemed 
entirely  to  forget  that  they  had  done  their  best  to  make  war 
inevitable,  and  to  hurry  the  Government  on  to  open  hostili- 


272 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LITE  WAR 


ties,  and  denounced  the  Emperor  as  the  author  of  all  their 
woes.  Still,  while  they  blamed  the  Emperor,  there  was  no 
voice  raised  for  peace.  The  whole  of  France  demanded  the 
prosecution  of  the  struggle  to  the  bitter  end.  The  Republican 
Deputies  and  their  allies,  were  quick  to  perceive  the  popu¬ 
larity  of  the  war,  and  adroitly  changed  their  programme. 
They  no  longer  assailed  the  Emperor  for  making  war,  but 
confined  their  attacks  to  the  errors  and  shortcomings  of  the 
Government  in  the  conduct  of  the  campaign. 

In  Paris  and  other  large  cities  of  France,  there  were  many 
German  residents.  At  an  early  period  of  the  war,  it  was  pro¬ 
posed  to  expel  these  from  France,  but  the  measure  was  not 
carried  into  effect  until  about  the  last  of  August,  when  they 
were  formally  sent  out  of  the  Empire.  Four  hundred  families 
were  expelled  from  Paris  alone.  In  consequence  of  their  en¬ 
forced  departure  they  suffered  much  loss  and  many  hardships. 
Their  expulsion  was  an  act  of  unnecessary  cruelty  on  the  part 
of  the  French  Government.  Up  to  this  time,  they  had  been 
confided  by  the  German  States  to  the  protection  of  the  Min¬ 
ister  from  the  United  States  of  America,  who  had  discharged 
his  difficult  task  with  a  humane  zeal  which  did  honor  to  his 
high  position. 

Meanwhile  the  financial  measures  of  the  Government  were 
crowned  with  success.  On  the  13th  of  August,  the  Minister 
of  Finance  introduced  a  bill  into  the  Chamber  to  enable  the 
Bank  of  France  to  increase  its  issue  of  notes  to  2,400,000,000 
francs,  which  measure  was  subsequently  adopted  by  a  unani¬ 
mous  vote.  The  war  credits  were  also  increased  from  500,- 
000,000  francs  to  1,000,000,000  francs.  On  the  23d,  the  first 
war  loan,  amounting  to  750,000,000  francs,  was  opened  at  the 
Hotel  de  Ville,  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  the  various 
Mairies,  and  other  public  offices  in  Paris.  Before  five  o’clock, 
620,000,000  francs  were  subscribed,  and  the  next  morning  the 
papers  announced  the  loan  at  2  premium.  The  next  day,  the 
remainder  was  promptly  subscribed.  The  majority  of  the 
subscribers  belonged  to  the  working  classes — a  striking  proof 
of  the  popularity  of  the  war  and  of  the  determination  of  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


273 


people  to  carry  it  through  to  the  end.  Money  was  abundant, 
as,  indeed,  were  recruits — but  the  great  need  of  France  was  a 
disciplined  army. 

There  were  omnious  signs  of  approaching  trouble.  The 
Red  Republican  element  became  more  daring  in  proportion 
as  it  was  seen  that  the  Government  was  afraid  to  adopt  re¬ 
pressive  measures.  The  police  were  constantly  receiving 
proofs  of  the  determination  of  the  Reds  to  give  trouble.  On 
the  14th  of  August,  a  band  of  nearly  100  men,  armed  with 
revolvers  and  daggers,  made  an  attack  upon  a  barracks  be¬ 
longing  to  the  fire  brigade  at  La  Villette,  one  of  the  northern 
suburbs  of  Paris;  the  building  was  in  charge  of  a  lieutenant 
and  about  a  dozen  privates,  two  of  whom  were  badly  wounded 
before  aid  could  be  received.  The  police  dispersed  the  mob, 
losing  three  of  their  own  men,  and  made  a  number  of  captures. 
The  rioters  made  their  attack  with  cries  of  “  Vive  la  Repub- 
ilque .”  Many  citizens  joined  the  police  in  their  efforts  to  put 
down  the  disturbance.  The  next  day  an  attack  was  made 
upon  some  sentinels  of  the  National  Guard,  but  was  quickly 
repulsed. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  as  has  been  seen,  the  Emperor  ap¬ 
pointed  General  Trochu  Governor  of  Paris  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  forces  assembled  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital. 
On  the  19th,  the  Government,  driven  to  the  measure  by  the 
attacks  of  the  Opposition,  consented  to  the  formation  of  a 
Committee  of  Defence,  with  the  most  ample  powers  for  con¬ 
ducting  the  military  operations.  It  consisted  of  General 
Trochu,  as  President,  Marshal  Yaillant,  Admiral  Rigault  de 
Genouilly,  Baron  Jerome  David,  General  De  la  Tour,  General 
Guiod,  General  D’Autemarre  d’Erville,  and  General  Tou- 
inain.  M.  Thiers  was  afterwards  added  to  this  committee. 
An  effort  was  made  to  add  to  the  committee  certain  deputies 
elected  by  the  Chamber,  but  Count  De  Palikao  resisted  the 
movement,  which  was  defeated,  but  he  at  length  so  far 
yielded  to  the  evident  wish  of  the  committee  as  to  declare 
that  he  would  name  three  deputies  as  members. 

This  was  the  state  of  affairs  at  this  critical  period.  Mac- 
18 


274 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Mahon  was  endeavoring  to  form  a  new  army  at  Chalons. 
Bazaine  was  straggling  in  the  vain  attempt  to  escape  from 
Metz ;  Paris  was  excited  so  deeply  that  it  needed  but  little  to 
produce  an  uproar;  the  deputies  were  wrangling  in  the 
Chamber  ;  and  the  Government  was  afraid  to  let  the  real  con¬ 
dition  of  affairs  at  Metz  be  known;  concealed  arms  and  ammu¬ 
nition  had  been  discovered  in  Paris  ;  and  Republican  demon¬ 
strations  had  taken  place  at  Toulouse,  Marseilles,  Limoges 
and  Lyons. 

The  Government  was  promptly  and  accurately  informed  of 
the  progress  of  affairs  at  Metz,  but  it  rigidly  withheld  the 
news  from  the  people,  not  daring  to  make  it  public.  In  the 
Chamber,  the  Opposition  questioned  the  Ministers  of  War 
upon  every  possible  occasion,  but  Count  Palikao  either  re¬ 
plied  that  the  news  was  favorable,  or  that  the  Government 
was  not  in  receipt  of  dispatches  from  the  army.  On  the  16th 
of  August — the  day  of  the  battle  of  Vionville — he  declared 
in  the  Chamber  that  the  Prussians  had  been  obliged  to 
abandon  their  effort  to  disturb  the  retreat  of  the  French  army. 
On  the  19th,  the  day  after  Gravelotte,  he  informed  the 
Chamber  that  Bazaine  had  been  successful  in  his  move¬ 
ments,  that  the  Prussian  centre  had  been  badly  crippled, 
and  had  failed  in  its  efforts  to  form  a  junction  with  the 
Crown  Prince.  His  statement  was  received  by  the  Chamber 
with  cheers.  He  added  that  the  famous  regiment  of  white 
cuirassiers,  of  which  Count  Yon  Bismarck  was  the  colonel, 
had  been  entirely  destroyed.  “Not  a  single  one  remains.” 
On  the  20th,  he  stated  that  the  Prussian  claim  to  a  victory 
(at  Gravelotte)  on  the  18th,  was  not  true.  He  said:  “The 
Prussians  assert  that  they  were  victorious  on  the  18th.  I 
affirm  the  contrary.  I  have  communicated  a  dispatch  to 
several  of  the  deputies,  showing  that  three  Prussian  army 
corps  united  and  attacked  Marshal  Bazaine.  They  were  re¬ 
pulsed  and  driven  into  the  quarries  of  Jaumont.  My  reserve 
about  this  dispatch  will  be  understood.  I  need  not  mention 
the  small  advantage  gained  at  Bar-le-Duc.  We  are  now 
actively  completing  the  fortifications  of  Paris.  In  a  few 


Palace  of  the  Corps  L6gislatif :  showing  the  Pont  de  la  Concorde. 


276 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


days  all  will  be  assured.”  The  statement  of  the  Minister 
produced  the  greatest  joy  in  Paris;  but  after  a  lapse  of 
twenty-four  hours,  no  confirmation  of  it  appearing,  the  people 
began  to  regard  it  as  false,  and  their  joy  was  succeeded  by  a 
profound  despondency.  Again,  on  the  22d,  one  of  the  Min¬ 
isters  asserted  that  Bazaine  had  telegraphed  the  Government 
that  he  had  maintained  every  part  of  his  line  in  the  battle  of 
the  18th.  The  suspicions  of  the  people  were  aroused,  how¬ 
ever,  and  the  feeling  of  uneasiness  in  Paris  increased.  The 
Government  exerted  itself  to  keep  the  real  state  of  affairs 
secret  until  MacMahon  could  go  to  Bazaine’s  assistance. 
Then,  they  hoped,  amidst  the  rejoicings  over  a  brilliant  suc¬ 
cess,  they  could  confess  and  would  be  pardoned  their  decep¬ 
tion.  We  have  seen  upon  what  a  flimsy  foundation  their 
hopes  rested,  and  how  their  lack  of  moral  courage  and  com¬ 
mon  sense  cost  the  country  MacMahon’s  army.  By  degrees, 
however,  the  truth  leaked  out,  and  the  country  came  at  last 
to  know  that  the  great  Army  of  the  Rhine  was  locked  up  in 
Metz.  Before  the  shock  occasioned  by  this  discovery  was 
fairly  over,  the  tidings  of  the  fall  of  Sedan  broke  upon  the 
people  with  terrible  force. 

In  the  meantime,  however,  the  Government  had  begun  to 
arm  the  people,  and  to  organize  the  National  Guard  of  Paris. 
This  had  been  one  of  the  first  cares  of  General  Trochu,  upon 
taking  command  at  Paris.  Count  Palikao  was  obliged,  much 
against  his  will,  to  lend  an  energetic  assistance  to  General 
Trochu  in  these  measures,  and  such  progress  was  made  in  the 
Capital  that  on  the  20th  of  August,  the  Minister  of  the  Inte¬ 
rior  was  able  to  inform  the  Chamber  that  the  National  Guard 
of  Paris  already  consisted  of  51,000  men,  armed  and  equipped, 
and  would  soon  number  80,000.  Orders  were  issued  to  the 
proper  officials  throughout  France  to  distribute  the  arms  from 
the  arsenals  to  the  people,  and  to  spare  no  effort  to  put  their 
communities  in  a  state  of  defence. 

As  it  beoarne  known  that  the  Government  was  keeping 
back  the  news  from  the  army,  the  opposition  deputies  in¬ 
creased  their  attacks  in  the  Chamber.  The  Ministry,  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


277 


the  hope  of  obtaining  a  respite  from  them,  implored  the  depu¬ 
ties  to  be  patient.  The  situation  of  affairs  at  the  front,  they 
said,  demanded  absolute  silence  on  the  part  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment  for  a  few  days.  They  had  good  reason,  they  intimated, 
to  believe  that  matters  were  progressing  favorably,  and  that 
the  country  would  soon  be  gratified  with  a  substantial  suc¬ 
cess.  Meanwhile,  the  Government,  with  fatal  blindness,  hur¬ 
ried  MacMahon’s  army  onward  to  its  doom. 

As  the  advance  of  MacMahon  became  known  in  Paris,  the 
greatest  anxiety  was  manifested  to  obtain  news  of  his  pro¬ 
gress;  but  still  the  Government  maintained  its  ominous 
silence.  It  was  broken  for  the  first  time  on  the  2d  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  by  Count  Palikao,  who,  in  reply  to  a  demand  for  in¬ 
formation,  said,  that  from  unofficial  news  he  had  received,  “  he 
concluded  that  Marshal  Bazaine,  after  a  vigorous  sortie,  had 
been  obliged  to  retire  again  near  Metz.  Subsequently  a 
battle  occurred  between  Mezieres  and  Sedan,  in  which  Mac¬ 
Mahon  was  at  first  victorious,  and  at  last  obliged  to  retire 
before  overwhelming  numbers.  The  junction  of  the  armies 
was,  consequently,  not  accomplished.”  He  concluded  by 
saying  that  “  the  situation  was  grave,  but  not  desperate.” 
The  Government  was  very  well  satisfied,  if  not  officially  in¬ 
formed  of  the  actual  state  of  affairs,  but  it  dared  not  confess 
the  truth. 

The  next  day,  September  3d,  however,  it  was  no  longer 
possible  to  keep  silence.  The  city  was  full  of  the  most  dis 
tressing  rumors  from  the  army,  and  it  was  very  certain  that 
the  truth  would  be  known  immediately.  At  half  past  three 
in  the  afternoon,  Count  Palikao  appeared  in  the  hall  of  the 
Corps  Legislatif.  Ilis  entrance  was  followed  by  an  anxious 
silence,  every  one  being  eager  to  hear  his  tidings.  After  a 
short  pause,  he  addressed  the  Chamber  as  follows : 

Gentlemen: — I  have  already  said  that  I  would  in  every  circumstance 
always  tell  you  the  truth,  however  sad  it  might  be  for  us.  I  now  come 
to-dsy  to  fulfil  my  promise.  My  first  news  is  that  Marshal  Bazaine, 
after  a  vigorous  sortie  and  a  combat  of  eight  hours,  being  overwhelmed 
by  numbers,  was  forced  to  fall  back  under  Metz,  so  that  his  junction 


278 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR 


with  MacMahon  is  for  the  present  prevented.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
intelligence  which  we  have  received  from  Marshal  MacMahon  shows 
that  at  first  he  overthrew  the  Prussian  army,  but  on  the  following  day, 
after  a  combat  of  several  hours’  duration,  he  was  obliged  to  retire  on 
Sedan  and  M6zibres ;  some  of  our  soldiers  were  even  forced  on  the  Bel¬ 
gian  territory.  As  to  the  rumor  of  MacMahon  being  wounded,  I  cannot 
say  anything,  in  the  absence  of  official  documents,  and  the  assertion 
may  prove  untrue.  Homage  is  unanimously  paid  to  the  heroism  of  the 
French  soldiers.  The  situation  is  grave,  and  we  have  decided  to  call  out 
the  whole  living  forces  of  the  nation.  Already,  in  the  prevision  of  ad¬ 
verse  circumstances,  our  grand  anxiety  was  to  organize  the  men  who 
had  already  served,  but,  unfortunately,  they  were  not  in  sufficient  num 
bers ;  we  therefore  rapidly  prepared  the  Garde  Mobile,  who,  to  the 
number  of  200,000  men,  will  co-operate  in  the  defence  of  the  capital. 
The  other  military  forces  are  being  actively  got  ready,  and  we  will  fight 
with  firmness  until  the  enemy  be  driven  from  the  soil.  (Loud  marks  of 
assent.) 

As  the  Minister  left  the  tribune,  the  greatest  agitation  pre¬ 
vailed  amongst  the  deputies,  one  of  whom  proposed  to  go 
into  secret  session  for  the  consideration  of  the  news,  but  his 
proposition  was  rejected.  M.  Jules  Favre  then  said  that, 
“  Every  member  present  must  desire  to  aid  in  taking  all  pos¬ 
sible  steps  for  the  defence  of  the  country,  and  the  first  point 
of  importance  was  to  make  the  situation  exactly  known. 
Nothing  could  be  more  heroic  than  Marshal  Bazaine’s  defence, 
but  he  could  not  act  properly  because  he  was  trammelled.” 
Here,  the  speaker  being  interrupted  by  loud  cries  of  “No! 
No !”  from  the  Bight,  turned  to  Count  Palikao,  and  asked, 
“  Do  not  the  Ministers  at  present  receive  the  orders  of  the 
Emperor?”  “  They  do  not,”  replied  Palikao.  “Then,”  said 
M.  Favre,  “  in  that  case  the  Government  dc  facto  has  ceased 
to  exist.  I  now  propose  that  the  whole  power  shall  be  placed 
in  the  hands  of  General  Trochu.”  The  Minister  of  War 
entered  an  emphatic  protest  against  such  a  proceeding,  and 
no  one  was  found  willing  to  second  the  measure.  The  sitting 
soon  after  came  to  an  end. 

All  day,  the  city  had  been  painfully  agitated.  The  Place 
de  la  Concorde  was  thronged  with  an  excited  crowd  which 
pressed  eagerly  up  to  the  gates  of  the  hall  of  the  Corps  Legis- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


279 


latif,  and  demanded  news  from  the  army.  At  ten  o’clock  at 
nio-ht  the  whole  truth  was  made  known  in  the  following 
proclamation  from  the  Ministers: 


To  tiie  French  People: 


A  great  misfortune  has  come  upon  the  country.  After  three  days 
of  heroic  struggles  sustained  by  the  army  of  Marshal  MacMahon  against 
300.000  of  the  enemy,  40,000  men  have  been  made  prisoners.  General 
Pe  Wimpffen,  who  took  command  of  the  army  in  place  of  Marshal  Mac 
Mahon,  badly  wounded,  has  signed  a  capitulation.  This  cruel  reverse 
will  not  shake  our  courage.  Paris  is  to-day  in  a  complete  state  of  de¬ 
fence.  The  military  forces  of  the  country  will  be  organized  in  a  few 
days.  A  new  army  will  be  under  the  walls  of  Paris.  Another  army  is 
forming  on  the  banks  of  the  Loire.  Your  patriotism,  your  union,  your 
energy,  will  save  France.  The  Emperor  has  been  made  a  prisoner  in 
the  struggle.  The  Government,  in  accord  with  the  public  powers,  will 
take  all  measures  required  by  the  gravity  of  events. 


(Signed.) 


Grandperret, 
Clement  Duvernois, 
P.  Maone, 

Busson  Billaui.t, 
Jerome-David. 


Count  de  Pai.ikao, 

H.  Chevreau, 

Rigault  de  Genouilly, 
Jules  Brame, 

De  la  Tour  d’Auvergne, 


Of  the  Council  of  Ministers. 


At  midnight  the  Corps  Legislatif  met  in  obedience  to  the 
summons  of  M.  Schneider,  the  President.  Previous  to  this 
it  had  been  necessary  for  the  public  to  procure  tickets  of 
admission  to  the  galleries,  but  upon  this  occasion  no  effort 
was  made  to  exclude  them.  Vast  crowds  thronged  the  ap¬ 
proaches  to  the  hall,  excited,  and  anxious  to  learn  the  result 
of  the  sitting.  The  business  of  the  session  was  not  fairly 
opened,  until  after  one  o’clock.  Then  M.  Schneider  stated 
that  the  intelligence  received  by  the  Government  during  the 
day  was  of  so  grave  a  character  that  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty 
to  summon  the  deputies  to  assemble  even  at  that  late  hour. 
He  then  requested  the  Minister  of  War,  who  was  present,  to 
announce  the  facts.  Count  de  Palikao  at  once  ascended  the 
tribune,  and  said : 

Gentlemen  I  have  the  painful  mission  to  announce  to  you  what  my 
words  of  this  morning  might  have  foreshadowed,  but  what  I  still  hoped 
was  only  doubtful  news ;  but  unfortunately,  however,  it  is  now  official. 


280 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  army,  aner  heroic  efforts,  was  driven  into  Sedan  and  surrounded  by 
such  a  superior  force  that  resistance  was  impossible.  The  troops  capi¬ 
tulated,  and  the  Emperor  was  made  prisoner.  Such  is  the  sad  intelli¬ 
gence  I  have  to  give  you.  In  the  face  of  such  grave  events,  we,  Minis¬ 
ters,  cannot  possibly  enter  at  the  present  moment  on  a  discussion  rela 
five  to  the  serious  consequences  which  must  ensue.  We,  therefore, 
demand  the  postponement  of  the  debate  until  to-morrow.  You  will  easily 
understand  that  we  have  not  been  able  to  confer  together,  as  I  had  to 
leave  my  bed  on  the  announcement  of  a  meeting  of  the  Chamber  to¬ 
night. 

The  announcement  of  the  Minister  was  received  by  the 
deputies  with  visible  consternation.  As  the  Count  left  the 
tribune,  the  following  colloquy  took  place: 

The  President.  “The  Chamber  has  heard  the  Minister  of  War’s 
proposition.  The  gravity  of  an  exceptional  crisis  in  which  afflictions  of 
every  kind  accumulate,  and  the  important  duties  which  the  Chamber 
has  to  perform,  added  to  the  immense  responsibility  of  its  situation,  evi¬ 
dently  require  well-weighed  deliberations.  In  this  state  of  affairs  it  be¬ 
hooves  honorable  deputies,  in  their  wisdom,  to  consider  whether  or  not 
they  ought  not  to  postpone  the  debate  until  to-morrow.” 

Numerous  voices.  “Yes!  Yes!” 

The  President.  “  I  proceed  to  consult  the  Chamber.” 

M.  Gambetta.  “  Oh,  pardon,  Monsieur." 

The  President.  “Ido  notask  for  any  vote,  but  merely  to  inquire 
whether  the  best  plan  may  not  be  to  postpone  the  deliberation,  as  asked 
for.” 

A  member  on  the  Right.  “  Yes,  and  the  more  so  that  several  of  our 
colleagues  were  not  aware  of  the  night  sitting.” 

Numerous  voices.  “To-morrow!  to-morrow  !” 

Jules  Favre  now  ascended  the  tribune,  and  instantly  the 
assembly  became  silent.  M.  Favre  said  : 

I  ask  to  submit  a  proposition.  If  you  think  that,  in  the  present 
grave  and  painful  situation,  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  honorable  Min¬ 
ister’s  communication,  it  would  be  wise  to  postpone  the  discussion  until 
noon,  I  have  no  objection ;  but  as  the  debate  will  be  engaged  on  the 
resolution  to  be  taken  in  the  absence  of  all  the  powers,  we  ask  permis¬ 
sion  to  present  a  proposition  which  I  shall  have  the  honor  of  reading 
without  for  the  moment  adding  any  observation.  We  ask  the  Chambe 
to  be  pleased  to  take  into  consideration  the  following  motion : 

Article  1.  Louis  Napoleon  Bonaparte  and  his  dynasty  are  declared 
to  be  deprived  of  the  powers  conferred  on  them  by  the  constitution. 

Article  2.  The  Corps  Legislatif  shall  nominate  a  government  com- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


281 


mission  composed  of  .  .  .  (you  will  fix  the  number  of  members  you 
think  fit)  .  .  .  who  shall  be  invested  with  full  powers  to  carry  on  the 
government,  and  whose  express  mission  shall  be  to  resist  the  invasion 
to  the  very  last,  and  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  territory. 

Article  3.  General  Trochu  is  maintained  in  his  office  of  Governor- 
General  of  the  City  of  Paris. 

Signed:  Jules  Favre,  Cremieux,  Barthelemy  Saint-Hilaire,  Desseaux, 
Garnier-Pages,  Larrieu,  Gagneur,  Steenacker,  Magnin,  Dorian,  Ordi¬ 
naire,  Emmanuel  Arago,  Jules  Simon,  Eugene  Pelletan,  Wilson,  Ernest 
Picard.  Gambetta,  Count  de  K6ratry,  Guyot-Montpayroux,  Tachard, 
Le  Cesne,  Rampont,  Girault,  Marion,  Leopold  Javel,  Jules  Ferry,  Paul 
Bathmont. 

I  do  not  add  a  word.  I  submit  this  proposition,  gentlemen,  to  your 
wise  meditation,  and  to-morrow,  or  rather  to-day  (Sunday),  at  noon,  we 
shall  have  the  honor  of  declaring  the  imperative  reasons  which,  we  think, 
must  compel  every  good  patriot  to  adopt  it. 

A  dead  silence  ensued  as  the  speaker  went  back  to  his 
place.  His  bold  proposition  seemed  to  frighten  the  whole 
Chamber.  Even  the  Minister  of  War  offered  no  protest.  At 
length  one  voice  broke  the  silence.  It  was  that  of  Deputy 
Pinard,  who  said,  “  We  have  no  power  to  declare  a  forfeiture  of 
authority."  The  sitting  immediately  came  to  an  end. 

The  next  morning  the  city  was  in  an  uproar.  The  procla¬ 
mation  of  the  Ministers  had  been  posted  all  over  Paris  during 
the  night,  and  wherever  it  was  seen  it  was  at  once  surrounded 
by  crowds  of  people  eager  to  read  it  for  themselves  or  to  hear 
it  read.  “  At  eleven  o’clock,”  says  an  English  resident  of 
Paris,  “  I  went  to  the  Place  de  la  Concorde.  It  was  full  of 
people,  and  from  all  the  streets  leading  to  it  armed  bands  of 
National  Guards  were  marching.  A  double  line  of  mounted 
Gardes  de  Paris  was  drawn  up  before  the  bridge.  Behind 
them  I  got.  The  first  band  of  National  Guards,  which  tried 
to  pass  the  bridge  were  forbidden  to  do  so  by  the  officer  com¬ 
manding  the  Gardes  de  Paris.  lie  ordered  his  soldiers  to 
draw  their  swords,  and  the  National  Guards  on  their  side 
shouted,  1  En  ava,nt.'  I  began  to  feel  somewhat  uncomforta¬ 
ble;  but,  after  a  short  parley,  the  soldiers  sheathed  their 
swords,  and  the  National  Guards  passed  over  the  bridge, 
shouting,  ‘  Vive  la  Repuhlique .’  This  band  was  followed  by 


282 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


many  others,  until  I  suppose  about  20,000  National  Guards 
had  passed  the  bridge  and  stood  round  the  Assembly,  the  flag 
of  which  was  now  flying  to  show  that  the  seance  had  com¬ 
menced.  By  this  time  there  must  have  been  100,000  men 
and  women  in  the  Place  de  la  Concorde.  This  crowd  was 
composed  of  working  men,  loungers,  women,  children,  and 
soldiers. 

“  Every  now  and  then  there  was  a  panic  and  a  rush, 
but  as  every  one  seemed  to  be  of  one  mind,  there  was  no 
danger  of  blood  being  shed.  The  following  expression  I 
heard  about  a  hundred  times,  and  it  sums  up  the  feeling  of 
the  Parisians — ‘  An  Emperor  dies,  but  does  not  surrender.’ 
On  all  sides  I  heard  abuse  lavished  on  the  Emperor.  Every 
now  and  then  some  wiry  working  man  got  upon  the  shoulder 
of  a  friend,  and  shouted  ‘  Vive  la  Republique  /  ’  ‘  A  has  VEm- 
pereur !'  when  the  cry  was  repeated  all  round  him.  Round 
the  gate  of  the  gardens  of  the  Tuileries,  which  were  closed, 
there  was  a  large  crowd.  At  one  time  I  thought  they  were 
going  to  force  open  the  gate,  and  attack  the  few  soldiers  who 
were  on  guard  within.  Indeed,  the  garden  was  only  saved  by 
a  Zouave  inside,  who  knew  his  countrymen,  dancing  the  can¬ 
can. 

“After  remaining  about  two  hours  on  the  Place  de  la 
Concorde,  I  went  to  the  Boulevards ;  they  were  occupied  by 
a  pacific  crowd  waiting  for  news.  Suddenl}'  a  cry  was  raised, 

‘  La  Republique  est  declaree.'  A  regiment,  the  only  one 
which  I  had  seen  that  day,  was  marching  down.  At  that  mo¬ 
ment  it  was  met  by  a  detachment  of  the  National  Guard  com¬ 
ing  from  the  Chamber.  Guard,  regiment,  and  people  imme¬ 
diately  fraternized,  the  soldiers  all  reversed  their  arms,  the 
Marseillaise  was  sung,  and  the  soldiers  disappeared  into  the 
neighboring  cafbs,  where  they  were  treated  to  drink.  From 
the  aspect  of  Paris,  one  would  suppose,  that  news  of  a  great 
victory  had  been  received.  Such  perfect  unanimity  I  never 
witnessed.  It  is  Sunday,  the  people  are  walking  about  with 
their  wives  and  children  in  holiday  dress.  The  Gardes  Na¬ 
tional  are  marching  home  along  the  Boulevards  as  though 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


283 


Hull  of  the  French  Senate. 


they  had  come  from  a  review.  The  windows  and  pavements 
are  lined  with  people  cheering  them.”  * 


*  Another  account  of  the  scenes  in  the  city  is  furnished  by  the  Paris  cor¬ 
respondent  of  the  London  Daily  Neivs.  It  is  ns  follows: 

“  Knowing  that  the  Corps  Legislatif  was  to  hold  an  extraordinary  sitting 
at  one  o'clock,  I  got  into  a  carriage  at  two,  and  told  the  driver  to  go  to  the 
Champs  Elysees,  hang  about  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  and  get  over  one  of 
the  bridges  to  the  Faubourg  St.  Germain.  He  objected  that  there  were  great 
crowds  in  the  route  I  had  marked  out  for  him,  and  doubted  whether  he 
could  get  along.  ‘Try,’  said  I,  and  so  he  did,  and  we  succeeded.  On  the 
Place  de  la  Concorde  there  were  many  groups  of  people  and  several  companies 
of  National  Guards,  but  still  carriages  could  circulate.  I  observed  that  the 
National  Guards  carried  laurels  on  their  bayonets,  and  that  numbers  of  citi¬ 
zens  had  sprigs  of  green  (meant  to  represent  laurels)  in  their  hats.  The 
laurels  could  not  mean  victory  over  the  foreign  enemy  ;  but  they  were  worn 
as  emblems  of  victory  over  the  internal  enemy — the  Emperor.  My  attention 
was  attracted  to  one  of  the  colossal  allegorical  statues  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  Place,  representing  the  city  of  Strasbourg.  This  statue  was 
decked  out  with  flowers,  and  an  enormous  placard  was  hung  round  the  neck 
bearing  the  words,  1  Honor  and  glory  to  General  Uhlrich.’  A  succession  of 
democratic  orators  mounted  the  parapet  at  the  foot  of  the  statue  and 
harangued  a  vast  crowd  with  great  success.  I  could  not  get  near  enough 
to  hear  their  eloquence,  but  it  was  about  the  Republic,  and  the  certain 
victory  which  the  Republic  could  bring.  I  then  turned  my  carriage  and 
went  towards  the  Place  de  la  Concorde.  The  approaches  were  occupied 


284 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAP 


The  Senate,  which  had  borne  an  inconspicuous  part  in  the 
events  which  preceded  the  fall  of  the  Empire,  met  for  the  last 
time  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  September,  in  its  hall  in 
the  Luxembourg  Palace.  M.  Rouher,  the  President,  opened 
the  session  by  referring  to  the  importance  of  the  events  tran¬ 
spiring  around  them.  M.  De  Chabriat  said  that  some  of  the 
deputies  of  the  lower  House,  forgetting  their  oath,  had  pro 
posed  to  remove  the  Emperor.  They  had  no  right  to  do 
this.  Though  vanquished  and  a  prisoner,  the  Emperor  was 
still  the  Sovereign  of  Prance,  and  he,  the  speaker,  would  pay 
him  a  last  homage,  and  cry  “  Vive  V Empereur."  M.  Rouher 
declared  that  any  such  vote  as  their  colleagues  of  the  Corps 
Legislatif  had  mentioned  as  likely  to  be  sent  up  to  them  from 
that  body,  would  be  firmly  repudiated.  A  recess  of  two 
hours  was  then  voted.  At  two  o’clock  the  Senate  reassem¬ 
bled.  M.  Rouher  alluded  to  the  proposal  of  Jules  Favre  for 
the  Emperor’s  removal,  and  declared  that  as  the  mob  had 

by  troops,  and ft  was  impossible  to  cross.  I  observed  the  steps  of  the  Corps 
Legislatif  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  covered  with  people,  and  saw  that  the 
quays,  right  and  left,  were  closely  studded  with  infantry,  cavalry,  National 
•Guards,  and  people,  all  mixed  up  together.  At  this  moment  the  weather 
>was  beautiful — it  was  one  of  the  most  glorious  early  September  days  ever 
seen.  I  drove  slowly  along  the  quay  parallel  with  the  orangerie  of  the 
Tuileries  toward  the  palace.  The  Tuileries  gardens  were  full  of  people.  I 
learned  that  in  the  morning  orders  had  been  given  to  close  the  gates,  but 
that  half  an  hour  before  I  passed  the  people  had  forced  them  open,  and  that 
neither  the  troops  nor  the  police  made  any  resistance.  My  coachman,  who, 
1 1  dare  say,  was  an  Imperialist  yesterday,  but  was  a  very  strong  Republican 
'to-day,  pointed  out  to  me  several  groups  of  people  bearing  red  flags.  I  told 
Ihim  that  the  tricolor  betokening  the  presence  of  the  Empress  still  floated 
from  the  central  tower  of  the  Tuileries.  While  I  was  speaking,  and  exactly 
at  twenty  minutes  past  three,  I  saw  that  flag  taken  down.  That  is  an  event 
in  a  man’s  life  not  to  be  forgotten.  Crossing  over  the  Pont  de  Solferino  to 
the  Quai  d’Orsay,  I  witnessed  an  extraordinary  sight  indeed.  From  the  win¬ 
dows  of  those  great  barracks,  formerly  peopled  with  troops  every  man  of 
whom  was  supposed  to  be  ready  to  die  for  his  Emperor,  I  saw  soldiers  smil¬ 
ing,  waving  handkerchiefs,  and  responding  to  the  cries  of  1  Vive  la  Ripub. 
Itque,’  raised  by  gendarmes,  cavalry,  soldiers  of  the  line,  National  Guards, 
and  people  below.  Well-dressed  ladies  in  open  carriages  shook  hands  with 
private  soldiers  and  men  in  blouses,  all  crying  1  Vive  la  Rtpublique.’  Nay, 
strangers  fell  on  each  other’s  necks  and  kissed  each  other  with  ‘  effusion.’ 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


285 


broken  into  the  Chamber,  the  vote  amounted  to  nothing. 
Soon  after  this  the  Senate  adjourned,  and  thus  it  passed  into 
history. 

During  the  3d.  crowds  had  paraded  the  streets  of  the  city, 
shouting  “  La  Decheance  /”  (the  “  forfeiture”  of  the  throne). 
They  had  been  fired  upon  by  the  police,  and  had  been  dis¬ 
persed.  On  the  morning  of  the  4th  they  reassembled,  the 
greater  number  making  their  way  to  the  Place  de  la  Concorde, 
immediately  opposite  to  the  hall  of  the  Corps  Legislatif,  and 
separated  from  it  by  the  bridge  of  Concord,  which  was  held 
on  the  morning  of  the  4th  by  a  detachment  of  Gardes  de  Paris 
and  a  number  of  Sergents  de  Ville.  These  prevented  the 
crowd  in  the  square  from  crossing  the  river  to  the  Chamber. 
About  one  o’clock,  two  battalions  of  National  Guards,  with 
fixed  bayonets,  arrived  through  the  Rue  Royale,  and  crossing 
the  square  amidst  cries  of  “  Decheance  /”  “  Vive  la  France  /” 
“  Vive  la  Republique  !"  reached  the  head  of  the  bridge.  The 
troops  on  duty  there  refused  to  allow  them  to  pass.  A  con- 


In  the  neighborhood  of  the  Pont  Neuf  I  saw  people  on  the  tops  of  ladders 
busily  pulling  down  the  Emperor’s  bust,  which  the  late  loyalty  of  the  people 
induced  them  to  stick  about  in  all  possible  and  impossible  places.  I  saw  the 
busts  carried  in  mock  procession  to  the  parapet  of  the  Pont  Neuf  and  throw* 
into  the  Seine ;  clapping  of  hands  and  hearty  laughter  greeting  the  splash 
which  the  graven  image  of  the  mighty  monarch  made  in  the  water.  I  went 
as  far  as  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  and  found  it  in  possession  of  His  Majesty  the 
Sovereign  People.  Blouses  were  in  every  one  of  M.  Haussmann’s  balconies. 
How  they  got  there  I  do  not  know.  I  presume  that  M.  Chevreau  did  not  in¬ 
vite  them.  But  they  got  in  somehow  without  violence.  The  great  square 
in  front  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville  was  full  of  the  National  Guards,  most  of  them 
without  uniform.  They  carried  the  butts  of  their  muskets  in  the  air,  in  token 
that  they  were  fraternizing  with  the  people.  The  most  perfect  good  humor 
prevailed.  Portraits  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress,  which  many  of  your 
readers  must  have  seen  in  the  Hotel  de  Ville  ball-rooms,  were  thrown  out  of 
the  window,  and  the  people  trod  and  danced  upon  the  canvas.  On  leaving 
the  Hotel  de  Ville,  I  saw  in  the  Avenue  Victoria  M.  Henri  Rochefort,  let  out 
of  prison,  as  a  logical  consequence  of  events,  but  half  an  hour  before.  He 
was  on  a  triumphal  car,  and  wore  a  scarlet  scarf.  He  was  escorted  by  an 
immense  mob,  crying  ‘  Vive  Rochefort:  He  looked  in  far  better  health  than 
I  expected  to  see  him  after  his  long  imprisonment,  and  his  countenance 
beamed  with  delight.  He  has  seen  his  desire  on  his  enemy.” 


286 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


siderable  crowd  had  assembled  on  the  other  side  of  the  Seine, 
on  the  steps  of  the  Palace  of  the  Corps  Legislatif,  and  these 
made  signs  to  the  National  Guards  and  the  people  in  the 
Place  de  la  Concorde  to  cross  the  bridge ;  but  the  troops  of 
the  line  stood  firm,  and  barred  the  way.  Fresh  battalions  of 
National  Guards  now  arrived,  and  a  determined  effort  was 
made  to  force  a  passage  of  the  bridge.  The  troops  of  the  line 
made  a  show  of  resistance,  and  then  opened  their  ranks.  The 
National  Guards  then  passed  the  bridge,  followed  by  a  large 
part  of  the  crowd,  shouting  “  Vive  la  Republique  !"  and  sing¬ 
ing  the  “  Chant  du  Depart^  The  new  comers  were  received 
on  the  steps  of  the  peristyle  of  the  Legislative  Palace  by  MM. 
Etienne  Arago,  Pascal  Dupret,  and  others,  who  welcomed 
the  National  Guards.  The  iron  gates,  which,  up  to  this  mo¬ 
ment  had  been  closed,  were  now  thrown  open  to  allow  a  de¬ 
putation  of  National  Guards  to  enter.  Instantly  a  rush  was 
made  by  the  vast  throng  of  citizens  and  National  Guards, 
and  they  passed  into  the  court-yard  of  the  Palace.  Theregu 
lar  troops  on  duty  there  made  a  show  of  resistance,  but  ended 
by  raising  the  butts  of  their  rifles  in  the  air,  and  joined  their 
voices  to  the  shouts  of  the  crowd.  Meeting  with  no  further 
resistance,  the  mob  rushed  into  the  building,  and  soon  filled 
up  its  corridors  and  ante-rooms. 

The  Chamber  met  at  twenty  minutes  past  one  o’clock. 
Immediately  after  the  reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  previous 
session,  M.  Jules  Favre’s  motion  for  the  deposition  of  the 
Emperor  was  called  up.  Count  De  Keratry  demanded  to 
know,  before  transacting  any  business,  if  the  Minister  of  War 
had  given  orders  contrary  to  those  of  General  Trochu,  who 
had  ordered  the  National  Guard  to  protect  the  sitting  of  the 
Chamber.  Count  De  Palikao  replied  that  he  had  only  sought 
to  protect  the  Chamber  in  causing  the  building  to  be  guarded 
by  regular  troops.  He  then  offered  as  a  substitute  for  Fa¬ 
vre’s  proposition,  the  following  plan  for  a  Council  of  Defence. 
He  said : 

The  Council  of  Ministers  has  considered  it  necessary  to  introduce  cer¬ 
tain  modifications  into  the  conditions  of  the  Government,  and  therefore 
propose  to  you  the  following  bill : 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


287 


Article  1.  A  Council  of  National  Defence  is  constituted,  composed 
of  five  members  named  by  the  majority  of  the  Legislative  Body. 

Article  2.  The  nomination  of  the  Ministers  is  countersigned  by  the 
members  of  the  Council. 

Article  3.  General  Count  De  Palikao  is  named  Lieutenant-General 
of  the  Council. 

A  voice  on  the  left — Urgency  was  demanded.  What  does  that  mean  ? 
(Laughter  and  noise.) 

M.  Jules  Favre  begged  to  point  out  to  the  Chamber  the  state  of  things 
to  which  the  Government  bill  would  give  rise.  li  the  Chamber  adopted 
urgency  for  the  measure,  he  must  claim  it  for  his,  and  for  two  reasons  . 
first,  because  he  had  presented  it  first ;  and  secondly,  because  it  confer¬ 
red  larger  powers  on  the  Chamber  than  that  of  the  Government. 

M.  Thiers  :  All  my  personal  preference  is  in  favor  of  M.  Jules  Favre’s 
bill ;  but  as  I  place  the  good  of  the  country  above  my  personal  impres¬ 
sions,  I  have  submitted  the  following  project  to  several  members  belong¬ 
ing  to  all  the  parts  of  the  Cnamber : 

In  consequence  of  the  vacancy  of  the  throne,  a  commission  of  five 
members,  named  by  the  Legislative  Body,  is  entrusted  with  the  Govern¬ 
ment  and  the  Naticr.al  Defence.  A  Constituent  Assembly  shall  be 
convoked  as  soon  as  circumstances  will  permit. 

The  honorable  gentleman  then  read  the  names  of  the  deputies  who 
had  signed  that  proposition,  to  show  that  they  belonged  to  all  shades  of 
opinion. 

The  President  considered  it  his  duty  to  consult  the  Chamber  as  to  the 
question  of  urgency  for  these  three  propositions. 

M.  Gambetta  was  of  opinion  that  the  Chamber  should  declare  the 
urgency  on  all  three  at  once. 

The  Minister  of  War,  who  plainly  perceived  that  but  a 
desperate  chance  remained  for  saving  the  Empire,  and  that 
the  best  he  could  do  would  be  to  gain  time  for  future  action, 
said  he  was  willing  to  waive  his  own  proposal  in  favor  of  that 
brought  forward  by  M.  Thiers;  but  eventually  all  three  pro¬ 
positions  were  referred  to  the  Bureau,  and  the  Chamber  hav¬ 
ing  declared  in  favor  of  their  urgency,  took  a  short  recess  to 
enable  the  Committee  to  report. 

By  this  time  the  crowd  from  without  had  thronged  into  the 
building,  and  filled  the  corridors  and  the  Salles  des  Pas  Per- 
dus,  des  Quatrc.i  CMonnes,  and  De  la  Paix.  In  the  last  named 
hall,  M.  Jules  Ferry  mounted  on  a  bench  to  address  the 
crowd.  He  was  received  with  cries  of  “  Vive  la  Republique!" 


288 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


“  Vive  Ferry!"  He  said  that  be  had  pledged  his  word  to 
Count  De  Palikao  that  the  people  would  not  enter  the  actual 
hall  where  the  deputies  held  their  sittings,  and  which  he  de¬ 
clared  ought  to  be  held  sacred  ;  and  he  appealed  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  to  respect  the  pledge  he  had  given.  At  his  request,  sen¬ 
tinels  from  the  National  Guard  took  the  place  of  the  troops 
of  the  line  guarding  the  entry  to  the  hall.  The  mob  contin¬ 
ued  to  call  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Emperor,  and  shouted 
that  the  Chamber  ought  to  lose  no  time  in  pronouncing  it. 
M.  Ernest  Picard  then  addressed  them,  telling  them  that  the 
Chamber  was  about  to  declare  its  intentions  on  this  very 
question,  and  begged  them  to  have  patience  and  await  the 
decision  of  the  deputies,  which  could  not  be  otherwise  than 
favorable  to  the  unanimous  wish  of  the  people.  M.  Schneider, 
the  President  of  the  Chamber,  now  appeared,  and  though 
pale  and  agitated,  addressed  the  throng.  He  said  he  had 
always  been  devoted  to  the  Empire  and  his  country,  and  he 
begged  the  crowd  to  be  calm  and  allow  the  deputies  to  dis¬ 
charge  their  duties,  and  not  to  let  it  appear  that  their  delib¬ 
erations  were  influenced  by  popular  pressure.  “  Above  all,” 
he  said,  “  one  must  save  France !”  He  was  answered  with 
cries  of  “Yes!  yes!”  “  Vive  la  Republique  /”  in  the  midst 
of  which  he  went  back  to  the  hall.  In  the  other  halls  into 
which  the  mob  had  penetrated,  efforts  were  made  by  leading 
deputies  to  persuade  them  to  be  calm,  but  the  excitement 
grew  greater  momentarily,  and  the  crowd  surging  onward 
pressed  into  the  Salle  des  Seances.  Here  the  noisy  patriots 
began  to  discuss  the  members  that  ought  to  be  chosen  to  form 
a  provisional  Government.  The  names  of  seven  of  the  most 
prominent  deputies  of  the  Left  were  written  on  a  paper,  and 
this  was  hung  to  the  statue  of  Minerva.  The  pillars  and 
walls  were  soon  covered  with  writings  in  chalk  and  crayon, 
demanding  the  dethronement  of  the  Emperor  and  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  a  Republic  ;  similar  demands  being  shouted  inces¬ 
santly  by  the  mob. 

The  Chamber  resumed  its  sitting  at  half  past  two  o’clock, 
to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee.  The  members  of  the 


The  Gardens  of  the  Tuileries. 


290 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Opposition  were  all  in  their  places,  but  the  administration 
deputies  had  disappeared  in  considerable  numbers.  The 
galleries  were  crowded  with  citizens  and  soldiers,  who  were 
so  noisy  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  business  of  the  Cham¬ 
ber  to  go  on.  M  Cremieux  mounted  the  tribune  to  appeal 
to  the  crowd,  but  could  not  make  himself  heard.  Deputy 
Gambetta  was  more  successful.  He  succeeded  in  quieting 
the  noise  to  a  certain  extent,  and  then  appealing  to  the  mob 
in  the  galleries,  he  said  : 

Citizens  : — It  is  in  your  power  to  present  a  great  spectacle,  that  of  a 
people  uniting  order  and  liberty.  (Cries  of  “Yes  !  Yes  !”)  Well  then,, 
I  implore  you,  let  a  group  in  each  compartment  undertake  to  insure 
order ;  then  wait  in  silence.  The  Left  has  pledged  itself  to  the  Chamber 
to  cause  the  freedom  of  its  deliberations  to  be  respected.  (Applause.) 

The  President.  (Also  addressing  the  galleries.) 

You  have  just  heard  the  patriotic  exhort&tions  of  M.  Gambetta,  to 
which  I  join  my  own.  At  this  moment,  believe  me,  the  Chamber  is 
called  on  to  deliberate  on  a  situation  of  extreme  gravity  in  a  spirit  of 
absolute  devotedness  to  the  country.  (Applause  on  some  benches ; 
murmurs  on  others.) 

M.  Glais-Bizoin.  Citizens,  the  deposition  is  about  to  be  pronounced 
by  the  Chamber ;  wait  till  the  committee  is  ready  to  propose  it. 

M.  Girault  (du  Cher).  Citizens,  I  also  make  an  appeal  to  your  patri¬ 
otism.  So  that  the  country  and  the  Chamber  may  be  united  against 
the  enemy,  now  approaching.  (The  proceedings  were  ^interrupted  for 
some  moments  in  the  midst  of  general  agitation.) 

M.  Gambetta.  Citizens,  one  word  more.  It  is  necessary  that  all  the 
deputies  in  the  bureaux  or  elsewhere  should  be  present  in  order  to  have 
the  dethronement  voted.  Wait  for  them  in  an  attitude  of  moderation 
and  dignity ;  they  will  soon  be  here.  (Applause.)  Preserve  the  solemn 
silence  suitable  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  great  city,  now  menaced.  You 
will  presently  hear  proclaimed  the  result  of  the  deliberations  of  the 
Chamber,  which  will,  doubtless,  be  affirmative  in  the  sense  you  desire. 
(Approbation;  noise  outside.) 

M.  Gambetta  might  have  succeeded  in  calming  the  noisy 
patriots  in  the  galleries,  but  a  new  element  of  disorder  now 
appeared  on  the  scene  which  he  was  powerless  to  control.  At 
three  o’clocl#  the  mob  which  had  been  waiting  impatiently 
outside  for  news,  burst  open  the  doors  of  the  hall,  and  rushed 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


291 


in.  The  floor  of  the  apartment  was  quickly  filled.  The  door 
at  the  back  of  the  speaker’s  tribune  was  broken  open,  and 
the  rioters  poured  in  through  it.  Several  deputies  endeav¬ 
ored  to  oppose  their  entrance,  but  without  avail.  The  con¬ 
fusion  was  frightful.  Gambetta  and  others  endeavored  to 
obtain  a  hearing,  but  in  vain.  President  Schneider  seeing  no 
chance  of  restoring  order,  put  on  his  hat  and  left  his  chair, 
declaring  the  sitting  at  an  end.  A  man  from  the  crowd 
placed  himself  in  the  President’s  chair,  and  rang  the  bell.  A 
roar  of  laughter  and  a  shout  of  “  Vive  la  Republique  /”  fol¬ 
lowed.  A  less  fortunate  patriot  ascended  the  speaker’s  tri¬ 
bune,  doubtless  intending  to  harangue  the  mob,  but  was 
seized  and  tossed  over  into  the  crowd.  The  deputies  left  the 
hall  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  a  body  of  National  Guards 
was  sent  in  to  drive  out  the  mob.  Deputy  Gambetta.  followed 
by  a  number  of  members  of  the  Left,  hastened  to  the  steps 
of  the  Palace,  in  front  of  which  an  immense  throng  had  col¬ 
lected,  and  announced  that  the  Empire  had  ceased  to  exist. 
Shouts  of  applause  hailed  his  announcement,  and  the  cry  was 
raised,  “  To  the  Hotel  de  Ville !”  The  deputies  of  the  Left  at 
once  formed  themselves  in  procession,  and  set  oft’  on  foot  for 
the  Hotel  de  Ville,  escorted  by  the  National  Guard  and  the 
crowd  of  good  patriots.  Crossing  the  Pont  de  la  Concorde, 
they  marched  along  the  river  shore  by  the  Tuileries,  rending 
the  air  with  their  shouts  and  songs. 

“  Meanwhile,  outside  the  Chamber  men  climbed  up  to  the 
Statue  of  Law,  over  the  portal,  and  destroyed  the  eagle  which 
adorns  the  baton  in  the  hands  of  the  image.  Then  it  is  itself 
destroyed — head  first,  then  the  arms.  Gambetta  and  the 
procession  pass  down  the  Quai  des  Tuileries.  Soldiers  ap¬ 
plaud  and  shout  with  the  crowd.  A  lieutenant-colonel  cries 
1  Vive  la  Republique!''  The  procession  stops  and  fraternizes. 
The  Turcos  and  Spahis  at  the  barracks  of  the  Quai  d’Orsay 
wave  their  turbans.  The  flag  over  the  pavilion  of  the  Tui¬ 
leries  is  hauled  down.  In  front  of  the  Prefecture  there  are 
cries  of  ‘  Down  with  Pietri !’  The  Prefecture  is  closely  shut. 

“  Arrived  in  front  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  the  crowd  forces 


292 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


its  way  in.  Jules  Favre  and  Jules  Ferry  go  to  the  further 
end  of  the  great  hall.  Two  Gardes  Mobiles,  with  drawn 
swords,  clamber  up  the  ornamental  chimneys  and  seat  them¬ 
selves  in  the  lap  of  a  marble  nymph.  Gambetta,  Cremieux, 
and  Keratry  press  in  and  take  a  place  beside  Favre,  followed 
by  Picard,  Etienne  Arago,  Glais-Bizoin,  Schoelcher,  and 
others.  Gambetta,  Cretnieux,  and  Keratry  are  by  themselves 
at  the  Mayor’s  table. 

“  Amid  the  tumult,  Gambetta  declares  the  Republic  a  fact, 
and  that  Emmanuel  Arago  is  appointed  Mayor  of  Paris. 
The  people  shouted  approval.  The  Bureau  is  constituted. 
Kbratry  is  appoined  Prefect  of  Police.  The  Bureau  retires 
to  constitute  a  Provisional  Government  and  Ministry.  At 
four  o’clock  the  Bureau  returns,  and  Gambetta  declares  the 
Provisional  Government,  constituted  under  the  title  of  Gov¬ 
ernment  for  the  National  Defence,  consisting  of  Arago,  Cre¬ 
mieux,  Favre,  Simon,  Gambetta,  Ferry,  Glais-Bizoin,  and  Gar- 
nier-Pages.  The  people  shout  Rochefort’s  name.  It  is  added 
amid  acclamation.  The  members  of  Government  again  retire. 
There  is  a  discussion  whether  the  tri-color  or  the  red  flag  is 
to  be  adopted.  Schoelcher  says  ‘tri-color,’  and  it  is  adopted. 

“The  Rochefort  episode  was  as  follows:  A  hundred  of 
Rochefort’s  constituents  met,  by  appointment,  at  3  p.  it.,  at 
the  Great  Market  Hall.  At  a  given  signal  the  leader  raised 
a  cane  with  a  flag  attached  to  it,  and,  with  a  shout,  ‘  To 
Sainte  Pelagie!’  the  band  set  off.  The  group  was  joined  by 
other  men  who  up  to  that  time  had  been  lurking  in  the  im¬ 
mediate  vicinity,  making  in  all  about  300  when  they  reached 
the  prison.  There  were  three  marines  acting  as  sentries  out¬ 
side.  One  of  them  made  believe  to  lower  his  bayonet.  It 
was  raised  by  his  comrade.  The  crowd  took  the  guns  and 
broke  them,  but  fraternized  with  the  marines.  There  was 
no  opposition  from  the  wardens.  Rochefort’s  cell-doors  were 
burst  in,  and  he  was  taken  out. 

“  There  was  no  coach  at  the  door.  A  lady  passing  in  one 
got  out  of  it,  and  made  Rochefort  get  in.  He  was  driven  to 
the  Hotel  de  Ville,  arriving  there  at  five  o’clock,  and  was  car- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


293 


Prison  of  Sainte-Pelagie  :  Paris. 


ried  in  triumph  to  the  throne-room,  where,  amid  the  shouts 
and  congratulations  of  friends,  he  learns  that  he  is  a  member 
of  the  new  Republican  Government.” 

The  deputies,  who  had  left  the  Chamber  at  the  time  of  its 
invasion  by  the  mob,  with  the  exception  of  those  who  fol¬ 
lowed  Gambetta  to  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  met  in  the  afternoon 
at  the  residence  of  the  President,  and  agreed  to  the  proposal 
for  the  establishment  of  a  Government,  which  was  carried  by 
a  deputation  to  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  where  the  Republican 
Government  had  already  installed  itself.  The  bearers  of  the 
proposal  were  informed  that  it  was  now  too  late  for  it  to  be 
entertained,  as  the  Republic  had  already  been  proclaimed  and 
accepted  by  the  Parisians.  It  was  promised,  however,  that 
some  of  the  members  of  the  Provisional  Government  should 
attend  an  evening  meeting  of  the  deputies.  This  evening 
session  was  presided  over  by  M.  Thiers,  and  attended  by 
nearly  200  members  of  the  Corps  Lcgislatif.  MM.  Jules 
Pavre  and  Jules  Simon  appeared  on  behalf  of  the  Provisional 
Government.  They  stated  that  the  new  Government  sincerely 
desired  to  have  the  support  of  the  deputies ;  but  added  that 
it  was  thought  they  (the  deputies)  could  render  better  service 
to  the  country  in  the  departments.  Jules  Favre  was  asked  if 
Rochefort  were  not  a  member  of  the  new  Government.  He 
admitted  that  he  was,  and  added  that  it  comprised  all  the 
deputies  from  Paris,  “except  the  most  illustrious” — referring 


294 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR 


to  M.  Thiers,  who  had  refused  to  form  part  of  it.  The  inter¬ 
view  resulted  in  nothing.  The  deputies  entered  their  protest 
against  the  action  of  the  Provisional  Government,  and  then 
quietly  separated. 

While  the  mob  was  escorting  Deputy  Gambetta  and  his 
friends  to  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  a  portion  of  the  throng,  gathered 
in  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  forced  the  great  gates  of  the 
Tuileries  Gardens,  which  were  guarded  by  a  detachment  of 
the  Zouaves  of  the  Guard.  The  eagles  which  ornamented 
the  railings  had  already  been  broken  down,-  without  oppo¬ 
sition  from  the  sentinels,  who  now  suffered  the  mob  to  pass 
into  the  gardens  unresisted.  The  column  was  headed  by 
detachments  of  the  Garde  Mobile  and  the  National  Guard. 
It  passed  up  the  main  avenue  as  far  as  the  great  basin,  where 
a  halt  wras  commanded  as  the  Voltigeurs  of  the  Guard  were 
seen  drawn  up  in  the  private  garden.  M.  Louis  Ravenez,  of 
the  National  Guard,  was  desired  to  come  to  an  understanding 
with  the  commander  of  these  troops,  and  tying  his  handker¬ 
chief  to  his  bayonet,  as  a  flag  of  truce,  he  advanced  towards 
the  railing  behind  which  the  troops  were  posted.  General 
Mellinet,  the  officer  in  command,  advanced  to  meet  him. 
“  General,”  said  M.  Ravenez,  “  the  Republic  is  proclaimed- 
I  come  in  the  name  of  the  people  and  the  National  Guard  to 
demand  an  entrance  into  the  palace,  which  is  our  property. 
We  will  cause  it  to  be  respected.”  During  this  speech,  the 
crowd  surged  up  to  the  garden  railing.  General  Mellinet, 
mounting  a  chair  so  that  he  might  be  heard,  replied,  “  Gentle-^ 
men,  I  ask  nothing  more  than  to  march  out  my  troops,  on 
condition  that  the  post  shall  be  confided  to  the  National 
Guard  on  duty  here.  In  addition,  I  declare  that  if  one  of 
my  men  is  molested,  I  am  a  General,  and  I  shall  do  my  duty.” 
The  mob  shouted,  “Down  with  the  Emperor!”  “We  will 
enter,”  and  it  seemed  as  if  they  were  about  to  carry  the 
Palace  by  force,  but  an  arrangement  was  effected  by  which 
the  National  Guard  took  the  place  of  the  Voltigeurs,  who 
retired.  This  accomplished,  the  National  Guard  lined  the 
main  entrance,  and  allowed  the  sovereign  people  to  enter  tha 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


295 


Palace.  One  of  the  journals  of  the  day,  thus  describes  the 
scenes  which  followed : 

The  Palace  was  absolutely  empty  ;  the  people  of  the  kitchen  had  alone 
not  deserted.  A  gentleman,  who  said  he  was  Sub-Conservator  of  the 
Palace  of  St.  Cloud,  and  secretary  to  General  Lepic,  also  remained.  He 
handed  a  key  to  M.  Ravenez,  wherewith  the  latter  penetrated  into  the 
reserved  apartments,  going  by  himself.  The  General’s  secretary  was 
deeply  moved.  “  Ah  !  sir,”  said  he  to  M.  Ravenez,  “  it  is  frightful  l  The 
poor  Empress  !  how  basely  they  abandoned  her!  All  those  persons  whom 
she  pampered  left  her.'''  The  reception  rooms  on  the  first  story  preserved 
their  usual  aspect,  but  from  the  Place  de  Carrousel  one  could  see  that 
the  curtains  had  been  removed  from  the  windows.  On  the  ground-floor 
the  disorder  was  inexpressible.  M.  Ravenez’s  impression  was  that  the 
Empress  had  just  left ;  everything  bore  witness  to  that  precipitate  de¬ 
parture.  Let  us  return  to  the  Imperial  apartments,  encumbered  with 
empty  trunks,  work-boxes,  and  open  bonnet-cases.  In  the  Empress’s 
chamber  a  bed  was  still  unmade.  M.  Ravenez,  when  traversing  the 
suite  of  apartments  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Emperor  and  his 
son,  found  :  on  a  sofa,  a  child’s  sword,  half  unsheathed  ;  on  the  floor,  in 
the  midst  of  a  heap  of  copies  of  Paris  newspapers,  lay  a  revolver-case ; 
here  and  there,  slippers  and  chairs.  In  all  the  cupboards,  empty  cigar- 
boxes  ;  and,  strange  enough,  a  great  number  of  phials  of  phosphate  of 
iron. 

In  the  Prince  Imperial’s  study,  little  leaden  soldiers,  put  in  motion  by 
turning  a  handle,  were  lying  on  the  carpet.  An  exercise-book  for  writ¬ 
ing  historical  themes  was  open  on  the  table.  One  leaf  was  entirely  cov¬ 
ered  with  a  small  and  correct  handwriting.  It  begins  thus  : — 

Louis  XV.,  Bourbon,  Fleury  (1723-1741).  Regency  resumed.  Bour¬ 
bon.  1723-1726.  Bourbon. — Madame  de  Prie,  Paris,  Duvernois  ( Du - 
vernay  was  intended).  At  home,  corruption,  stock-jobbing,  frivolity, 
intolerance.  Abroad,  marriage  of  the  King  with  Marie  Leczynska. 
Rupture  with  Spain,  which  country  displays  Austrian  tendencies,  etc., 
etc. 

In  one  of  the  Empress’s  rooms,  the  book  for  the  palace  service  was 
found.  In  the  passages,  generally  lit  even  in  the  day  time,  there  was  a 
vague  odor  of  burning  oil  proceeding  from  the  lamps  but  shortly  before 
extinguished.  In  another  room  a  breakfast  had  been  interrupted.  It 
was  of  a  most  simple  character,  consisting  of  a  boiled  egg,  a  little 
cheese,  and  some  bread.  In  the  Emperor’s  apartment,  several  maps  of 
Prussia,  busts  and  statuettes  of  the  Imperial  Prince,  a  great  number  of 
little  painted  figures,  representing  Prussian  soldiers  and  officers  in  uni¬ 
form;  also,  volumes  with  annotations.  Let  us  also  mention,  along  with 
other  objects  abandoned  to  their  fate,  a  Greek  cap  with  a  peacock’s 


296 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


leather,  and  inside  the  letters  0.  L.  N.,  embroidered  in  gold.  No  damage 
whatever  has  been  done  in  the  interior  of  the  Tuileries.  Besides,  Gardes 
Mobiles,  as  well  as  National  Guards,  were  posted  within  to  prevent  en¬ 
trance.  A  repast  was  ordered  in  the  kitchen  for  the  irregulars.  What 
its  worth  might  be  we  do  not  know,  but  the  xoine  served  was  execrable. 

Some  of  the  Emperor’s  enemies  have  taken  a  characteristically  French 
revenge  in  scrawling  about  the  walls  facetious  sallies  at  him.  The 
Tuileries  are  covered  with  such  notices  as:  “  Ce  logement  d  loner;" 

Louer,  d  cause  d’ expulsion.”  One  satirist  has  taken  the  trouble  to 
chalk  down  a  stanza,  which  may  be  new  to  some  of  your  readers  : — 

Les  deux  Napoleons  les  gloires  sont  ogales, 

Quoiqu’  ayant  pris  les  chemins  inegaux ; 

L’un  de  l’Europe  a  pris  les  capitales, 

L’autre  au  pays  a  prix  les  capitaux. 

Others  have  amused  themselves  by  scratching  out  the  “  m”  in  “  TEm- 
pereur,”  and  leaving  what  is  intended  for  a  play  on  the  word  “pewr.” 
No  pun  is  too  bad  for  Paris.  The  most  fastidious  wit,  however,  will 
probabty  prefer  this  method  of  wreaking  vengeance  upon  imperialism, 
to  those  usually  employed  in  moments  of  political  excitement. 

Meanwhile  all  Paris  was  wondering  what  had  become  of 
the  Empress.  On  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  September,  Her 
Majesty  was  informed  of  the  capitulation  of  Sedan  and  the 
captivitv  of  the  Etnperor.  The  next  morning  she  sent  the 
following  telegram  to  her  mother,  in  Spain  : 

Paris.  Sept.  4,  1870. 

Ma  chere  Mere: — General  Wimpffen,  who  had  taken  command  after 
MacMahon  had  been  wounded,  has  capitulated,  and  the  Emperor  has 
been  made  prisoner.  Alone  and  without  command,  he  has  submitted 
to  that  which  he  could  not  avert.  All  day  he  was  under  fire.  Courage, 
dear  mother  ;  if  France  will,  she  can  defend  herself.  I  will  do  my  duty. 

Your  unhappy  daughter, 

Madame  la  Comtesse  de  Montijo,  Madrid.  Eugenie. 

These  were  brave  words,  and  they  were  the  words  of  a 
brave  woman.  In  all  the  Council  of  the  Regency,  the  Em¬ 
press  was  the  only  one  undaunted  by  the  situation.  It  does 
not  detract  from  the  credit  which  is  her  due,  that  she  was  not 
fully  informed  of  the  temper  of  the  Parisians,  for  when  the 
truth  was  told  her,  her  courage  did  not  fail. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  September,  Her  Majesty  had 
a  long  and  somewhat  painful  interview  with  the  Count  de  Pa- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


297 


likao,  in  which  she  exerted  all  her  influence  to  induce  the 
Minister  not  to  communicate  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  the 
Emperor  and  army  to  the  Chamber  or  the  public  until  the 
receipt  of  further  details,  which  might  perhaps  be  more  favor¬ 
able.  The  Count  yielded  to  her  entreaties,  and  consented  to 
inform  the  Chamber  of  the  disaster  only  in  general  terms, 
lie  understood  the  temper  of  the  Chamber  better  than  the 
Empress,  and  was  fully  aware  that  he  was  involving  him¬ 
self  in  trouble  with  that  body  by  withholding  the  intelligence. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  the  secret  of  his  agitation  when  he 
made  his  statement  in  the  Chamber  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
3d.  The  suspicious  manner  in  which  his  communication  was 
received  by  the  deputies  determined  him  upon  his  course, 
and  he  resolved  to  tell  the  whole  truth  at  the  session  which 
had  been  fixed  for  midnight  of  the  3d.  Having  come  to  this 
conclusion,  he  carefully  avoided  the  presence  of  the  Empress, 
though  she  sent  for  him  on  two  separate  occasions,  intending, 
doubtless,  to  exert  herself  to  keep  him  faithful  to  his  promise, 
the  fulfilment  of  which  she  regarded  as  essential  to  the  safety 
of  the  dynasty.  A  gentleman  of  the  Imperial  household  was 
present  at  the  midnight  session  of  the  Corps  Legislatif,  and 
heard  the  statement  of  the  Minister  of  War.  Hastening  back 
to  the  Tuileries,  he  informed  Her  Majesty  that  Palikao  had 
broken  faith  with  her.  The  Empress  heard  him  with  un¬ 
shaken  composure,  and  then  retired  to  a  small  private  cha¬ 
pel  attached  to  her  apartments.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  she 
came  out,  and  summoning  an  attendant,  dispatched  him  to 
Count  Palikao  with  a  ring,  which  she  took  from  her  own 
hand — a  mute  but  eloquent  reproach  to  her  faithless  Minister. 
She  did  not  retire  during  the  night,  and  made  no  effort  to 
seek  counsel  of  her  Ministers. 

The  messenger  who  took  the  ring  to  Palikao  never  re¬ 
turned.  He  followed  the  example  of  the  Minister  of  War, 
and  devoted  himself  topreparing  for  his  own  safety.  Palikao 
must  have  felt  the  reproach  conveyed  by  the  present  of  the 
Empress,  for  he  of  all  men  had  most  to  be  grateful  for  to  her. 
Her  favor  had  raised  Cousin  Montauban  to  his  high  position, 


298 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  that  too  in  the  face  of  a  fierce  opposition  from  the  Cham, 
her,  in  days  past,  and  he  owed  her  at  least  the  duty  of  remain¬ 
ing  by  her  side  in  the  hour  of  her  need,  and  making  sure  of 
her  personal  safety.  He  turned  his  back  on  her,  however, 
and  left  her  exposed  to  the  violence  of  a  hostile  mob,  with 
not  one  arm,  so  far  as  he  knew,  to  defend  her  from  it.  His 
confession  of  the  truth  as  to  the  surrender  at  Sedan,  was  an 
act  of  pure  selfishness.  He  had  not  hesitated  to  deceive  the 
Chamber  with  regard  to  affairs  at  Metz,  and  it  would  have 
done  little  harm  to  have  yielded  to  the  Sovereign  to  whom 
he  owed  everything,  and  have  delayed  his  statement  a  few 
hours  longer  in  the  hope  that  something  more  favorable 
might  be  learned.  Unquestionably,  the  truth  should  have 
been  told  promptly.  The  Chamber  should  have  been  in¬ 
formed  from  the  beginning  of  the  exact  state  of  affairs  at  any 
cost  to  the  Napoleon  dynasty,  for  the  safety  of  France  was  at 
stake  ;  but  we  can  hardly  credit  the  Minister  who  had  marked 
his  whole  course  by  a  systematic  deception  of  the  Chamber 
with  an  honest  desire  to  tell  the  truth  upon  this  one  occasion. 
Selfishness  was  at  the  bottom  of  it.  And,  after  all,  having 
stated  the  plain  facts  to  the  Chamber,  and  seeing  the  Revolu¬ 
tion  inevitable,  why  did  not  this  man  hasten  to  the  Tuileries 
to  make  sure  of  the  safety  of  the  woman  who  had  been  his 
best  friend  in  the  day  of  her  power  ?  Cousin  Montauban  was 
•not  lacking  in  personal  courage.  It  was  the  higher,  nobler 
■  element  of  gratitude  that  he  failed  to  display  in  this  emer¬ 
gency. 

Nor  was  he  the  only  ingrate.  When  the  morning  of  the 
4th  of  September  came,  when  all  Paris  was  in  an  uproar,  and 
when,  judging  by  the  lessons  of  past  revolutions,  there  was 
reason  to  believe  that  the  mob  would  attack  the  Palace,  the 
Empress  found  herself  alone — deserted  by  all  whom  she  had 
heaped  favors  upon  in  better  days — by  all  save  three  heroic 
women.  They  were  Madame  Le  Breton,  wife  of  General  Le 
Breton,  and  two  other  ladies,  whose  names,  unfortunately, 
have  not  been  made  known.  These  three  heroines,  indignant 
at  the  cowardice  of  the  other  attendants,  who  had  fled,  or 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


299 


who  were  rifling  the  apartments  of  their  valuable  movable 
contents,  remained  by  their  Sovereign,  resolved  to  share  her 
fate  whatever  it  might  be.  They  were  fully  aware  of  the 
danger  to  which  they  were  all  exposed,  and  endeavored  by  all 
means  in  their  power  to  urge  the  Empress  to  some  effort  to 
secure  her  safety.  Towards  the  afternoon,  the  unhappy  lady, 
worn  out  with  anxiety,  grief  and  loss  of  rest,  sank  into  a  sort 
of  stupor,  from  which  her  ladies  were  powerless  to  rouse  her. 
The  mob  had  already  invaded  the  gardens  of  the  Tuileries  at 
this  moment,  and  the  ladies  could  hear  their  shouts  coming 
nearer  and  nearer.  They  were  in  an  agony  of  alarm.  The 
Empress  seemed  deaf  to  them,  and  the  danger  was  becoming 
more  imminent  every  moment. 

Suddenly  the  door  of  the  apartment,  was  thrown  open,  and 
a  man  rushed  in  pale  and  agitated.  It  was  Ferdinand  de  Les- 
seps,  the  illustrious  designer  and  builder  of  the  Suez  Canal, 
and  an  old  and  tried  friend  of  the  Empress.  He  had  put  his 
life  in  his  hand,  and  had  come  resolved  to  save  his  sovereign 
and  benefactor  or  to  die  with  her.  He  entered  the  Palace 
from  the  Rue  de  Rivoli,  and  hastened  to  the  apartments  of 
the  Empress.  Not  a  single  person  opposed  his  passage,  not 
one  was  to  be  seen  save  a  few  of  the  lackeys  who  were  en¬ 
gaged  in  plundering  the  apartments.  All  the  attendants,  all 
those  who  should  have  been  on  duty  to  protect  the  Imperial 
apartments  from  the  intrusion  of  persons  unattached  to  them, 
had  deserted  their  posts  and  fled.  As  he  saw  the  servants 
plundering  the  rooms,  M.  De  Lesseps  made  a  rush  at  one  of 
them  to  seize  him  and  hand  him  over  to  the  police,  but  he 
checked  himself  as  Madame  Le  Breton  implored  him  to  assist 
the  Empress  to  escape. 

His  arrival  was  most  opportune.  The  mob  had  already 
reached  the  private  garden,  where  they  were  engaged  in  par¬ 
leying  with  the  troops  on  duty,  as  we  have  seen;  and  as  M. 
De  Lesseps  offered  his  services  to  the  Empress,  a  loud  shout 
announced  their  occupation  of  the  grounds  just  under  the 
windows  of  the  room.  This  shout  and  the  arrival  of  De  Les¬ 
seps  aroused  the  Empress  to  a  sense  of  her  situation.  She 


300 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


still  appeared  to  think,  however,  that  the  deliberations  of  the 
Chamber  would  bring  the  troubles  to  a  happy  solution.  Turn¬ 
ing  to  M.  De  Lessepsshe  requested  him  to  cause  the  Ministers 
to  be  at  once  informed  of  the  indignities  to  which  she  was  ex¬ 
posed. 

“  I  have  come,”  said  M.  De  Lesseps,  “  not  to  risk  your  Ma¬ 
jesty’s  safety  by  an  appeal  to  men  who  cannot  provide  for  their 
own,  but  to  ask  you  to  confide  in  me.” 

“  But  the  Assembly  ?”  said  one  of  the  ladies. 

“  The  Assembly,  madame,”  said  De  Lesseps  gravely,  though 
not  without  a  touch  of  irony,  “  is  at  this  moment  the  nation. 
The  rabble  of  Paris,  by  one  successful  rush,  have  elected  them¬ 
selves  to  the  Chamber,  and  they  are  now  probably  voting 
the  new  constitution  by  acclamation  de  pied  from  the  benches 
of  the  Right.” 

His  words  convinced  the  Empress  that  all  was  indeed  lost 
for  the  Empire.  Rising,  she  motioned  to  one  of  the  ladies 
for  her  bonnet,  gloves,  and  a  walking  jacket,  which  her  ladies 
aided  her  in  putting  on.  Then  turning  to  M.  De  Lesseps,  she 
asked  quietly,  and  with  a  sad  smile,  “  Which  way?” 

De  Lesseps  led  the  way  from  the  chamber,  followed  by  the 
Empress  and  the  four  ladies,  the  shouts  of  the  crowd  warning 
them  that  they  had  no  time  to  lose.  They  traversed  the  Tuile- 
ries,  and  passing  through  the  great  hall  in  which  the  Emperor 
had  always  opened  the  Legislature  in  person,  entered  the 
famous  long  gallery  of  the  Louvre,  which  runs  parallel  with 
the  river,  and  soon  reached  the  door  at  the  lower  end  which 
communicates  with  the  stairway  and  the  street.  To  their 
dismay,  the  door  was  locked,  and  the  key  was  missing.  The 
custodians  of  the  Louvre  had  deserted  their  posts,  and  there 
was  no  one  at  hand  who  could  be  asked  for  the  key.  The 
hopes  of  De  Lesseps  nearly  forsook  him  at  this  juncture,  and 
he  stood  silent,  trying  in  vain  to  find  some  way  out  of  the 
dilemma.  The  Empress,  cool  and  collected,  seated  herself  on 
one  of  the  fauteuils  opposite  Reubens’  great  picture  of  the 
arrival  of  Marie  de  Medicis.  The  shouts  of  the  mob,  as  they 
approached  the  entrance  to  the  Tnileries,  now  grew  louder. 
Not  a  second  was  to  be  lost. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


301 


The  Louvre  Gallery  :  Paris. 


“  There  is  but  one  thing  to  do,”  said  De  Lesseps,  suddenly. 
“  I  will  step  out  on  the  terrace,  and  address  the  crowd,  while 
your  Majesty  and  the  ladies — ” 

He  was  interrupted  by  a  noise  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
gallery.  Glancing  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  he  beheld, 
to  his  relief,  Madame  Le  Breton,  holding  in  her  hand  the  key 
of  the  door  which  had  stayed  their  progress.  She  had  recol¬ 
lected  that  the  door  was  always  locked  on  the  side  nearest  the 
Tuileries,  and  had  hastily  left  the  long  gallery  and  had  des¬ 
cended  by  means  of  a  private  stairway  close  by,  to  the  porter’s 
lodge,  where  she  had  found  the  key  on  the  labelled  hook. 

De  Lesseps  at  once  unlocked  the  door,  and  the  fugitives 
gained  the  stairway  and  the  street,  and  at  the  same  moment, 
the  mob  rushed  into  the  Tuileries  which  the  Empress  had 
just  quitted.  At  the  foot  of  the  stairway,  the  Empress  and 
her  companions  paused  to  decide  upon  their  future  move¬ 
ments.  The  Empress  expressed  her  intention  to  go  to  Eng¬ 
land,  and  Madame  Lc  Breton  said  she  would  accompany  her. 
This  Her  Majesty  at  first  refused  to  allow,  but,  at  the  urgent 
prayer  of  her  friend,  at  length  agreed  to.  The  other  two 
ladies,  being  unable  to  accompawy  her  from  France,  decided 
to  go  to  the  house  of  a  friend  in  the  Faubourg  St.  Germain. 


302 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Upon  reaching  the  street,  M.  De  Lesseps  hailed  two  cabs  that 
were  passing.  Placing  the  two  ladies  in  one,  he  directed  the 
driver  to  conduct  them  to  their  friend’s  residence  in  the  Fau¬ 
bourg  St.  Germain.  He  handed  the  Empress  and  Madame 
Le  Breton  into  the  other,  and  entered  himself.  As  he  was 
closing  the  window,  a  gamin ,  or  street  boy,  passed  the  car¬ 
riage,  and  glancing  in,  recognized  the  Empress,  and  exclaimed, 
“ Voilti  Madame  Bonaparte /”  Fortunately  no  one  heard 
him,  and  the  next  instant  the  carriage  was  driven  away  to 
the  residence  of  M.  De  Lesseps,  in  the  Boulevard  Malesherbes, 
which  was  reached  without  further  incident.  There  the  fugi¬ 
tives  remained  until  the  evening,  when,  accompanied  by 
M.  De  Lesseps,  they  proceeded  in  a  cab  to  the  Northwestern 
railway  station  in  the  Place  du  Havre,  and  left  Paris  on  the 
train  for  Havre.  Early  the  next  day  they  reached  the  little 
town  of  Deauville  on  the  northern  coast,  and  took  lodgings  at 
a  second-class  hotel,  avoiding  the  principal  hotel  where  the 
Empress  might  have  been  recognized  by  some  one  of  the 
guests — the  place  being  a  fashionable  summer  resort,  although 
comparatively  deserted  at  that  season. 

M.  De  Lesseps  at  once  began  his  search  for  a  vessel  in 
which  the  Empress  could  take  passage  to  England,  distant 
about  100  miles  across  the  channel.  At  the  same  time, 
through  the  agency  of  a  friend  in  Paris,  he  was  enabled  to 
procure  intelligence  of  the  Prince  Imperial,  and  to  assure  the 
Empress  of  his  safety.  The  prospect  of  finding  a  ship  in  which 
he  could  trust  his  illustrious  companion,  however,  was  dis¬ 
couraging,  and  almost  in  despair  he  entered  a  small  local 
yachting  club  house  in  Deauville,  to  look  over  the  papers, 
hoping  to  gain  some  intelligence  which  would  assist  him  from 
them.  He  had  scarcely  entered  when  some  one  called  his 
name.  Looking  up  he  recognized  an  old  friend  in  the  speaker, 
Sir  John  Montague  Burgoyne,  who  had  served  in  the  English 
army  in  the  Crimea.  Sir  John  explained  his  presence  there 
by  saying  that  he  was  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Lady  Burgoyne 
from  Switzerland,  and  that  his  yacht  was  then  lying  in  the 
harbor,  and  would  sail  for  England  on  Wednesday. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


303 


This  was  a  providential  meeting  for  De  Lesseps,  and  he 
determined  to  ask  the  assistance  of  his  friend.  Lowering  his 
voice,  in  order  that  he  might  not  be  overheard,  he  said : 

“  Sir  John,  will  you  do  me  the  very  greatest  service  I  ever- 
demanded  of  any  human  being  ?  ” 

“Name  it,”  said  his  friend,  laughing. 

“  Will  you  find  me  three  places  on  your  yacht  for  the  pass¬ 
age  to  England  on  Wednesday  ?  ” 

“Is  that  all?”  asked  his  friend.  “The  places  will  be 
ready  for  you.” 

“  Do  you  know,”  said  the  great  engineer,  speaking  still 
more  cautiously — “do  you  know  whom  you  will  carry  with 
you  as  my  compagnon  du  voyage  ?  ” 

Sir  John  shook  his  head,  smiling 

“  Her  Imperial  Majesty,  the  Empress  of  the  French,”  said 
De  Lesseps,  quietly. 

Sir  John  rose  to  his  feet,  held  out  his  hand,  without  speak¬ 
ing,  and  a  load  was  lifted  from  the  heart  of  the  great  engineer. 

The  Empress  gladly  availed  herself  of  the  kindness  of  the 
generous  Englishman  ;  and  on  Tuesday  evening,  accompanied 
by  Madame  Le  Breton  and  De  Lesseps,  went  on  board  the 
yacht,  where  Sir  John  and  Lady  Burgoyne  were  waiting  to 
receive  her.  Sir  John  had  told  his  mate  that  two  English  ladies 
would  make  the  home  passage  with  them,  and  the  fugitives 
had  scarcely  come  on  board  when  the  mate,  approaching 
Madame  Le  Breton,  asked  her  some  question  about  her  berth) 
which  had  been  hastily  prepared  for  her.  The  lady  could 
not  speak  a  word  of  English,  but  fortunately  the  Empress 
spoke  the  language  fluently,  and  at  Madame  Le  Breton’s  sug¬ 
gestion,  she  told  the  mate  that  her  maid  could  not  speak  Eng¬ 
lish,  and  answered  his  question  herself. 

At  daybreak,  on  Wednesday  morning,  September  7th,  the 
French  pilot  came  on  board,  and  the  little  vessel  soon  after 
set  sail  for  England,  making  direct  for  the  Isle  of  Wight.  M. 
De  Lesseps  remained  on  deck  during  the  whole  voyage,  fear¬ 
ing  all  the  while  lest  their  escape  should  be  discovered  in 
France  and  a  vessel  sent  to  overhaul  them.  Fortunately  they 


304 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


pursued  their  voyage  in  peace,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th,  the  little  vessel  cast  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Ryde.  Then 
taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  their  generous  English  friends, 
the  Empress  and  her  companions  hastened  to  Portsmouth, 
from  which  place  they  took  the  cars  for  Hastings,  where  the 
Prince  Imperial  awaited  them,  reaching  the  latter  town  at 
nine  o’clock  that  night.* 

During  the  5th  the  mob  continued  to  parade  the  streets  of 
the  city  of  Paris,  tearing  down  the  Imperial  symbols  wherever 
they  could  see  them,  and  giving  vent  to  many  childish  evi¬ 
dences  of  rage. 

The  new  Government  of  the  Republic — the  Government  of 
the  National  Defence,  as  it  styled  itself — went  at  once  to  work. 
Gambetta  issued  the  following  proclamations  to  the  Prefects 
of  the  Departments  : 

Republic/ ue  Francaise,  Ministcre  de  li InUrieur. 

The  dtch£ance  has  been  pronounced  in  the  Corps  L6gislatif.  '[’he 
Republic  has  been  proclaimed  at  the  Hotel  de  Yille.  A  government  of 
national  defence,  composed  of  eleven  members,  and  all  the  deputies  of 
Paris,  has  been  constituted  and  ratified  by  popular  acclamation.  Their 
names  are : 

Emmanuel  Arago,  Crfanieux,  Jules  Favre,  Jules  Ferry,  Gambetta, 
Garnier-Pagfes,  Glais-Bizoin,  Pelletan,  Ernest  Picard,  Rochefort,  Jules 
Simon. 

Gen.  T’rochu  will  at  the  same  time  continue  in  the  exercise  of  the  pow¬ 
ers  of  Governor  of  Paris,  and  is  appointed  Minister  of  War  in  place  of 
Gen.  Palikao. 

Please  placard  immediately,  and,  if  necessary,  have  proclaimed  by  the 
public  crier  this  declaration. 

For  the  Government  of  National  Defence,  Leon  Gambetta, 

The  Minister  of  the  Interior. 

Paris,  the  4th  day  of  September,  1870,  at  six  o’clock  r.  m. 

Paris,  Sept.  4,  1870 

Gen.  Trochu,  Governor  of  Paris,  has  been  appointed  member  of  the 
Government  of  National  Defence,  installed  at  the  Hotel  de  Yille.  He 


*  The  above  account  of  the  flight  of  the  Empress  is  based  upon  the  narra¬ 
tive  published  in  the  New  York  World  of  September  25th,  1870.  The  writer 
of  that  narrative  was  furnished  with  the  facts  he  states  by  the  companions 
of  the  Empress. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


305 


takes  the  portfolio  of  War,  and  his  colleagues  have  conferred  upon  him 


Leon  Gambetta. 


the  Presidency. 


The  offices  of  the  Provisional  Government  are  distributed  as  follows  : 

Jules  Favre,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 

Isaac  Cr6mieux,  Minister  of  Justice. 

Leon  Gambetta,  Minister  af  the  Interior. 

Ernest  Picard,  Minister  of  Finance. 

Pierre  Dorian,  Superintendent  of  Public  Works. 

Joseph  Magnin,  Minister  of  Commerce. 

Jules  Simon,  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

Martin  Fourichon,  Minister  of  Marine. 

Louis  Jules  Trochu,  Minister  of  War ;  also,  Pres,  of  the  Committee. 

Seals  have  been  placed  on  the  doors  of  the  Corps  L6gislatif. 

Etienne  Arago  was  appointed  Mayor  of  Paris,  and  Count 
de  Keratry  was  made  Prefect  of  Police. 

On  the  6th  of  September  the  following  proclamation  to  the 
army  was  issued : 

To  the  Army  : — When  a  general  has  compromised  his  command,  it  is 
withdrawn  from  him.  When  a  Government  lias  placed  the  weal  of  the 
fatherland  in  danger  by  its  mistakes,  it  is  set  aside.  That  is  what  France 
has  just  done.  In  displacing  a  dynasty  which  is  responsible  for  our  mis¬ 
fortunes,  it  has  at  one  stroke  completed  a  great  act  of  justice  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world.  France  has  executed  the  judgment  which  had  long  been 
secretly  expected  of  her  by  all.  France  has  at  the  same  time  performed 
an  act  of  salvation.  The  nation  has  for  its  preservation  only  the  neces¬ 
sity  of  raising  itself,  and,  besides  that,  to  hold  to  two  things  :  its  deter¬ 
mination,  which  is  unconquerable ;  and  its  heroism,  which  has  not  its 
equal,  and  which  has  aroused  the  astonishment  of  the  world  during  unde¬ 
served  disasters.  Soldiers,  in  the  terrible  crisis  through  which  we  are 
hastening,  we  have  seized  the  helm,  but  with  it  we  have  not  in  any  way 
sought  party  ends.  We  find  ourselves  not  at  the  helm,  but  in  battle. 
We  are  the  Government  of  no  party,  but  we  are  a  Government  of  the 
National  Defence.  We  have  only  one  object,  only  one  desire  :  the  good 
of  the  fatherland  by  the  army  and  the  nation,  which  gathers  around  the 
glorious  symbol  which  eighty  years  ago  drove  back  Europe.  To-day, 
as  then,  the  name  Republic  means :  Thorough  concord  between  army 
and  people  for  the  defence  of  the  fatherland. 


General  Trochu, 
Emmanuel  Arago, 
Gremieux, 

Jules  Favre, 
Jules  Ferry, 
Gambetta, 


Garnier-Pages, 

Glais-Bizoin, 


Peli.etan, 

E.  Picard, 
Rochefort, 
Jules  Simon. 


20 


306 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


On  the  same  da)r  Jules  Favre  addressed  the  following  cir¬ 
cular  to  the  diplomatic  representatives  of  France  in  foreign 
countries : 

Sir  : — The  events  which  have  just  taken  place  in  Paris  explain  them¬ 
selves  so  well  by  the  inexorable  logic  of  facts  that  it  is  useless  to  insist 
at  length  on  their  meaning  and  bearing.  In  ceding  to  an  irresistible  im¬ 
pulse  which  had  been  but  too  long  restrained,  the  population  of  Paris 
has  obeyed  a  necessity  superior  to  that  of  its  own  safety.  It  did  not 
wish  to  perish  with  the  criminal  Government  which  was  leading  France 
to  her  ruin;  it  has  not  pronounced  the  deposition  of  Napoleon  III.  and 
of  his  dynasty  ;  it  has  registered  it  in  the  name  of  right,  justice,  and 
public  safety,  and  the  sentence  was  so  well  ratified  beforehand  by  the 
conscience  of  all,  that  no  one,  even  among  the  most  noisy  defenders  of 
the  power  that  was  falling,  raised  his  voice  to  uphold  it.  It  collapsed  of 
itself  under  llie  weight  of  its  faults,  and  amid  the  acclamations  of  an  im¬ 
mense  people,  without  a  single  drop  of  blood  being  shed — without  any  one 
individual  being  deprived  of  his  personal  liberty :  and  we  have  been 
able  to  see — a  thing  unheard  of  in  history  ! — the  citizens  upon  whom  the 
popular  voice  conferred  the  perilous  mandate  to  fight  and  to  conquer, 
not  thinking  for  a  moment  of  their  political  adversaries,  who  but  the 
day  before  threatened  them  with  execution.  It  is  by  refusing  to  their 
adversaries  the  honor  of  being  subject  to  any  sort  of  repression  that 
they  have  shown  them  their  blindness  and  their  impotence.  Order  has 
not  been  disturbed  for  a  single  moment.  Our  confidence  in  the  wisdom 
and  patriotism  of  the  National  Guard  and  of  the  whole  population  per¬ 
mits  us  to  affirm  that  it  will  not  be  disturbed.  Rescued  from  the  shame 
and  the  danger  of  a  Government  which  has  proved  itself  a  traitor  to  all 
its  duties,  each  one  now  comprehends  that  the  first  act  of  the  National 
Sovereignty  at  last  reconquered  must  be  one  of  self-control — the  seeking 
for  strength  in  respect  for  right.  Moreover,  time  must  not  be  lost. 
The  enemies  are  at  our  gates ;  we  have  but  one  thought,  namely,  their 
expulsion  from  our  territory.  But  this  obligation,  which  we  resolutely 
accept,  we  did  not  impose  upon  France.  She  would  not  be  in  her  pre¬ 
sent  position  if  our  voice  had  been  listened  to.  We  have  energetically 
defended,  even  at  the  cost  of  our  popularity,  the  policy  of  peace. 

AVe  still  maintain  the  same  opinion  with  increasing  conviction. 
Our  heart  breaks  at  the  sight  of  those  human  massacres,  wherein  is 
sacrificed  the  flower  of  two  nations,  that  a  little  good  sense  and  a  great 
deal  of  liberty  would  have  preserved  from  such  frightful  catastrophes. 
We  cannot  find  an  expression  capable  of  rendering  our  admiration  for 
our  heroic  army,  sacrificed  by  the  incapacity  of  the  supreme  commander, 
but  showing  itself  greater  in  its  defeats  than  in  the  most  brilliant  victory  ; 
for,  in  spite  of  the  knowledge  of  faults  which  comprised  its  safety,  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


307 


array  has  immolated  itself  with  sublime  heroism  in  the  face  of  certain 
death,  redeeming  thus  the  honor  of  France  from  the  stain  cast  upon  her 
by  her  Government.  All  honor  to  the  army  !  The  nation  looks  towards 
it  with  open  arms. 

The  Imperial  Power  wished  to  divide  them ;  misfortune  and  duty  join 
them  in  a  solemn  embrace  sealed  by  patriotism  and  liberty.  This  alli¬ 
ance  renders  us  invincible.  Ready  for  every  emergency,  we  look  with 
calmness  on  the  position  of  affairs,  made  what  it  is  not  by  us,  but  by 
others.  This  position  I  will  explain  in  a  few  words,  and  I  submit  it  to 
the  judgment  of  my  country  and  of  Europe.  We  loudly  condemned  the 
war,  and,  while  protesting  our  respect  for  the  rights  of  peoples,  we  asked 
that  Germany  should  be  mistress  of  her  own  destinies.  We  wished  that 
liberty  should  be  at  the  same  time  our  common  tie  and  our  common 
ghield.  We  were  convinced  that  these  moral  forces  would  forever  en¬ 
sure  peace,  but  as  a  sanction,  we  claimed  an  arm  for  every  citizen,  a 
civil  organization,  and  the  election  of  leaders.  Then  we  should  have  re¬ 
mained  invincible  on  our  own  soil.  The  Government  of  the  Emperor, 
which  had  long  since  separated  its  interests  from  those  of  the  country,  op¬ 
posed  that  policy.  We  take  it  up  with  the  hope  that,  taught  by  experi¬ 
ence,  France  will  have  the,  wisdom  to  put  it  into  practice.  On  his  side,  the 
King  of  Prussia  declared  that  he  made  war,  not  against  France,  but 
against  the  Imperial  dynasty.  The  dynasty  has  fallen  to  the  ground, 
France  raises  herself  free.  Does  the  King  of  Prussia  wish  to  continue 
an  impious  struggle,  which  will  be  at  least-  as  fatal  to  him  as  to  us? 
Does  he  wish  to  give  to  the  world  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  cruel 
spectacle  of  two  nations  destroying  one  another,  and,  in  forgetfulness  of 
humanity,  reason,  and  science,  heaping  corpse  upon  corpse,  and  ruin 
upon  ruin?  lie  is  free  to  assume  this  responsibility  in  the  face  of  the 
world  and  of  history.  If  it  is  a  challenge,  we  accept  it. 

We  will  not  cede  either  one  inch  of  our  territory  or  a  stone  of  our 
fortresses.  A  shameful  peace  would  mean  a  war  of  extermination  at  an 
early  date.  We  will  only  treat  for  a  durable  peace.  In  this  our  inter¬ 
est  is  that  of  the  whole  of  Europe,  and  we  have  reason  to  hope  that, 
freed  from  all  dynastic  considerations,  the  question  will  thus  present 
itself  before  the  Cabinets  of  Europe.  But,  should  we  be  alone,  we  shall 
not  yield.  We  have  a  resolute  army,  well  provisioned  forts,  a  well  estab¬ 
lished  enciente,  and,  above  all,  the  breasts  of  300,000  combatants,  deter¬ 
mined  to  hold  out  to  the  last.  When  they  piously  lay  crowns  at  the  feet 
of. the  statue  of  Strasbourg  they  do  not  obey  merely  an  enthusiastic 
sentiment  of  admiration;  they  adopt  their  heroic  mot  ’ordre ;  they 
swear  to  be  worthy  of  their  brethren  of  Alsace,  and  to  die  as  they  have 
done.  After  the  forts  we  have  the  ramparts ;  after  the  ramparts  we 
have  the  barricades.  Paris  can  hold  out  for  three  months  and  conquer. 
If  she  succumbs,  France  will  start  up  at  her  appeal  and  avenge  her 
France  would  continue  the  struggle,  and  the  aggressor  would  perish. 


308 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Such  is,  sir,  what  Europe  must  know.  We  have  not  accepted  power 
with  any  other  object ;  we  will  not  keep  it  a  moment  if  we  should  not 
find  the  population  of  Paris  and  the  whole  of  France  decided  to  share 
our  resolution.  I  sum  up  these  resolves  briefly  in  the  presence  of  God, 
who  hears  me — in  the  face  of  posterity,  which  shall  judge  us.  We  wish 
only  for  peace  ;  but  if  this  disastrous  war,  which  we  have  condemned,  is 
continued  against  us,  we  shall  do  our  duty  to  the  last,  and  I  have  the 
firm  confidence  that  our  cause,  which  is  that  of  right  and  justice,  will 
triumph  in  the  end.  It  is  in  this  manner  that  I  invite  you  to  explain 
the  situation  to  the  Minister  of  the  court  to  which  you  are  accredited, 
and  in  whose  hands  you  will  place  a  copy  of  this  document. 

Accept,  sir,  the  expression  of  my  high  consideration. 

The  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs, 

(Signed,)  Julf.s  Favre. 

September  6,  1870.* 


*  Count  Bismarck,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  procure  a  copy  of  this  circu¬ 
lar,  addressed  the  following  reply  to  it  to  the  German  Diplomatic  Represen¬ 
tatives  abroad : 

“  Meaux,  Friday,  September  16,  1870. 

“Your  Excellency  is  familiar  with  the  circular  which  M.  Jules  Favre  has 
addressed  to  the  foreign  representatives  of  France  in  the  name  of  the  men 
at  present  holding  power  in  Paris,  and  who  call  themselves  ‘Le  Gouvernement 
de  la  Defense  Nationale.’ 

“  I  have  learned  simultaneously  that  M.  Thiers  has  entered  upon  a  confi¬ 
dential  mission  to  Foreign  Courts,  and  I  may  presume  that  he  will  endeavor 
on  the  one  side  to  create  a  belief  in  the  love  for  peace  of  the  present  Parisian 
Government,  and  on  the  other  side  will  request  the  intervention  of  the  Neu¬ 
tral  Powers  in  favor  of  a  peace  which  shall  deprive  Germany  of  the  fruits  of 
her  victories,  and  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  every  basis  of  peace  which 
should  make  the  next  attack  of  France  on  Germany  more  difficult. 

“We  cannot  believe  in  the  sincerity  of  the  desire  of  the  present  Parisian 
Government  to  make  peace,  so  long  as  it  continues  by  its  language  and  its 
acts  at  home  to  excite  the  passions  of  the  people. 

“We  are  far  from  any  inclination  to  mix  in  the  internal  affairs  of  France. 
It  is  immaterial  to  us  what  kind  of  a  Government  the  French  people  shall 
formally  establish  for  themselves.  The  Government  of  the  Emperor  Na¬ 
poleon  has  hitherto  been  the  only  one  recognized  by  us.  Our  conditions 
of  peace,  with  whatever  Government,  legislating  for  the  purpose  we  may 
have  to  negotiate  with,  are  wholly  independent  of  the  question  how  or  by 
whom  the  French  nation  is  governed.  They  are  prescribed  to  us  by  the 
nature  of  things,  and  by  the  law  of  self-defence  against  a  violent  and  hostile 
neighbor. 

“  The  unanimous  voice  of  the  Germanic  Governments  and  the  German  peo¬ 
ple  demands  that  Germany  shall  be  protected  by  better  boundaries  than  wc 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


309 


The  city  of  Lyons,  always  a  stronghold  of  ultra  socialism, 
had  not  waited  to  hear  from  Paris.  As  soon  as  the  news  of 
the  excitement  in  the  Capital  reached  Lyons,  on  the  4th  of 
September,  the  mob  rose  and  took  matters  into  their  own 
hands.  They  took  possession  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  and  or¬ 
ganized  a  committee  of  public  safety,  which  assumed  the 
sovereign  power,  ordering  arrests,  decreeing  the  suspension 
of  octroi  duties,  and  ordering  the  director  of  the  savings  bank 
to  hand  over  to  them  the  funds  in  his  possession  — •  an  order 
which  he  had  the  firmness  to  disregard.  The  tri-color  was 
set  aside  by  this  committee  and  the  red  flag  raised  in  its  place. 
At  first  the  authority  of  the  Provisional  Government  organ¬ 
ized  at  Paris  was  openly  repudiated,  and  it  was  only  with 


have  hitherto  had,  against  the  dangers  and  violence  we  have  experienced 
from  all  French  Governments  for  centuries.  So  long  as  France  remains  in 
possession  of  Strasbourg  and  Metz,  so  long  is  its  offensive  strategically 
stronger  than  our  defensive,  so  far  as  all  South  Germany  and  North  Germany 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine  are  concerned.  Strasbourg  in  the  possession 
of  France  is  a  gate  wide  open  for  attack  on  South  Germany.  In  the  hands 
of  Gewnany,  Strasbourg  and  Metz  obtain  a  defensive  character. 

“  In  more  than  twenty  wars  we  have  never  been  the  aggressors  on  France  ; 
and  we  demand  of  the  latter  nothing  else  than  our  safety  in  our  own  land, 
so  often  threatened  by  it.  France,  on  the  other  hand,  will  regard  any  peace 
that  may  be  made  now  as  an  armistice  only,  and,  in  order  to  avenge  the 
present  defeat,  will  attack  us  in  the  same  quarrelsome  and  wanton  manner  as 
this  year,  as  soon  as  it  feels  strong  enough  in  its  own  resources  or  in  foreign 
alliances. 

“In  rendering  it  difficult  for  France,  from  whose  initiative  alone  nitherto 
the  disturbances  of  Europe  have  resulted,  to  resume  the  offensive,  we  at  the 
same  time  act  in  the  interest  of  Europe,  which  is  that  of  peace. 

“  From  Germany  no  disturbance  of  the  European  peace  i3  to  be 
feared.  Although  France  had  been  trying  to  force  the  war  upon  us 
for  four  years,  we,  by  our  care,  and  by  restraining  the  feelings  of  our  na¬ 
tional  self-respect,  so  incessantly  outraged  by  France,  had  prevented  its 
occurrence. 

.“We  mean  now  for  our  future  safety  to  demand  the  price  of  our  mighty 
efforts.  We  shall  demand  only  that  which  we  must  have  for  our  defence. 
Nobody  will  be  able  to  accuse  us  of  want  of  moderation  if  we  insist  upon 
this  just  and  equitable  demand. 

“  Your  Excellency  will  make  these  views  your  own,  and  advocate  them  in 
discussions,  Bismarck.” 


310 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


extreme  difficulty  that  the  Prefect  appointed  by  Gambetta 
could  make  his  authority  respected  in  the  city.  Even  then 
the  city  officials  were  compelled  to  yield  to  the  popular  pres¬ 
sure,  and  to  agree  to  many  of  the  extreme  demands  of  the  Eed 
Republicans. 

In  Marseilles  matters  were  nearly  as  bad.  The  authority 
of  the  Provisional  Government  was  acknowledged,  it  is  true, 
but  a  strong  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  officials, 
to  compel  them  to  yield  to  the  demands  of  the  mob.  M.  Es- 
quiros,  the  Prefect  appointed  by  Gambetta,  was  made  prisoner 
by  the  Garde  Civile,  and  only  released  by  the  National  Guard, 
who  compelled  the  mob  to  maintain  an  outward  show  of  sub¬ 
mission  ;  but  the  Reds  forced  the  Prefect  to  sequester  the  pro¬ 
perty  of  the  Jesuits  and  expel  the  members  of  that  Order 
from  the  city.  He  was  also  compelled  to  suspend  the  publi¬ 
cation  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  newspapers  in 
the  city,  merely  because  it  was  a  clerical  organ.  In  both 
Lyons  and  Marseilles  there  was  great  danger  of  a  return  to 
the  scenes  of  terror  which  had  marked  the  days  of  the  great 
Revolution,  and  in  both  these  places  the  better  classes — espe¬ 
cially  in  the  clergy  — 1  felt  that  their  safety  was  far  from  being 
as  sure  as  M.  Jules  Favre  declared. 

The  new  Government  was  finally  accepted  in  the  principal 
cities  and  towns  of  France,  and  the  rest  of  the  country  fol¬ 
lowed  the  example  of  the  larger  communities.  The  mode  of 
operations  pursued  by  the  new  authorities  was  as  follows  : 

Immediately  upon  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  of 
Minister  of  the  Interior,  M.  Gambetta  inaugurated  a  system 
of  distributing  the  patronage  of  the  Government  similar  to 
that  which  has  for  so  long  been  the  curse  of  the  civil  service 
of  our  own  country.  “  To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils  ”  was 
his  motto.  The  rapid  advance  of  the  German  armies  made  it 
impossible  to  make  the  distributing  process  very  thorough, 
but  he  carried  it  out  as  far  as  lay  in  his  power.  Selecting  the 
principal  leader  of  the  Republican  party  in  each  of  the  vari¬ 
ous  towns  of  France,  he  addressed  him  a  circular  appointing 
him  Prefect.  This  personage  was  usually  a  journalist  or  a 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


311 


lawyer,  and  was  chosen  entirely  because  of  his  devotion  to 
the  Republican  ideas.  In  order  to  make  the  distribution  as 
thorough  as  possible,  and  to  secure  the  support  of  the  im¬ 
mense  body  of  officials  employed  by  the  Government,  M. 
Gambetta,  in  his  circular  to  the  new  Prefects,  instructed  them 
to  remove  all  officials  subordinate  to  them  who  could  not  be 
relied  upon  as  Republicans,  and  to  fill  their  places  with  trust¬ 
worthy  men.  The  new  Prefects  promptly  accepted  the  offices 
tendered  them,  and,  having  secured  the  power,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  gave  a  vigorous  support  to  the  Government  to  which 
they  owed  their  official  existence.  They  took  good  care  to 
obey  the  instructions  of  the  Minister  of  the  Interior,  and  as 
far  as  was  possible,  the  civil  offices  throughout  the  country 
were  taken  from  the  Imperialists  and  confided  to  “  good 
patriots,”  or,  in  other  words,  to  men  who  were  willing  to  obey 
M.  Gambetta  and  his  self-appointed  colleagues.  The  people 
of  France,  wiser  and  more  patriotic  than  the  new  rulers,  de¬ 
cided  to  support  the  Provisional  Government.  It  was  the 
ouly  Government  in  existence,  and  the  Prussians  were  ad¬ 
vancing.  Therefore  they  agreed  to  leave  the  question  of  the 
form  of  Government  to  the  future,  and  for  the  present  to 
support  any  man  or  men  who  could  place  France  in  a  position 
to  resist  the  enemy. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  Republic,  which  was  heralded  as  the 
work  of  the  people  of  France,  was  in  reality  not  their  work. 
The  Corps  Legislatif  had  been  elected  by  the  whole  people 
of  the  Empire,  who  but  a  short  time  previous,  by  a  vote  of 
seven  millions,  had  also  confirmed  the  Napoleonic  sj'stem. 
On  the  4th  of  September,  a  mob  composed  of  only  a  part  of 
the  people  of  Paris,  overthrew  the  Imperial  Government  and 
dissolved  the  Legislative  Body.  A  small  fraction  of  the  French 
people  accomplished  this,  and  at  a  time  when  the  country  was 
almost  paralyzed  by  its  reverses  in  the  field.  Yet  MM.  Gam¬ 
betta  and  Favre  and  their  colleagues  proclaimed  it  the  work 
of  the  nation.  By  what  means  they  were  authorized  to  speak 
for  the  nation  is  best  known  to  themselves.  The  best  proof, 
however,  that  their  work  was  not  in  accordance  with  the  will 


312 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


of  the  nation  is  the  notorious  fact  that  the  French,  as  a  people, 
are  peculiarly  averse  to  a  Republican  form  of  Government. 
In  a  few  of  the  large  cities  Republicanism  is  popular,  but  to 
the  great  mass  of  the  nation  it  is  utterly  unacceptable.  Even 
if  the  French  nation  was  tired  of  the  Empire,  even  if  it  de¬ 
sired  the  overthrow  of  the  Napeoleon  dynasty  in  those  sad 
September  days  —  of  which  we  have  no  substantial  proof — 
it  is  very  certain  that  it  did  not  desire  the  formation  of  a 
Republic.  Paris  is  not  France  ;  Lyons  is  not  France ;  and 
it  is  not  fair  to  take  the  sentiment  of  either  city  as  an  indica¬ 
tion  of  the  feelings  of  the  nation.  The  Republican  deputies  who 
formed  the  September  Government  claimed  to  be  acting  upon 
the  impulse  of  a  pure  principle ;  yet  they  began  their  work 
by  a  false  assertion.  They  were  but  a  handful  of  the  people, 
and  they  had  no  right  to  act  for  the  whole  nation.  They 
undid  the  work  of  the  nation  in  overthrowing  the  Corps 
Lbgislatif,  and  every  act  which  followed  the  inauguration  of 
their  Government  showed  their  distrust  of  the  people.  M. 
Gambetta,  by  his  adroitness,  succeeded  in  filling  the  offices 
necessary  to  the  administration  of  order  in  France  with  his 
own  friends,  taking  care  to  appoint  none  but  members  of 
his  own  party,  even  in  districts  in  which  the  Republicans 
were  but  a  feeble  minority  of  the  people.  That  the  people 
of  France  consented  to  sustain  the  Provisional  Government  is 
no  proof  of  its  popularity  with  them.  France  was  compelled 
to  support  it,  or  to  resort  to  civil  war  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

It  will  be  well  for  the  reader  to  remember  the  course  pur¬ 
sued  by  the  Left  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  to  the  4th  of 
September.  We  have  already  shown  how  the  Moderate 
party  in  the  Chamber,  and  their  representatives  in  the  Press, 
goaded  the  Emperor  on  to  a  war  with  Germany.  We  have 
also  seen  how,  having  driven  him  into  war,  they  refused  him 
their  support,  save  in  those  measures  in  which  they  dared 
not  thwart  him,  in  consequence  of  their  fear  of  the  people. 
True  patriotism  would  have  induced  these  gentlemen,  at  the 
outset  of  the  war,  to  lay  aside  their  political  animosity  to  the 
Empire,  and  to  carry  the  country  through  the  struggle  as  a 


Dome  of  the  Invalides  :  Paris. 


313 


314 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


united  people.  It  would  Lave  raised  their  love  for  France 
above  their  hatred  of  Napoleon,  and  have  induced  them  to 
make  strong  even  the  hands  of  their  enemy  since  he  repre¬ 
sented  France  in  the  conflict.  But,  alas  for  their  country! 
they  were  incapable  of  this.  From  the  commencement  of  the 
war  they  exerted  themselves,  not  to  quiet  discord,  to  unite 
France  in  one  solid  front,  but  to  embarrass  the  Government, 
to  harass  it  with  a  puerile  and  criminal  opposition  ;  to 
thwart  its  measures,  and  to  terrify  it  with  the  conviction  that 
they  would  take  advantage  of  the  first  opportunity  to  over¬ 
throw  it.  Let  us  blame  the  Emperor  and  his  Ministers,  the 
Regent  and  her  Council,  for  their  timorous,  hesitating  policy, 
as  we  may,  but  let  us  try  to  consider  how  far  they  were  hin¬ 
dered  in  their  designs  and  efforts  by  the  criminal  conduct  of 
the  deputies  of  the  Left. 

However  much  the  Empire  may  have  blundered,  there  is 
no  doubt  that  it  was  as  vigorous  and  as  wise  a  Government  as 
the  Provisional  Government  proved.  Its  bitterest  enemy 
could  not  charge  it  with  disloyalty  to  France.  It  was  obeyed 
and  respected  throughout  the  country ;  the  vast  body  of  offi¬ 
cials  necessary  to  the  conduct  of  the  Government  in  all  parts 
of  France  looked  to  it  for  direction ;  it  was  acknowledged 
and  obeyed  by  the  army,  and  it  was  carried  on  by  men  used 
to  the  duties  of  their  various  positions.  Furthermore,  it  was 
sustained  by  the  great  mass  of  the  people.  The  Republican 
element  constituted  but  a  minority  of  the  people  of  France — 
but  it  was  a  bold  and  unscrupulous  minority.  Its  leaders 
were  determined  that  France  should  accept  their  ideas  and 
submit  to  their  rule,  whether  it  wished  to  do  so  or  not. 
They  would  overthrow  the  Emperor,  and  then — what?  Call 
on  the  people  to  select  his  successor  ?  No  ;  they  would  seize 
the  power  of  the  State  for  their  own  benefit,  and  fill  the  pub¬ 
lic  offices  themselves.  They  would  revolutionize  France, 
they  would  drive  out  Napoleon,  but  they  would  make  sure 
of  the  spoils  for  themselves.  They  were  sure  of  the  worst 
classes  of  Paris.  The  army  was  away.  The  nation  was  in 
dismay  at  the  rapid  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  there  was  no 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  315 

one  to  prevent  them  from  thrusting  themselves  into  the 
places  which  their  unpatriotic  ambition  coveted. 

Are  we  unjust?  Was  it  not  a  strange  kind  of  patriotism 
which  prevented  these  moderate  gentlemen  from  rallying  to 
the  support  of  the  only  Government  the  country  possessed  in 
the  hour  of  her  extreme  peril  ?  Was  it  not  a  strange  kind 
of  patriotism  that  induced  them  to  strike  down  the  only  Gov¬ 
ernment  to  which  all  France  looked  for  aid,  with  the  enemy 
but  a  few  days’ march  from  Paris?  Was  it  not  a  strange 
kind  of  patriotism  that  induced  them  to  incur  the  risk  of 
having  their  authority  disputed  in  the  Provinces,  of  inaugur¬ 
ating  civil  war  in  the  face  of  the  enemy?  Was  it  not  a 
strange  kind  of  patriotism  that  induced  them  to  sweep  away 
a  system  already  in  operation,  and  to  replace  it  with  one 
which  had  never  been  tried ;  to  dismiss  officials  trained  to 
their  duties,  and  to  fill  their  places  with  new  men  utterly  ig¬ 
norant  of  the  tasks  confided  to  them,  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  ? 
Was  it  not  a  strange  kind  of  patriotism  that  caused  them  to 
confide  the  conduct  of  affairs  to  none  but  their  own  followers, 
regardless  of  the  fact  that  these  men  did  not  in  many  cases 
possess  the  confidence  of  the  people  over  whom  they  were 
placed,  and  thus  incur  the  risk  of  dividing  France,  with  the 
enemy  at  their  gates?  Was  it  such  patriotism  as  sent  the 
gallant  old  Changarnier  to  Metz  to  offer  his  sword  to  the  Em¬ 
peror  who  had  sent  him  to  prison  and  into  exile  ?  Was  it 
such  patriotism  as  induced  the  French  people — Imperialists, 
Legitimists,  Orleanists,  Eepublicans — to  forget  all  differences, 
and  to  give  to  the  new  Government  a  hearty  support  for  the 
sake  of  France ?  It  will  be-well  for  the  reader  to  consider 
these  questions  fairly,  for  a  proper  understanding  of  them 
will  shed  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  subsequent  course  of 
Deputy  Gambetta  and  his  colleagues. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  formally  recognized  the  French  Republic, 
and  a  day  or  two  later,  Italy,  Switzerland,  Spain  and  Portugal 
did  likewise. 

On  the  same  day  a  proclamation  was  issued  appointing  the 


316 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


16th  of  October  for  the  election  by  the  people  of  Deputies  to 
a  National  Constituent  Assembly.  After  the  interview  be¬ 
tween  Jules  Favre  and  Count  Bismarck,  now  to  be  narrated, 
it  was  found  impossible  to  hold  elections  in  all  the  Depart¬ 
ments,  many  of  which  were  overran  by  the  German  armies, 
and  the  Provisional  Government  decided  to  postpone  them. 
Indeed  this  postponement  was  probably  a  great  relief  to  the 
Ministers,  as  they  were  very  apprehensive  of  losing  the  power 
they  had  so  unworthily  assumed  in  case  of  an  appeal  to  the 
country*  Thus  they  were  continued  in  the  places  they  so 
greatly  coveted. 

The  advance  of  the  Germans  towards  Paris,  with  the  avowed 
intention  of  investing  the  city,  made  it  necessary  for  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  of  the  National  Defence  to  take  some  measures  for 
making  its  authority  secure  in  the  Provinces.  It  was  decided 
that  a  portion  of  the  Government  should  be  removed  to  the 
city  of  Tours,  and  that  M.  Cremieux,  the  Minister  of  Justice 
and  Admiral  Fourichon,  the  Minister  of  Marine,  and  M.  Glais- 
Bizoin,  should  repair  to  Tours  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
the  defence  of  the  country.  The  Minister  of  Marine  was  also 
made  Minister  of  War.  The  rest  of  the  Government  was  to 
remain  in  Paris.  The  movable  portion  left  Paris  for  Tours 
about  the  16th  of  September,  and  was  followed  by  the  Foreign 
Ministers  (with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Washburne,  the  Minister 
from  the  United  States)  on  the  16th;  Washburne  continued  in 
Paris  during  the  siege. 

Meanwhile  M.  Favre  determined  to  seek  an  interview  with 
Count  Bismarck,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  terms 

*  “A  correspondent  of  the  Manchester  Guardian  lately  had  an  interview 
with  General  Burnside,  and  describes  him  as  stating  very  strongly  his  belief 
that  the  existing  Government  are  not  very  anxious  to  see  a  National  Assem¬ 
bly  convoked — their  chief  reason  for  not  wishing  it  being  their  conviction 
that,  whatever  might  be  the  form  of  Government  adopted  by  the  representa¬ 
tives  of  the  nation,  they  themselves  would  no  longer  have  the  administration 

of  it . General  Burnside  attributes  to  them  an  apprehension  that 

the  country,  if  left  to  itself,  might,  under  the  pressure  of  existing  circum¬ 
stances,  drift  into  anything — even  back  again  into  Imperialism.”—  The  Satur¬ 
day  Review.  London,  November  26,  1870.  P.  675. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


317 


upon  which  Germany  was  willing  to  make  peace.  The  King 
of  Prussia,  in  view  of  the  necessity  of  recognizing  some  chief 
authority  in  Prance,  recognized  the  Republic  as  a  Govern¬ 
ment  de facto,  but  declined  to  recognize  it  as  a  Government 
de jure.  When,  therefore,  M.  Favre  made  known,  through 
the  English  Minister,  his  request  to  be  allowed  in  the  name 
of  the  Provisional  Government,  to  make  overtures  for  peace, 
Count  Bismarck  replied  that  he  would  first  wish  to  be  informed 
whether  M.  Favre  could  give  any  security  that  his  engage¬ 
ments  would  be  ratified  by  the  nation.  As  the  reader  will 
understand,  it  was  simply  impossible  for  M.  Favre  to  give  any 
such  guarantees,  and  so  an  answer  to  the  embarrassing  ques¬ 
tion  was  evaded,  by  the  inquiry  whether  he  would  be  received 
in  his  official  capacity  at  the  royal  headquarters.  The  King 
and  his  Minister  returned  an  affirmative  answer,  and  on  the 
18th,  M.  Favre  arrived  at  the  royal  headquarters,  at  Ferrieres. 
The  military  movements  were  not  interrupted  by  this  pro¬ 
ceeding. 

M.  Favre  has  given  the  following  account  of  his  interview 
and  his  reasons  for  seeking  it.  His  letter  is  addressed  to  his 
colleagues  in  Paris : 

I  considered  that  it  would  be  my  duty  to  go  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
enemy.  I  went  there,  and  I  have  rendered  you  an  account  of  the  self- 
imposed  mission.  1  now  recount  to  my  country  the  reasons  which  pre¬ 
vailed  with  me,  the  object  I  proposed,  and  what  I  believe  I  have 
attained.  I  have  no  need  to  recall  the  policy  inaugurated  by  us,  which 
the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  was  particularly  charged  to  formulate. 
We  are,  before  all  things,  men  of  peace  and  liberty.  Down  to  the  very 
last  moment  we  opposed  the  war  which  the  Imperial  Government  was 
about  to  undertake  in  an  exclusively  dynastic  interest ;  and  when  the 
Government  fell,  we  declared  that  we  should  persevere  more  energetically 
than  ever  in  a  policy  of  peace.  That  declaration  we  made  when,  by  the 
criminal  folly  of  one  man  and  his  counsellors,  our  armies  were  destroyed  ; 
our  glorious  Bazaine  and  his  valiant  soldiers  blockaded  behind  Metz ; 
Strasbourg,  Toni,  Phalsbourg,  crushed  by  bombshells,  and  the  victorious 
enemy  marching  upon  our  capital.  Never  was  a  situation  more  cruel. 
It  inspired,  nevertheless,  no  feeling  of  despair  in  the  nation,  and  we  be¬ 
lieved  that  we  were  its  faithful  interpreters  when  we  laid  down  clearly 
this  condition :  Not  an  inch  of  our  territory,  not  a  stone  of  our  fortres¬ 
ses.  If,  then,  at  that  moment  when  a  fact  so  considerable  as  that  of  the 


318 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


overthrow  of  the  originator  of  the  war  had  just  been  accomplished, 
Prussia  had  wished  to  treat  upon  the  bases  of  an  indemnity  to  be  agreed 
upon,  peace  would  have  been  made ;  it  would  have  been  accepted  as  an 
universal  blessing ;  it  would  have  become  a  certain  pledge  of  reconcilia¬ 
tion  between  two  nations  which  an  odious  policy  alone  has  fatally  divi¬ 
ded.  We  hoped  that  humanity  and  self-interest,  rightly  understood, 
would  have  achieved  that  victory,  splendid  for  all ;  for  it  would  have 
opened  a  new  era,  and  the  statesmen  who  should  associate  their  names 
with  it  would  have  had,  in  so  doing,  for  their  guides,  philosophy,  reason, 
justice — for  their  recompense,  the  blessings  and  prosperity  of  peoples. 
It  was  with  these  ideas  that  I  undertook  the  perilous  task  which  you 
confided  to  me. 

It  was  my  duty  first  to  ascertain  the  dispositions  of  the  other  Euro¬ 
pean  Governments,  and  to  seek  their  support.  The  Imperial  Govern¬ 
ment  had  either  wholly  neglected,  or  had  alienated,  that  support.  It 
entered  on  the  war  without  an  ally,  without  a  serious  negotiation ;  every¬ 
where  around  was  either  hostility  or  indifference ;  and  it  thus  reaped 
the  bitter  fruit  of  a  policy  which  wounded  every  neighboring  State  either 
by  its  menaces  or  by  its  pretensions.  Scarcely  were  we  established  in  the 
Hotel  de  Ville  before  a  diplomatist,  whose  name  we  are  hardly  now  at 
liberty  to  reveal,  came  to  ask  to  enter  into  relations  with  us.  The  next 
day  your  Ministers  received  the  representatives  of  all  the  Powers.  The 
Republic  of  the  United  States,  the  Helvetian  Republic,  Italy,  Spain,  and 
Portugal,  officially  recognized  the  Republic  of  France.  The  other  Gov¬ 
ernments  authorized  their  agents  to  enter  into  official  relations  with  us, 
so  as  to  permit  us  at  once  to  exchange  friendly  communications.  I 
should  give  to  this  statement,  already  too  much  expanded,  an  unneces¬ 
sary  amplitude  if  I  were  to  recount  in  detail  the  brief  but  instructive 
history  of  the  negotiations  which  followed.  I  believe  I  may  affirm  that 
they  will  not  be  wholly  without  advantages  for  our  moral  credit.  I  per¬ 
mit  myself  only  to  say  that  everywhere  we  found  honorable  sympathies. 
My  object  was  to  group  them  together,  and  to  determine  the  Powers 
who  were  the  signatories  of  the  neutral  league  to  intervene  directly  with 
Prussia,  taking  for  their  base  the  conditions  I  have  laid  down.  Four  of 
the  powers  offered  to  do  this ;  and  I  have  declared  to  them  my  gratitude, 
in  the  name  of  my  country,  for  so  doing,  but  I  wished  to  have  the  con¬ 
currence  of  two  others.  One  of  these  promised  me  an  individual  action 
with  respect  to  which  she  reserved  to  herself  liberty,  and  the  other  pro¬ 
posed  to  be  my  intermediary  with  Prussia.  She  even  went  one  step 
further,  at  the  instance  of  an  Envoy  Extraordinary  from  France.  She 
undertook  directly  to  recommend  my  proposal.  I  asked  much  more ; 
but  I  refused  no  assurance,  considering  that  the  interest  shown  for  us 
was  a  force  not  to  be  neglected.  Nevertheless,  time  was  passing,  and 
every  hour  brought  the  enemy  nearer.  A  prey  to  the  most  poignant 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


319 


emotions,  I  promised  to  myself  not  to  permit  the  siege  of  Paris  to  begin 
without  attempting  a  supreme  effort,  even  though  I  should  have  to  make 
it  alone.  Our  interest  in  doing  this  need  not  be  explained.  Prussia 
remained  silent,  and  no  one  interrogated  her.  That  situation  was  un¬ 
tenable.  It  permitted  the  enemy  to  lay  upon  us  the  responsibility  of 
continuing  the  struggle ;  it  condemned  us  to  ascertain  her  intentions  for 
ourselves.  It  was  necessary  to  escape  from  the  position. 

In  spite  of  my  repugnance,  I  determined  to  make  use  of  the  good 
offices  that  were  tendered  to  me ;  and  on  the  10th  of  September  a  tele¬ 
gram  reached  M.  Bismarck  asking  him  if  he  would  enter  into  conference 
upon  the  conditions  of  negotiation.  The  first  response  was  an  objection 
drawn  from  the  irregularity  of  our  Government.  Meanwhile  the  Chan¬ 
cellor  of  the  Confederation  of  the  North  did  not  insist  upon  that,  but 
inquired  what  guarantees  we  offered  for  the  execution  of  a  treaty.  This 
second  difficulty  having  been  removed  by  me,  it  was  necessary  to  pro¬ 
ceed  further.  A  proposal  was  made  that  I  should  send  a  courier,  which 
I  accepted.  At  the  same  time  a  telegram  was  dispatched  directly  to  M. 
Bismarck,  and  the  Prime  Minister  of  the  Power  which  served  as  our  in¬ 
termediary  informed  our  Envoy  Extraordinary  that  France  was  able  to 
act  alone ;  he  added  that  it  was  desirable  that  I  should  not  hesitate  to 
go  to  the  headquarters.  Our  Envoy,  who  thoroughly  knew  my  mind, 
replied  that  I  was  ready  to  make  all  the  sacrifices  necessary  to  dis¬ 
charge  my  duty;  that  there  were  few  so  painful  as  to  traverse  the  lines 
of  the  enemy  to  seek  out  our  conqueror,  but  that  he  believed  I  should 
not  shrink  even  from  that.  Two  days  afterward  the  courier  returned. 
After  a  thousand  obstacles  he  had  seen  the  Chancellor,  who  told  him 
that  he  was  disposed  of  his  own  accord  to  have  an  interview  with  me. 
I  should  have  preferred  a  direct  reply  to  the  telegram  of  our  intermedi¬ 
ary,  but  it  was  delayed.  The  investment  of  Paris  was  progressing. 
There  was  no  time  for  hesitation,  and  I  resolved  to  set  out.  It  was  only 
necessary  for  me  to  bear  in  mind  that  this  negotiation,  until  it  was  ac¬ 
complished,  was  to  be  ignored.  I  recommended  secrecy,  and  I  was 
grievously  surprised,  on  returning  yesterday  evening,  to  learn  that  it 
had  not  been  observed.  A  culpable  indiscretion  had  been  committed. 
A  journal — the  Electeur  Libre — previously  disavowed  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment,  had  taken  advantage  of  it;  an  inquiry  has  been  set  on  foot  which, 
I  hope,  will  lead  to  this  double  abuse  being  punished.  I  had  pushed  so 
far  the  scrupulous  regard  for  secrecy  that  I  observed  it  even  toward 
yourselves,  my  dear  colleagues.  I  could  not  resolve  to  do  that  without 
lively  regret,  but  I  knew  your  patriotism  and  your  affection,  and  I  was 
sure  to  be  absolved.  I  believed  myself  bound  to  obey  an  imperious  ne¬ 
cessity.  One  time  I  told  you  of  the  agitation  of  my  mind,  and  I  said 
that  it  would  be  at  rest  only  when  I  had  done  everything  that  was  pos¬ 
sible  for  man  to  do  to  bring  this  horrible  war  to  an  honorable  conclusion. 


320 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Recalling  the  conversation  which  arose  from  this  beginning,  I  feared 
some  objections,  and  I  wras  decided.  I  wished,  in  meeting  M.  de  Bis¬ 
marck,  to  be  free  from  every  engagement,  in  order  to  have  the  privilege 
of  not  making  any.  I  make  these  acknowledgments  sincerely.  I  make 
them  to  the  country,  in  order  to  release  you  from  a  responsibility  which 
I  alone  assume.  If  ray  mission  be  a  mistake,  I  alone  must  bear  the 
penalty. 

I  had,  meanwhile,  to  consult  the  Minister  of  War,  who  had  wished  to 
give  me  an  officer  to  conduct  me  to  the  avant-postes.  We  did  not  con¬ 
sider  the  situation  of  the  headquarters.  We  thought  they  were  at 
Grosbois.  We  moved  toward  the  enemy  by  the  Porte  de  Charenton. 
I  suppress  all  the  details  of  this  unhappy  journey,  which  was  full  of  in¬ 
terest,  but  the  incidents  of  which  would  not  be  in  their  place  in  this 
report.  Conducted  to  Villeneuve-Saint-Georges,  where  was  the  General- 
in-Chief  commanding  the  Sixth  Corps,  I  learned  rather  late  in  the  after¬ 
noon  that  the  headquarters  were  at  Meaux.  The  General  proposed  to 
me  to  send  an  officer  as  bearer  of  the  following  letter,  which  I  had  pre¬ 
pared  for  transmission  to  M.  De  Bismarck : 

M.  le  Comte  : — I  have  always  believed  that,  before  undertaking  serious 
hostilities  under  the  walls  of  Paris,  it  was  impossible  that  an  honorable 
arrangement  should  not  have  been  attempted.  The  person  who  had  the 
honor  of  waiting  on  your  Excellency  two  days  ago  has  made  me  gather 
from  his  words  the  expression  on  your  part  of  a  similar  desire.  I  have 
come  to  the  avant-postes  to  put  myself  at  the  disposition  of  your  Excel¬ 
lency.  I  expect  you  will  let  me  know  how  and  where  I  can  have  the 
honor  of  conferring  with  you  for  a  few  moments. — I  have,  etc., 

Jules  Favre. 

We  were  separated  by  a  distance  of  48  kilometres.  The  next  morn¬ 
ing,  at  six  o’clock,  I  received  a  reply,  of  which  this  is  a  copy: 

I  have  received  the  letter  your  Excellency  has  had  the  goodness 
to  write  to  me,  and  it  will  give  me  the  greatest  pleasure  if  you  will  come 
to  see  me  to-morrow  here  at  Meaux.  Prince  Biron,  the  bearer  of  this, 
will  see  that  your  Excellency  is  conducted  across  our  lines.  I  have,  etc., 

De  Bismarck. 

At  nine  o’clock  the  escort  was  ready,  and  I  left  with  it.  When  we  ar¬ 
rived  near  Meaux,  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  I  was  stopped  by  an  aide- 
de-camp,  who  told  me  that  Count  Bismarck  had  left  Meaux  with  the 
King  to  go  to  Ferriferes  for  the  night.  I  went  back,  and  proceeded  to  a 
farm  which  had  been  pillaged,  as  were  all  the  houses  which  I  passed  on 
my  route.  At  the  end  of  an  hour  M.  De  Bismarck  joined  me.  It  was 
difficult  for  us  to  consult  in  such  a  place.  One  habitation — the  Chateau 
de  la  Haute  Maison,  belonging  to  the  Count  De  Rillac — was  in  the  vicin¬ 
ity,  and  we  proceeded  thither.  Our  conversation  took  place  in  a  saloon. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


321 


in  which  debris  of  all  sorts  was  lying  about.  I  would  fain  report  to  you 
that  conversation  in  its  entirety,  as  I  dictated  it  to  a  secretary  the  next 
day.  Every  detail  of  it  is  important.  Here  1  can  only  analyze  it.  I  at 
once  specified  the  object  of  my  mission.  Having  made  him  acquainted 
by  my  circular  with  the  intentions  of  the  French  Government,  I  wished 
to  know  those  of  the  Prussian  Minister.  It  seemed  to  me  inexcusable 
that  two  nations  should,  without  previous  explanations,  continue  a  ter¬ 
rible  war  which  would  inflict  deep  suffering  on  the  conquerors,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  advantages  they  had  gained.  Caused  by  the  power  of  one 
man,  this  war  had  no  longer  a  raison  d'etre  when  France  had  become 
mistress  of  herself.  I  pledged  myself  for  her  love  of  peace,  but  at  the 
same  time  for  her  indomitable  resolution  not  to  accept  any  condi 
tion  which  should  make  that  peace  a  brief  and  threatening  truce 
M.  De  Bismarck  said  that  if  he  believed  such  a  peace  was  possible  he 
would  sign  it  at  once.  The  Opposition  had  always  condemned  the  war. 
But  the  power  which  that  Opposition  represented  was  no  longer  any 
thing  but  precarious.  If  within  a  few  days  Paris  were  not  taken,  it 
would  be  overthrown  by  the  mob.  I  interrupted  him  to  say  that  we 
had  not  a  mere  mob  at  Paris,  but  a  population  which  was  intelligent 
and  devotee!,  which  knew  our  intentions,  and  which  would  not  make  it¬ 
self  the  accomplice  of  the  enemy  in  obstructing  our  defence.  As  re¬ 
garded  our  power,  we  were  ready  to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  the  Assem¬ 
bly  already  convoked.  “  This  assembly,”  replied  the  Count,  “will  have 
designs  which  nothing  can  make  us  foresee.  But,  if  it  obey  the  senti¬ 
ment  of  France,  it  will  wish  for  war.  You  will  no  more  forget  the  cap¬ 
itulation  of  Sedan  than  Waterloo — than  Sadowa,  which  did  not  concern 
you.”  Then  he  insisted  at  length  on  the  wish  of  France,  the  accom¬ 
plishment  of  which  had  been  prevented,  to  attack  Germany  and  to  take 
away  a  part  of  its  territory.  From  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.,  to  that  of 
Napoleon  III.,  her  tendencies  had  not  changed,  and  that  when  war  was 
declared  the  Corps  L6gislatif  had  received  the  words  of  the  Minister 
with  acclamation.  I  remarked  to  him  that  the  majority  of  the  Corps 
LSgislatif  had  some  weeks  before  called  out  for  peace  ;  that  that  majority, 
chosen  by  the  Monarch,  had  believed  itself  bound  to  follow  him  blindly  ; 
but  that  the  nation,  which  had  been  consulted  twice,  at  the  elections  of 
1869,  and  at  the  vote  on  the  plebiscite,  had  persistently  clung  to  a  policy 
of  peace  and  liberty. 

The  conversation  on  this  subject  was  prolonged — the  Count  maintain¬ 
ing  his  opinion,  whilst  I  defended  mine ;  and,  as  I  pressed  him  strongly 
on  these  conditions,  he  replied,  in  effect,  that  the  security  of  his  country 
commanded  him  to  guard  the  territory  which  protected  it.  He  repeated 
several  times,  “  Strasbourg  is  the  key  of  the  house  ;  I  must  have  it.”  I 
then  asked  him  to  be  more  explicit.  “  It  is  useless,”  he  replied,  “  since 
we  cannot  listen  to  you.  It  is  a  matter  to  arrange  later.”  I  asked  him 
21 


322 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


to  do  it  at  once.  He  said  then  that  the  two  departments  of  Bas  Bhin 
and  Haute  Rhin.  a  part  of  the  Moselle,  with  Metz,  Chateau-Salins,  and 
Senones  were  indispensable,  and  that  he  could  not  give  them  up  in  the 
negotiation.  I  then  remarked  that  the  assent  of  the  people  of  whom  he 
was  thus  disposing  was  more  than  doubtful,  and  that  the  public  opinion 
of  Europe  would  not  be  satisfied  with  it.  “  I  know  well,”  he  replied, 
“  that  they  are  not  with  us.  They  will  impose  an  unpleasant  job  on  us, 
but  we  cannot  suffer  it.  I  am  sure  that  in  a  short  time  we  shall  have  a 
new  war  with  you.  We  wish  to  make  it  with  all  our  advantages.”  I 
protested,  as  I  should,  against  such  solutions  of  the  question.  I  said 
that  two  important  elements  of  the  discussion  had  been  forgotten  :  Eu¬ 
rope,  which  would  find  these  proposals  to  be  exorbitant,  and  oppose 
them  :  then  the  new  right — the  progress  of  civilization  and  manners — 
which  was  opposed  to  such  conditions.  I  added  that  so  far  as  we  were 
concerned  we  would  never  accept  them.  We  could,  I  stated,  perish  as 
a  nation,  but  we  would  not  suffer  dishonor ;  beside,  the  country  alone 
was  competent  to  decide  regarding  a  cession  of  territory.  We  have  no 
doubt  about  its  feeling,  but  we  are  willing  to  consult  it.  Opposite  to  it 
Prussia  is  arrayed.  And,  to  be  brief,  it  is  clear  that,  influenced  by  the 
intoxication  of  victory,  she  wishes  for  the  destruction  of  France.  The 
Count  protested,  taking  his  position  behind  the  absolute  necessity  of 
the  national  guarantee.  I  continued  :  “  If  it  is  not  an  abuse  of  strength 
on  your  part — concealing  secret  designs — let  us  summon  the  Assembly. 
We  will  resign  into  its  hands  our  powers;  it  vcill  nominate  a  definitive 
Government  which  will  consider  your  conditions.”  “  For  the  execution 
of  this  plan,”  replied  the  Count,  “  an  armistice  would  be  necessary,  and 
I  do  not  wish  for  that  at  any  price.”  The  conversation  took  a  turn 
even  more  and  more  painful.  Evening  approached.  I  asked  M.  De 
Bismarck  for  a  second  interview  at  Ferriferes,  where  he  was  going  to 
stay  for  the  night,  and  we  left,  each  for  his  own  destination.  As  I 
wished  to  fulfil  my  mission  to  the  end,  I  had  to  return  to  several  ques¬ 
tions  on  which  we  had  spoken,  and  to  conclude.  So  in  meeting  the 
Count  about  half-past  nine  in  the  evening,  I  observed  that  the  intelli 
gence  which  would  be  put  in  my  possession  would  be  conveyed  to  my 
Government  and  to  the  French  public,  and  I  would  engage  that  nothing 
would  be  published  except  what  had  been  agreed  upon  between  us. 
“Do  not  give  yourself  that  trouble,”  he  replied,  “  I  give  you  full  liberty. 
I  do  not  see  any  disadvantage  in  revealing  it.”  We  then  pursued  the 
discussion,  which  was  prolonged  until  midnight.  I  insisted  particularly 
upon  the  necessity  of  summoning  an  Assembly.  The  Count  appeared 
to  become  convinced  by  degrees,  and  to  return  to  the  subject  of  the 
armistice.  I  asked  for  fifteen  days.  We  discussed  the  conditions.  He 
expressed  himself  in  a  very  qualified  way,  and  reserved  his  privilege  of 
consulting  the  King.  He  consequently  postponed  our  conversation 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


323 


until  the  next  day  at  eleven  o’clock.  I  have  only  one  word  to  say  ;  for  in 
reproducing  this  sad  story  my  heart  is  agitated  by  all  the  emotions 
which  have  tortured  it  for  the  last  three  days,  and  I  hasten  to  the  end. 

I  was  at  the  Chateau  de  Ferribres  at  eleven  o’clock.  The  Count  left 
the  King  at  11.45,  and  1  heard  from  him  the  conditions  which  were  re¬ 
quired  for  an  armistice.  They  were  contained  in  a  text,  written  in  the 
German  language,  of  which  he  gave  rne  the  sense  verbally.  He  de¬ 
manded  as  a  guarantee  the  occupation  of  Strasbourg,  of  Toul,  and  of 
Phalsbourg;  and  as  to  the  demand  of  the  previous  evening  that  the  As¬ 
sembly  should  meet  at  Paris,  he  desired  in  that  case  to  have  added  a 
fort  commanding  the  city — that  of  Mont  Valerien,  for  instance.  At 
this  point  I  interrupted  him  by  saying,  “  It  will  be  much  more  simple  to 
ask  us  for  Paris  itself.  How  can  you  suppose  a  French  Assembly  can 
deliberate  under  your  cannon  ?”  ‘‘I  have  had  the  honor  of  telling  you 

that  I  shall  faithfully  transmit  our  interview  to  the  Government;  but  I 
really  do  not  know  that  I  dare  tell  them  you  have  made  to  me  such  a 
proposition.”  “  Let  us  seek  another  combination,”  he  replied.  Then  I 
spoke  to  him  of  the  Assembly  meeting  at  Tours,  and  of  no  material 
guarantee  being  given  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paris.  He  then  proposed 
to  speak  of  this  proposition  to  the  King,  and,  returning  to  the  question 
of  the  occupation  of  Stasbourg,  he  added  :  “  The  city  is  about  to  fall  into 
our  hands — it  is  now  only  a  question  of  days  ;  so  I  ask  that  the  garrison 
should  surrender  themselves  prisoners  of  war.”  At  those  words  I  was 
moved  by  grief,  and,  rising,  I  said,  “You  forget  that  you  are  speaking 
to  a  Frenchman,  Count.  To  sacrifice  an  heroic  garrison — the  admira¬ 
tion  of  ourselves  and  of  the  entire  world — would  be  a  piece  of  cowardice  ; 
and  I  do  not  promise  that  I  shall  not  say  you  attempted  to  impose  such 
a  condition.”  The  Count  replied  that  he  had  no  intention  to  wound  me 
— that  he  only  conformed  to  the  laws  of  war;  and  that  if  the  King  con¬ 
sented  that  article  might  be  modified.  He  then  went  and  saw  the  King, 
and,  returning  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  said  His  Majesty  accepted  the  pro¬ 
position  with  regard  to  Tours,  but  insisted  on  the  garrison  of  Strasbourg 
being  retained  as  prisoners  of  war.  My  strength  was  now  exhausted, 
and  for  an  instant  I  feared  it  would  fail  me  altogether.  I  turned  to  hide 
the  emotion  which  nearly  choked  me,  and,  apologizing  for  my  involun¬ 
tary  weakness,  I  took  my  leave  with  these  simple  words :  “  I  was  de¬ 
ceived,  Count,  in  coming  here,  but  I  do  not  repent.  I  have  suffered 
sufficiently  for  my  own  excuse,  and,  moreover,  I  only  came  in  deference 
to  a  sense  of  duty.  I  will  report  to  my  Government  all  that  you  have 
told  me  ;  and  if  they  think  proper  to  send  me  back  to  you,  however 
painful  it  may  be  to  my  own  feelings,  I  shall  have  the  honor  of  seeing 
you  again.  I  am  grateful  to  you  for  the  kindness  you  have  shown 
toward  me ;  but  I  fear  there  is  no  other  means  remaining  than  to  let 
events  take  their  course.  The  population  of  Paris  is  courageous,  and 


324 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


resolved  to  make  any  sacrifice.  Their  heroism  may  change  the  course 
of  events.  Even  if  you  conquer  you  will  not  make  them  submit.  All 
France  entertains  the  same  sentiments.  So  long  as  we  can  find  an  ele¬ 
ment  of  resistance  we  will  fight  you.  It  will  be  a  struggle  between  two 
peoples  who  ought  rather  to  join  hands.  I  hoped  for  a  different  solu¬ 
tion,  and  I  do  part  deeply  grieved,  but,  nevertheless,  full  of  hope.”  I 
added  nothing  to  this  speech,  which  was  eloquent  by  its  simplicity.  I 
may  now  be  permitted  to  conclude,  and  to  tell  you  what  is  my  idea  of 
the  effect  of  these  interviews.  I  sought  peace,  and  I  found  an  inflexible 
determination  in  favor  of  war  and  conquest.  I  asked  for  the  possibility 
of  eliciting  the  opinion  of  France,  represented  by  a  freely-elected  Assem¬ 
bly  ;  and  I  was  answered  by  a  display  of  the  Oaudine  Forks  beneath 
which  we  were  first  required  to  pass.  I  make  no  recriminations — I  con¬ 
fine  myself  to  a  statement  of  facts  for  the  consideration  of  my  country¬ 
men  and  of  Europe.  1  do  not  attempt  to  deny  that  I  ardently  desired 
peace,  and  that  the  three  days’  spectacle  of  our  ravaged  country  increased 
that  desire  to  such  a  point,  that  I  was  forced  to  call  all  my  courage  to 
my  aid  in  order  not  to  fail  in  the  task  I  had  undertaken.  I  desired  not 
less  keenly  an  armistice,  in  order  that  the  nation  might  be  consulted  on 
the  terrible  question  which  fate  has  placed  before  us.  You  know  now 
the  preliminary  conditions  that  were  sought  to  be  imposed  upon  us. 
With  me,  and  without  discussion,  you  have  been  unanimously  of  opinion 
that  it  was  our  duty  to  repel  a  proffered  humiliation.  I  have  a  pro¬ 
found  conviction  that,  in  spite  of  the  sufferings  she  is  now  enduring,  and 
that  are  yet  to  be  borne,  our  indignant  country  will  share  our  resolu¬ 
tion  : 

Upon  returning  to  Paris  and  consulting  with  his  colleagues, 
M.  Favre  dispatched  the  following  note  to  Count  Bismarck : 

M.  i, e  Comte: — I  have  faithfully  expressed  to  my  colleagues  in  the 
Government  of  the  National  Defence  the  declaration  that  our  Excel¬ 
lency  has  been  good  enough  to  make  to  me.  I  regret  to  have  to  make 
known  to  your  Excellency  that  the  Government  has  not  been  able  to 
accept  your  propositions.  They  will  accept  an  armistice  having  for  its 
object  the  election  and  meeting  of  a  National  Assembly,  but  they  cannot 
subscribe  to  the  contingent  conditions.  As  to  myself,  I  can  say  with  a 
clear  conscience  that  I  have  done  my  utmost  to  stop  the  effusion  of 
blood,  and  to  restore  peace  to  two  nations  which  would  be  so  much  bene¬ 
fited  by  that  blessing.  I  have  only  been  stopped  by  an  imperious 
duty,  which  required  me  not  to  yield  the  honor  of  my  country,  which 
has  determined  energetically  to  resist  such  a  sacrifice.  I  and  my  col¬ 
leagues  associate  ourselves  without  reserve  in  that  determination.  God, 
our  Judge,  will  decide  on  our  destinies.  I  have  faith  in  His  justice.  I 
have,  etc.  (Signed,)  Jules  Favre. 

September  21,  1870. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


325 


Place  de  la  Bastille:  Paris. 


On  the  20th,  the  Provisional  Government  issued  the  fol¬ 
lowing  proclamation,  setting  forth  the  terms  upon  which  it 
meant  to  continue  the  war : 

TO  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE. 

A  report  has  been  in  circulation  that  the  Government  of  the  National 
Defence  thinks  of  abandoning  the  policy  for  the  carrying  out  of  which 
it  has  been  placed  in  the  post  of  honor  and  of  peril. 

This  policy  may  be  summed  up  in  these  words: 

Not  an  inch  of  our  territory ,  nut  a  stone  of  our  fortresses.  The  Gov¬ 
ernment  will  maintain  this  policy  to  the  end. 

Given  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  the  20th  of  September,  1870. 

The  publication  of  M.  Favre’s  letter  drew  out  the  following 
reply  to  it  from  Count  Bismarck.  It  is  addressed  to  the 
North  German  Ambassadors: 

Ferrieres,  September  27. 

The  report  addressed  by  M.  Jules  Favre  to  his  colleagues  on  the  21st 
instant,  regarding  the  conversation  he  had  with  me,  induces  me  to  make 


326 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


your  Excellency  a  communication  which  will  enable  you  to  form  an 
accurate  idea  of  the  course  these  conversations  took. 

It  must  be  acknowledged  that,  on  the  whole,  M.  Favre  has  endeavored 
to  render  a  correct  account  of  what  took  place  between  us.  If  he  has 
not  been  always  successful,  it  must  be  ascribed  to  the  length  of  our  con¬ 
ferences  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  under  which  they  occurred.  I 
must,  however,  object  to  the  entire  tendency  of  his  exposition,  and  in¬ 
sist  on  the  fact  that  the  principal  subject  we  had  to  discuss  was  not  the 
conclusion  of  a  treaty  of  peace,  but  that  of  an  armistice  by  which  it  was 
to  be  preceded. 

In  regard  to  the  demands  we  should  advance,  before  signing  a  definite 
treaty  of  peace,  I  expressly  stated  to  M.  Jules  Favre  that  I  declined  to 
enter  into  the  subject  of  the  new  frontier  claimed  by  us  till  the  principle 
of  a  cession  of  territory  had  been  openly  acknowledged  by  France.  In 
connection  with  this  declaration,  the  formation  of  a  new  Department  of 
the  Moselle,  containing  the  circumscription  of  Saarbourg,  Chateau-Salins, 
Saargemund,  Metz,  and  Thionville,  was  mentioned  by  me  as  an  arrange¬ 
ment  in  consonance  with  our  intentions ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  1  in  no 
way  renounced  our  right  to  make  additional  stipulations  in  a  treaty  of 
peace,  in  proportion  to  the  sacrifices  which  should  be  imposed  on  us  by 
lengthening  the  war. 

Strasbourg,  a  place  described  by  M.  Favre  as  the  key  of  the  house — an 
expression  which  left  it  still  doubtful  whether  France  was  the  house  in 
question — was  expressly  declared  by  myself  to  be  the  key  of  our  house, 
which  we  therefore  did  not  desire  to  leave  in  foreign  hands. 

Our  first  conversation,  in  the  castle  of  Haute  Maison,  near  Montry, 
did  not  go  beyond  an  academical  disquisition  on  the  present  and  the 
past,  the  pith  and  marrow  of  which  were  contained  in  a  declaration  on 
the  part  of  M.  Favre  of  his  readiness  to  yield  tout  V argent  que  nous 
avons,  while  he  refused  to  entertain  the  idea  of  a  cession  of  territory 
When  I  spoke  of  such  a  cession  as  being  indispensable,  he  declared 
that  negotiations  for  peace  would  have  no  prospect  of  success,  and 
maintained  that  to  part  with  any  portion  of  her  territory  would  be 
humiliating  and  dishonoring  for  France.  I  was  not  able  to  convince 
him  that  conditions,  the  fulfilment  of  which  France  had  obtained  from 
Italy  and  demanded  of  Germany,  without  having  been  at  war  with 
either  of  these  countries — conditions  which  France  would  no  doubt 
have  imposed  on  us  had  we  been  conquered,  and  which  had  been  the  in¬ 
evitable  consequence  of  nearly  every  war,  even  in  modern  times — would 
not  be  ignominious  to  a  country  which  had  succumbed  after  a  brave  re¬ 
sistance  ;  and  besides  that,  the  honor  of  France  was  not  something 
essentially  different  from  that  of  all  other  nations.  I  was  equally  un¬ 
successful  in  persuading  M.  Favre  that  the  restoration  of  Strasbourg  no 
more  implied  dishonor  than  the  cession  of  Landau  or  Saarlouis,  and  that 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


327 


the  violent  and  unjust  conquests  of  Louis  XIV.  were  not  more  closely 
bound  up  with  the  honor  of  France  than  those  of  the  first  Republic  or 
the  First  Empire. 

Our  conferences  took  a  more  practical  turn  in  Ferriferes,  where  we  ex¬ 
clusively  discussed  the  question  of  an  armistice — a  fact  which  ref  utes  the 
statement  that  I  declared  I  would  accept  an  armistice  under  no  circum¬ 
stances  whatever.  The  manner  in  which  M.  Favre  represents  me  as 
saying  with  reference  to  this  and  other  questions  :  “ II  faudrait  un 
armistice  et  je  n'en  veux  a  aucun  prix ,”  and  other  things  of  the  same 
kind,  obliges  me  to  rectify  his  statements,  and  add  that  in  similar  con¬ 
versations  I  have  never  made  use,  and  never  do  employ  such  phraseology 
as  that  I  personally  wish  or  require  or  approve  of  anything.  I  constantly 
speak  of  the  intentions  and  demands  of  the  Government  whose  repre¬ 
sentative  I  am. 

In  this  conversation  both  parties  agreed  in  considering  the  necessity 
of  giving  the  French  nation  an  opportunity  of  choosing  who  alone  would 
be  in  a  position  to  grant  the  present  Government  powers  sufficient  to 
enable  them  to  conclude  a  peace  sanctioned  by  international  law,  as  the 
reason  of  an  armistice.  I  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  an  armistice 
was  always  a  military  disadvantage  for  an  army  engaged  in  a  victorious 
advance ;  that,  in  the  present  case,  it  was  a  most  important  gain  in 
point  of  time  for  the  defence  of  France  and  the  reorganization  of  her 
army ;  and  that  we,  therefore,  could  not  grant  an  armistice,  unless  mili¬ 
tary  equivalents  were  offered.  As  such  I  mentioned  the  surrender  of 
the  fortresses  which  impeded  our  communications  with  Germany,  for, 
as  a  truce  would  prolong  the  period  during  which  we  had  to  support  our 
army,  concessions  facilitating  the  transport  of  supplies  must  be  the  pre¬ 
liminary  condition  of  granting  it.  Strasbourg,  Toul,  and  some  smaller 
places  were  the  objects  of  this  discussion.  With  respect  to  Strasbourg, 
I  urged  that  since  the  glacis  had  been  crowned,  its  capture  must  shortly 
be  expected,  and  we  therefore  thought  the  military  situation  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  garrison,  while  those  who  held  the  other  fortresses 
would  be  permitted  to  march  out  with  the  honors  of  war. 

Another  difficult  question  referred  to  Paris.  Since  we  had  completely 
surrounded  the  city  we  could  only  permit  the  admission  of  new  supplies 
on  the  condition  that  the  new  provisioning  of  the  town  did  not  weaken 
our  own  military  position,  and  protract  the  period  necessary  to  reduce 
the  city  by  hunger.  After  consulting  the  military  authorities,  I  ac¬ 
cordingly  offered,  at  the  command  of  His  Majesty  the  King,  the  follow¬ 
ing  alternatives  with  respect  to  Paris :  Either  the  position  of  Paris 
must  be  conceded  to  us  by  the  surrender  of  a  commanding  part  of  the 
fortifications,  in  which  case  we  are  prepared  to  permit  free  intercourse 
with  Paris,  and  not  to  hinder  the  new  provisioning  of  the  city. 

Or  the  position  of  Paris  need  not  be  conceded.  In  which  case,  how- 


328 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


ever,  we  could  not  consent  to  give  up  the  investment,  but  must  insist  on 
the  continuation  of  the  military  status  quo  before  that  city  as  the  basis 
of  the  armistice,  as  otherwise  at  the  end  of  that  period  we  should  be  op¬ 
posed  to  Paris  being  provisioned  and  armed  anew. 

M.  Favre  distinctly  rejected  the  first  alternative,  containing  the  sur¬ 
render  of  a  part  of  the  fortifications  of  Paris,  as  well  as  the  condition 
that  the  garrison  of  Strasbourg  should  be  made  prisoners  of  war.  On  the 
other  hand  he  promised  to  consult  his  colleagues  as  to  the  second  alter¬ 
native,  containing  the  retention  of  the  military  status  quo  of  Paris. 

The  programme  which  M.  Favre  took  back  with  him  to  Paris  as  the 
result  of  our  conversation,  and  which  has  been  discussed  there  accord¬ 
ingly,  did  not  contain  anything  whatever  as  to  the  terms  of  the  future 
peace,  but  only  the  granting  of  an  armistice  of  from  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  election  of  a  National  Assembly  under 
the  following  conditions: 

I.  The  continuation  of  the  status  quo  in  and  before  Paris. 

II.  The  continuation  of  hostilities  in  and  around  Metz  for  a  certain 
distance ,  the  extent  of  ivhicli  was  still  to  be  determined. 

III.  The  surrender  of  Strasbourg ,  the  garrison  of  which  were  to  be 
made  prisoners  of  war ,  and  of  Tout  and  Bitsche,  their  garrisons  being 
permitted  to  march  out  with  the  honors  of  war. 

I  believe  that  our  convictions  that  we  made  very  conciliatory  offers 
will  be  shared  by  all  neutral  cabinets. 

If  the  French  Government  has  resolved  not  to  use  the  opportunity 
offered  of  proceeding  to  the  election  of  a  National  Assembly,  even  within 
the  parts  of  France  occupied  by  us,  it  shows  its  resolution  not  to  get  rid 
of  the  difficulties  which  prevent  the  conclusion  of  a  peace  in  accordance 
with  international  law,  and  not  to  listen  to  the  public  opinions  of  the 
French  people.  That  free  and  general  elections  would  lead  to  results 
favorable  to  peace,  is  a  conviction  which  forces  itself  upon  us  here,  and 
which  can  hardly  have  escaped  those  in  power  in  Paris. 

I  take  the  liberty  of  requesting  your  Excellency  to  bring  the  present 
circular  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  to  which  you  are  accredited. 

Yon  Bismarck. 

As  soon  as  the  Government  at  Tours  learned  the  result  of 
M.  Favre’s  mission,  the  following  proclamation  was  issued  : 

To  the  French  People. 

Before  the  siege  of  Paris,  Jules  Favre  desired  to  see  Count  Yon  Bis¬ 
marck,  to  know  the  intention  of  the  enemy.  'The  following  is  the  decla¬ 
ration  of  the  enemy : 

Prussia  wishes  to  continue  the  war  in  order  to  reduce  France  to  a 
second-rate  power.  Prussia  demands  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  as  far  as 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


329 


Metz,  by  right  of  conquest.  Prussia,  before  consenting  to  an  armstice, 
demands  the  rendition  of  Strasbourg,  Toul,  and  Mont  Valerien.  Paris 
is  exasperated,  and  will  rather  bury  herself  beneath  her  ruins.  To  such 
insolent  pretensions,  we  can  respond  but  by  resistance  to  the  last  ex¬ 
tremity.  France  accepts  the  struggle,  and  counts  upon  her  children. 

Tours,  Sept.  24.  Oremieux. 

Gi.ais-Bizoin. 

Fourichon.* 

Subsequent  to  the  interview  between  Favre  and  Bismarck, 
the  American  General  Burnside,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Prussian  authorities,  endeavored  to  effect  an  arrangement 
between  the  contending  Powers,  but  without  success. 

While  these  negotiations  were  going  on,  the  Germans  were 
gradually  encircling  Paris  with  their  lines  of  investment.  At 
the  same  time  efforts  were  being  made  to  enlist  aid  for  France 
from  without. 

M.  Thiers  had  declined  to  take  any  part  in  the  formation 
of  the  Provisional  Government,  but,  soon  after  its  organization, 

*  This  proclamation  was  met  by  the  following  denial  from  Count  Bis¬ 
marck  : 

“  Ferrieres,  Saturday,  Oct.  1,  1870. 

“From  reports  in  the  public  journals  it  appears  that  the  delegation  of  the 
French  Government  in  Tours  have  officially  announced  that  I  had  declared 
to  M.  Favre  that  Prussia  would  continue  war  in  order  to  reduce  France 
to  the  condition  of  a  Power  of  the  second  rank.  Although  such  an  ex¬ 
pression  could  only  be  intended  to  influence  a  circle  unacquainted  with 
the  language  used  in  international  negotiations,  and  ignorant  of  the  geo¬ 
graphy  of  France,  still  the  circumstance  that  this  official  announcement 
bears  the  signatures  of  Messrs.  Cremieux,  Glais-Bizoin,  and  Fourichon,  gen¬ 
tlemen  belonging  to  the  Government  of  a  great  European  power,  induces  me 
to  request  your  Excellency  to  put  it  in  a  proper  light  in  your  official  inter¬ 
course. 

“  In  my  interview  with  M.  Favre,  the  question  of  peace  was  not  formally 
considered.  At  his  repeated  request  I  communicated  to  the  French  Minister, 
in  general  outline,  the  same  views  which  formed  the  principal  topic  of  the 
circular  dated  Meaux,  September  16.  Demands  exceeding  those  therein  contained 
have  never  yet  in  any  way  been  made  by  me. 

“  The  cession  of  Strasbourg  and  Metz,  which  we  seek,  in  territorial  con¬ 
nection  implies  a  reduction  of  French  territory  equal  in  area  to  the  increase 
through  Savoy  and  Nice ;  while  the  population  of  these  provinces  obtained 
from  Italy  has  made  that  of  France  750,000  larger.  When  it  is  considered 
that  France,  according  to  the  census  of  1866,  numbered  38,000,000  inhabi- 


330 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


he  consented  to  undertake  a  semi-official  mission  to  the  lead¬ 
ing  Neutral  Powers  for  the  purpose  of  endeavoring  to  secure 
their  assistance.  He  bore  no  diplomatic  commission,  but  it 
was  well  understood  that  the  Provisional  Government  would 
ratify  any  engagements  he  might  enter  into.  His  object  was, 
not  to  solicit  the  intercession  of  the  Powers  in  behalf  of 
France,  but  to  secure  their  active  aid  against  Germany.  It 
must  be  a'dmitted,  that  no  better  envoy  could  have  been  se¬ 
lected.  An  able  and  experienced  statesman,  profoundly  versed 
in  the  wiles  of  diplomacy,  he  was  in  every  way  qualified 
for  his  delicate  mission.  He  was  unsuccessful,  simply  be¬ 
cause  no  one  could  have  succeeded  in  his  attempt.  German 
unity  had  no  such  bitter  foe  in  France  as  he,  and  there  was 
no  French  statesman  more  unscrupulous  as  to  the  means  he 
was  willing  to  use  for  its  prevention. 

His  first  visit  was  to  England,  where  he  was  courteously 
received  by  Earl  Granville.  He  soon  found  that  England 
was  in  no  mood  for  going  to  war  with  Germany,  and  he 
failed  to  find  even  that  “active  sympathy,”  which  he  declared 
he  expected  to  meet  with,  after  the  long  and  cordial  alliance 


tants  without  Algiers,  and  with  Algiers  (now  furnishing  an  essential  part  of 
the  French  war  forces),  42,000,000,  it  is  palpable  that  a  decrease  of  750,000 
changes  nothing  in  the  importance  of  France  as  against  foreign  countries, 
while  we  leave  to  this  great  Empire  the  same  elements  of  power,  possession 
whereof,  in  the  Eastern  and  Italian  wars,  enabled  it  to  exercise  so  decisive 
an  influence  on  the  destinies  of  Europe. 

“  These  few  points  will  suffice  to  successfully  oppose  the  logic  of  facts  to 
the  exaggeration  of  the  proclamation  of  the  24th  of  last  month.  I  only  add, 
that  in  communication  with  M.  Favre  I  expressly  directed  his  attention  to 
these  views  ;  and  I  need  not  assure  your  Excellency  that  I  refrained  from 
every  offensive  allusion  to  the  consequences  of  the  present  war  in  respect 
to  the  future  position  of  France  as  a  great  power  of  the  world. 

“  Bismarck.” 

The  Count  on  the  6th  of  October  made  public  the  following  denial  of  a 
charge  that  he  was  opposed  to  the  French  Republic  because  of  its  danger  to 
the  German  system  of  Government : 

“  I  do  not  hold  the  opinion  that  the  Republican  institutions  of  France  con¬ 
stitute  danger  for  Germany,  nor  have  I,  as  asserted  in  a  letter  of  the  17th  ult., 
published  in  the  London  Daily  Telegraph ,  ever  expressed  such  a  view  to  Mr. 
Malet,  or  any  other  person.  Bismarck.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


331 


between  the  two  countries.  The  most  he  was  able  to  accom¬ 
plish  in  London,  was  to  induce  the  English  Government  to  act 
as  the  intermediary  channel  for  conducting  the  negotiations; 
which  resulted  in  the  interview  between  Count  Bismarck 
and  M.  Favre,  and  those  which,  at  a  later  date,  he  conducted 
in  person. 

From  London,  M.  Thiers  went  back  to  France  to  communi¬ 
cate  his  failure  to  the  Government  at  Tours.  Tarrying  there 
a  day  or  two,  he  repaired  to  Vienna.  Here  he  expected  bet¬ 
ter  results  than  had  attended  his  efforts  in  London.  He  knew 
that  Austria  was  openly  jealous  of  the  aggrandizement  of 
Prussia,  and  at  heart  anxious  to  avenge  her  defeat  in  1866, 
and  he  relied  for  success  to  a  great  degree  upon  the  common 
hatred  of  Prussia,  which  he  knew  had  formed  a  strong  bond 
of  sympathy  between  the  Austrian  and  French  Imperial 
Governments.  There  was  a  considerable  party  in  Austria 
which  held  that  the  war  then  going  on  was  the  best  oppor¬ 
tunity  likely  to  occur  for  many  years  for  Austria  to  recover 
her  lost  influence  in  Germany,  and  M.  Thiers  confidently 
reckoned  upon  the  support  of  this  party.  Count  Von  Beust, 
however,  combined  firmness  with  sagacity,  and  he  declined 
to  enter  into  negotiations  with  M.  Thiers.  Prussia  was  too 
formidable  an  adversary  to  be  attacked  needlessly,  and,  be¬ 
sides,  the  Austrian  Government  did  not  dare  to  assail  her  in 
behalf  of  France  for  fear  of  alienating  its  German  subjects, 
who  warmly  sympathized  with  their  Prussian  brethren. 
Therefore  Count  Von  Beust  was  compelled  to  decline  to  en¬ 
tertain  M.  Thiers’  proposals. 

The  French  statesman’s  next  visit  was  made  to  St.  Peters¬ 
burg.  There  was  a  strong  sympathy  with  France  felt 
throughout  the  Empire  of  Russia,  in  consequence  of  the  rapid 
progress  of  Germany ;  but  the  Czar  was  a  warm  friend  of 
Prussia,  and  he  emphatically  declined  to  listen  to  the  over¬ 
tures  of  M.  Thiers,  though  he  received  him  in  his  private  ca¬ 
pacity,  and  invited  him  to  dine  with  him. 

Returning  from  St.  Petersburg,  M.  Thiers  made  a  second 
effort  at  Vienna.  On  the  8th  of  October  he  had  an  interview 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


non 

OOJ 


with  Count  Von  Beust,  and  on  the  9th,  was  received  by  the 
Emperor.  But  this  effort  was  as  fruitless  as  the  first  had 
been. 

Repairing  to  Florence,  he  had  an  audience  with  the  King  of 
Italy  on  the  14th  of  October,  and  on  the  same  day  he  had  a 
long  conference  with  the  Italian  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 
He  boldly  asked  the  Italian  Government  for  a  contingent  of 
100,000  men.  His  request  was  refused. 

In  every  instance  he  was  unsuccessful,  and  was  obliged  to 
content  himself  with  expressions  of  barren  sympathy.  Every 
European  Government — even  that  of  Russia — was  alarmed  at 
the  growing  power  of  Prussia,  and  would  have  been  glad  to 
see  her  shorn  of  her  strength  ;  but  not  one  of  them  dared  lift 
a  hand  against  her.  M.  Thiers  never  once  during  his  mission, 
as  far  as  is  known  at  present,  attempted  to  induce  the  Powers 
to  compel  Germany  to  make  peace  with  France  upon  favora¬ 
ble  terms.  His  whole  effort  was  to  secure  their  aid  in  pro¬ 
longing  the  war  by  forming  a  coalition  against  a  formidable 
enemy. 

Returning  to  Tours,  he  announced  his  failure  to  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  there.  We  shall  have  occasion,  in  another  chapter, 
to  relate  the  events  which  followed  his  arrival  at  Tours. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE, 


333 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


GENERAL  TROCTIU  GIVEN  THE  COMMAND  AT  PARIS — REASONS  FOR  TIIE 
APPOINTMENT  — niS  PROCLAMATIONS  — HIS  EFFORTS  TO  PLACE  THE  CITY 
IN  A  STATE  OF  DEFENCE — STORES  ACCUMULATED — DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 
FORTIFICATIONS  OF  PARIS— THE  'WEAK  POINTS  OF  TnE  SYSTEM — STATE¬ 
MENT  OF  TIIE  GARRISON — THE  GERMAN  AUTHORITIES  DECIDE  TO  CON¬ 
TINUE  THE  WAR — THEIR  JUSTIFICATION — MARCH  OF  THE  THIRD  AND 
FOURTH  ARMIES  FROM  SEDAN — OCCUPATION  OF  RHEIMS — ADDRESS  OF 
TnE  CROWN  PRINCE  TO  HIS  TROOPS — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  MARCH  TO 
PARIS — CAPTURE  OF  LAON — EXPLOSION  OF  TIIE  CITADEL — INVESTMENT 
OF  SOISSONS— THE  FOURTH  ARMY  REACHES  TnE  VICINITY  OF  PARIS — 
COMBATS  ON  THE  MARNE  — TROCHU’S  EMBARRASSMENT — DESOLATION 
OF  TIIE  SUBURBS  OF  PARIS— PASSAGE  OF  THE  SEINE  BY  THE  THIRD 
ARMY  — MARCH  OF  THE  FIFTH  CORPS  UPON  VERSAILLES — FIGHT  AT 
PETIT  BICETRE  —  GENERAL  TROCIIU’S  ORDER  OF  TnE  DAY— THE  FOURTH 
ARMY  IN  POSITION — “  OUR  FRITZ  ”  TAKES  A  LOOK  AT  PARIS— THE  ROYAL 
HEADQUARTERS  AT  FERRIERES— OCCUPATION  OF  VERSAILLES — ARRIVAL 
OF  THE  CROWN  PRINCE — THE  INVESTMENT  OF  PARIS  COMPLETED — 
POSITION  OF  TIIE  GERMAN  ARMIES — FRENCH  RECONNOISSANCES  ON  THE 
23D  OF  SEPTEMBER— TnE  FIGHT  AT  VILLEJUIF — THE  BALLOON  SERVICE 
-A  BALLOON  BATTLE — DISTRIBUTION  OF  TnE  IRON  CROSSES  BY  THE 
'CROWN  PRINCE  OF  PRUSSIA — A  MEMORABLE  SCENE — ARRIVAL  OF  KING 
WILLIAM  AT  VERSAILLES  — “  THE  WATERS  OF  VERSAILLES.” 


tS  has  been  stated  in  a  preceding  chapter,  the  Empe¬ 
ror  Napoleon,  before  leaving  Chalons  for  Sedan, 
appointed  General  Trochu  “  Governor  of  Paris  and 
^39  Commandant-in-chief  of  all  the  forces  charged  to  pro- 
a®  vide  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital.”  For  some  time 
previous  to  the  war,  General  Trochu  (who  up  to  I860,  had 
been  one  of  the  warmest  friends  and  supporters  of  the  Empe¬ 
ror)  had  been  in  disfavor  with  the  Court,  owing,  it  is  said,  tc 
the  plainness  of  his  speech  and  the  independence  with  which 
he  pointed  out  the  defects  of  the  French  military  system  ;  and 
his  appointment  to  the  chie  '  command  at  Paris  was  dictated 
more  by  the  Emperor’s  wish  to  conciliate  his  opponents,  than 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


OO/l 

O  0*4 

because  of  Ins  own  preference.  It  was  a  fortunate  appoint¬ 
ment,  however.  General  Trocliu  was  confessedly  an  officer  of 
superior  ability,  and,  above  all,  he  possessed  the  entire  confi¬ 
dence  of  the  people  of  Paris.  lie  assumed  the  command 
immediately  upon  his  appointment,  and  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

Paris,  August  18th,  1870. 

Inhabitants  of  Paris  : — Amid  the  peril  in  which  the  country  is,  I  am 
named  Governor  of  Paris  and  Commandant-in-Chief  of  the  forces  charged 
to  defend  the  capital  in  a  state  of  siege.  Paris  seizes  the  part  which 
belongs  to  it,  and  it  wishes  to  be  the  centre  of  grand  efforts,  of  grand 
sacrifices,  and  of  grand  examples.  I  come  to  join  in  them  with  all  my 
heart.  That  will  be  the  honor  of  my  life,  and  the  proud  crowning  of  a 
career  which,  until  this  day,  has  remained  unknown,  for  the  most  part, 
to  you. 

I  have  faith  the  most  complete  in  the  success  of  our  glorious  enter¬ 
prise  ;  but  it  is  upon  one  condition,  the  character  of  which  is  imperious, 
and  without  which  our  common  efforts  will  be  struck  with  impotence. 

I  refer  to  good  order;  and  I  mean,  by  that,  not  merely  calmness  in 
the  street,  but  calmness  at  your  firesides,  calmness  of  your  spirits,  de¬ 
ference  to  the  orders  of  the  responsible  authorities,  resignation  in  pres¬ 
ence  of  the  trials  inseparable  from  the  situation,  and,  finally,  the  serenity, 
grave  and  collected,  of  a  great  military  nation,  which  takes  in  its  hand, 
with  a  firm  resolution,  amid  solemn  circumstances,  the  conduct  of  its 
destiny.  And  to  establish  the  situation  in  that  equilibrium  so  desirable, 
I  do  not  turn  to  the  powers  which  I  hold  by  the  state  of  siege  and  from 
the  law.  I  demand  it  of  your  patriotism,  and  I  will  obtain  it  from  your 
confidence,  in  showing  myself,  to  the  population  of  Paris,  a  confidence 
without  limit. 

I  appeal  to  all  men  of  all  parties,  belonging  to  none  myself.  In  the 
army  no  other  party  is  known  than  that  of  the  country. 

I  appeal  to  their  devotion.  I  demand  of  them  to  hold  in  bounds,  by 
moral  force,  the  hot  spirits  who  do  not  know  how  to  restrain  themselves, 
and  to  do  justice  with  their  own  hands  to  those  men  who  are  of  no  party, 
and  who  see  in  the  public  misfortune  only  an  occasion  to  satisfy  detesta¬ 
ble  appetites. 

And  to  accomplish  my  task,  after  which,  I  affirm,  I  will  reenter  into 
the  obscurity  from  which  I  emerge,  I  adopt  one  of  the  old  devices  of 
the  province  of  Brittany,  where  I  was  born :  “  With  the  aid  of  God,  for 
the  fatherland  !  ” 

At  Paris.  General  Trochu. 

On  the  19th,  as  we  have  seen,  a  Committee  of  Defence  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


335 


formed  in  Paris,  of  which  General  Trochu  was  made  President. 
It  appointed  a  special  executive  committee,  which  met  daily 
in  the  war  office  for  the  purpose  of  pushing  forward  with  the 
utmost  speed  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  country.  Its 
principal  efforts  were  given  to  placing  Paris  in  a  condition  to 
resist  a  siege,  and  of  this  committee  General  Trochu  was  the 
most  energetic  member.  Perfectly  satisfied  that,  sooner  or 
later,  the  Capital  would  be  attacked,  he  exerted  himself  with 
all  possible  energy  to  prepare  it  for  the  trial  which  was  in 
store  for  it.  On  the*20th  he  published  an  address  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  Paris,  explaining  how  he  desired  to  aid  them.  In  this, 
he  said  : 

The  idea  of  maintaining  order  by  force  of  the  bayonet  and  the  sword 
in  Paris,  which  is  so  agitated  and  given  up  to  grief,  fills  ine  with  horror 
and  disgust.  The  maintenance  of  order  by  the  ascendancy  of  patriot¬ 
ism,  freely  expressed  by  the  knowledge  of  the  evident  danger  of  the 
country,  fills  me  with  hope  and  serenity.  But  this  problem  is  arduous, 
and  I  cannot  solve  it  alone,  but  I  can  with  the  aid  of  those  having  such 
sentiments.  That  is  what  I  term  moral  aid.  The  moment  may  arrive 
when  malefactors,  seeing  us  defending  the  city,  will  seek  to  pillage. 
Those  the  honest  must  seize.  The  error  of  all  Governments  I  have  ever 
known  is  to  consider  force  the  ultimate  power.  The  only  decisive  power 
in  the  moment  of  danger,  is  moral  force. 

On  the  21st  he  issued  the  following  appeal : 

To  the  National  Guard,  to  the  Garde  Mobile,  to  the  Troops  and  Seamen 
in  the  Army  of  Paris,  to  all  the  defenders  of  the  Capital. 

In  the  midst  of  events  of  the  highest  importance,  I  have  been  ap¬ 
pointed  Governor.  The  honor  is  great — the  peril  also.  I  depend  on 
your  patriotism.  Should  Paris  be  subjected  to  a  siege,  never  was  there 
a  more  magnificent  opportunity  to  prove  to  the  world  that  long  pros¬ 
perity  has  not  effeminated  the  country.  You  have  before  you  the  ex¬ 
ample  of  an  army  which  has  fought  one  against  three.  Their  heroic 
struggle  compels  the  admiration  of  all.  Show  by  your  conduct  that 
you  have  the  feeling  of  the  profound  responsibility  resting  upon  you 

As  a  measure  of  precaution,  all  persons  intending  to  leave 
the  city,  were  ordered  to  do  so  early  in  September;  and  all 
people  who  were  deemed  unsafe,  and  all  who  could  not  sup¬ 
port  themselves,  were  expelled  from  the  city.  Vigorous 
efforts  were  made  to  arm  the  National  Guard,  and  reenforce- 


336 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


ments  were  drawn  in  from  the  provinces.  Stores  of  provis¬ 
ions  and  war  material  were  laid  up  in  Paris,  and  the  farmers 
in  the  adjoining  departments  were  advised  to  bring  in  their 
flocks  and  crops  for  safe  keeping.  As  early  as  the  25th  of 
August,  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  was  filled  with  cattle  and 
flocks,  and  the  people  from  the  neighboring  country  were 
crowding  into  the  city  with  all  their  movable  effects. 

The  outlying  forts  were  strongly  garrisoned  and  armed; 
the  wall  or  enceinte  of  the  city  was  armed  with  heavy  guns, 
and  new  works  were  begun  at  points  which  needed  strength¬ 
ening. 

The  city  and  suburbs  of  Paris,  with  its  system  of  defences, 
constitute  a  fortress  of  the  first  class,  and  one  capable  of  shel¬ 
tering  more  than  half  a  million  of  men.  Its  defences  consist 
of  an  inner  hall  or  enceinte ,  surrounding  the  city  on  both  sides 
of  the  Seine,  at  the  verge  of  the  municipal  limits,  and  a  series 
of  fifteen  detached  forts  situated  at  a  distance  of  from  one  to 
three  miles  from  the  enceinte.  The  inner  wall  is  more  than 
twenty-two  miles  in  circuit,  and  is  pierced  with  sixty-six 
gates  or  entrances  called  barrilres.  The  city  limits  thus  en¬ 
closed,  cover  an  area  of  19,260  acres,  or  about  thirty  square 
miles.  The  rampart  or  enceinte  is  seventy  feet  in  width,  is  faced 
with  a  scarp  or  wall  thirty  feet  high,  and  has  a  ditch  in  front 
twenty  feet  deep.  Immediately  within  the  enceinte  is  a  line 
of  magnificent  boulevards,  planted  with  trees,  and  macada¬ 
mized,  extending  entirely  around  the  city,  passing  the  river 
by  means  of  commodious  bridges,  and  admirably  adapted  to 
the  movement  of  troops  and  artillery.  By  these  roads  com¬ 
munication  between  all  parts  of  the  wall  is  assured.  Immedi¬ 
ately  without  the  wall  is  the  military  zone,  about  275  yards 
in  width,  in  which  no  houses  or  other  objects  giving  cover  to 
an  enemy  are  allowed  to  stand.  * 

*  During  the  long  peace  which  preceded  the  war,  permission  was  given  to 
private  parties  to  build  within  the  military  zone  ;  but  only  upon  the  distinct 
understanding  that  in  case  it  became  necessary  to  arm  the  enceinte  these 
houses  would  be  destroyed  without  the  Government  being  liable  for  the  loss. 
Upon  the  approach  of  the  Germans  the  military  zone  was  swept  clear  of  all 
obstacles. 


Laying  up  Stores  for  the  Siege  in  the  Halles  Centrales,  or  Principal  Market  of  Pans 


338 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  outer  defences  consist  of  fifteen  detached  forts,  lying 
at  a  distance  of  from  one  to  three  miles  from  the  city  wall. 
They  are  built  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  of  heavy  ma¬ 
sonry,  and  occupy  a  line  of  heights  enclosing  the  basin  in 
which  lies  the  city.  These  are  all  of  perfect  construction,  and 
the  smallest  is  capable  of  holding  a  force  of  4000  men.  With 
the  exception  of  those  on  the  western  side,  they  are  all  so 
situated  that  of  any  system  of  three  adjacent  forts,  the  two  on 
the  outside  can  cross  their  fire  at  least  two  miles  in  advance 
of  the  centre  fort.  The  following  is  a  list  of  these  forts,  and 
their  distances  from  the  enceinte ,  commencing  on  the  North  : 

1.  De  la  Briche,  (  Constituting  the  system 

2.  St.  Denis,  j  of  St.  Denis,  three  miles 

3.  De  l’Est,  (  from  the  enceinte. 

4.  Aubervilliers,  If  miles  from  the  enceinte. 

5.  Romainville,  1  mile  “  “  “ 

6.  Noisy,  2  miles  “  “  “ 

7.  Rosny,  3  “  “  “ 

8.  Nogent.  3  “  “  “  “ 

9.  Charenton.  2  “  “  *■ 

10.  Ivry,  If  “  “  “ 

11.  Bicfitre,  1  mile  “  “  “ 

12.  Montrouge,  1  “  “  “  “ 

13.  Vanves.  If  miles  “  “  “ 

14.  Issy,  If  “  “  “  “ 

15.  Mt.  Yalerien  3  “  “  “  “ 

In  addition  to  these,  is  the  castle  of  Vincennes,  about  a  mile 
distant  from  the  enceinte ,  which  though  used  mainly  as  one 
of  the  great  arsenals  and  artillery  schools  of  France,  was  also 
armed  with  about  118  guns,  in  August  1870,  bringing  the 
total  armament  of  the  outer  forts  to  about  1100  guns.  The 
enceinte  was  armed  with  from  1000  to  1100  guns  of  a  smaller 
calibre  than  those  of  the  forts,  many  of  the  latter  being  the 
heaviest  ship  guns.  The  guns  of  Mt.  Valerien  were  of  the 
heaviest  and  most  approved  class,  and  were  many  pf  them 
breech  loaders.  The  bend  in  the  Marne,  between  Forts  No¬ 
gent  and  Charenton,  was  protected  by  the  Redoubt  de  la  Fais- 
sanderie.  At  the  approach  of  the  Prussians,  lines  of  rifle 
pits  were  dug  between  the  forts,  and  additional  earthworks 
were  thrown  up  at  points  which  it  was  deemed  desirable  to 
strengthen.  The  country  between  the  city  and  the  forts  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


339 


made  as  difficult  as  possible  by  obstructions,  and  the  ap¬ 
proaches  to  the  gateways  of  the  enceinte  were  covered  by 
means  of  redoubts  and  barricades  heavily  armed.  An  addi¬ 
tional  line  of  defences  was  begun  within  the  city  immediately 
back  of  the  ramparts,  and  the  streets  were  barricaded  at  com¬ 
manding  points.  Guns  of  a  long  range  were  also  placed  on 
the  heights  of  Montmartre* 

The  enceinte  and  the  forts  were  begun  and  finished  during 
the  reign  of  Louis  Philippe,  and  were  mainly  the  work  of 
Marshal  Soult  and  M.  Thiers.  They  were  designed  by  the 
ablest  military  engineers  of  the  period,  and  were  considered 
sufficient  to  render  Paris  impregnable ;  for  at  that  time  the 
range  of  the  most  improved  artillery  for  throwing  shells  was 
limited  to  two  and  a  half  miles.  Since  then,  however,  such 
improvements  have  been  made  in  artillery  that  the  effective 
range  of  shells  has  been  extended  to  five  miles.  It  has  there 
fore  happened  during  the  present  war  that  the  besieging  bat¬ 
teries  have  been  able  to  throw  shells  into  the  city  from  points 
which  would  have  been  out  of  range  at  the  time  the  forts 
were  built.  On  the  north  and  east  of  Paris,  however,  the 
forts  are  still  a  sufficient  protection  to  the  city,  being  at  an 
average  distance  of  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  enceinte ,  and 
possessing  batteries  powerful  enough  to  keep  the  besiegers  at 
a  distance  sufficient  to  ensure  the  safety  of  the  city.  On  the 
south  and  west,  however,  the  system  of  defence  is  weaker. 

On  the  west,  the  Seine,  bending  suddenly  to  the  northward 
at  Sevres,  follows  the  course  of  the  enceinte  as  far  as  St.  Denis, 


*  “The  French  forts  are  armed  with  heavy  ship  guns — viz.,  10£  inch, 
throwing  a  projectile  of  500  lbs.  ;  9J  inch,  throwing  300  lbs. ;  7J  inch,  throw¬ 
ing  180  lbs.;  and  other  pieces  ranging  from  inch  downwards.  Besides 
these,  heavy  guns  have  been  cast  in  Paris  for  arming  the  new  earthen  bat¬ 
teries  interpolated  between  the  forts,  and  at  some  places  constructed  consid¬ 
erably  in  advance  ;  as  at  Mount  Avron,  in  front  of  Rosny  ;  Hautes  Bruy&rs 
and  Moulin  Saquet,  in  front  of  BicStre  and  Ivry ;  and  a  new  work  one  mile  in 
front  of  ValSrien,  which  has  lately  thrown  a  shell  as  far  as  the  outskirts  of 
Versailles.  The  most  powerful  gun  at  the  command  of  the  besiegers  is  be. 
lieved  to  ke  one  having  a  calibre  of  9J  inches,  and  decidedly  inferior  to  the 
French  10£  inch  gun.” — London  Quarterly  Review.  January,  1871.  P.  74. 


340 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


where  it  bends  to  the  westward.  Thus  for  a  distance  of  four¬ 
teen  miles,  the  river,  which  is  no  where  more  than  two  miles 
distant  from  the  city  wall,  serves  as  a  wet  ditch  to  the  enceinte , 
the  ground  between  being  easily  swept  by  the  fire  of  the  guns 
on  the  ramparts.  The  whole  line  of  the  river  being  thus 
guarded  between  Sevres  and  St.  Denis,  its  passage  could  be 
accomplished  only  in  the  face  of  a  fire  to  which  no  commander 
would  care  to  expose  his  troops.  The  only  exterior  defence 
at  this  portion  of  the  line  is  the  powerful  fortress  of  Mont 
Yalerien,  which  takes  its  name  from  the  hill  on  which  it 
stands.  It  lies  immediately  to  the  westward  of  the  centre  of 
the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  one  mile  from  the  river  and  three 
miles  from  the  enceinte.  It  is  eight  miles  distant  from  St. 
Denis,  the  nearest  fort  on  the  north,  and  six  miles  distant 
from  Issy,  the  nearest  fort  on  the  south.  Thus  the  reader 
will  see  that  while  the  ground  immediately  in  front  of  the 
enceinte  on  the  west  of  Paris  is  covered  against  assault  and 
approaches  by  the  fire  of  the  guns  on  the  ramparts,  there  is 
to  the  right  and  left  of  Fort  du  Mont  Yalerien  a  consider¬ 
able  gap,  into  which  an  enemy  might  thrust  batteries  of  suffi¬ 
cient  range  to  command  the  city,  without  being  seriously 
hindered  by  the  fire  of  either  of  the  three  forts  we  have 
named.  We  shall  see  that  the  Prussians  were  able  to  ac¬ 
complish  this  in  the  recent  siege.  General  Trochu  quickly 
saw  the  danger,  and  attempted  to  guard  against  it  by  the  erec 
tion  of  four  new  works:  two — -the  redoubts  of  Courbevoie 
and  Genevilliers  —  between  Mont  Yalerien  and  St.  Denis; 
and  two  — the  redoubts  of  Montretout  and  Sevres  —  between 
Mont  Yalerien  and  Issy.  They  were  but  partially  completed 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  German  army  before  the  city,  and 
were  captured  before  they  could  be  equipped.  The  Germans 
subsequently  abandoned  all  but  the  Sevres  Redoubt,  but  pre¬ 
vented  the  French  from  making  any  further  use  of  the  others. 

On  the  south,  the  forts  Issy,  Yanves,  Montrouge,  Bictere, 
and  Ivry  are  located  on  a  range  of  heights  immediately 
facing  the  enceinte ,  parallel  with  it,  and  at  an  average  distance 
of  a  mile  and  a  half  from  it.  Immediately  in  front  of  this 


Castle  of  V  incennes  :  near  Paris. 


342 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


range  of  heights,  and  parallel  to  it,  is  a  second  range,  only  a 
mile  distant  from  the  forts.  This  is  the  range  on  which  stand 
the  villages  of  Clamart,  Chatillon,  and  Villejuif.  These 
heights  are  two  hundred  feet  higher  than  the  hills  on  which 
the  forts  are  built,  and  in  reality  command  them.  We  shall 
see  that  the  Germans  were  relieved,  after  occupying  them 
with  their  batteries,  of  the  necessity  of  capturing  the  outlying- 
forts  on  the  south  of  Paris,  since  with  their  long  range  guns 
they  could  command  the  whole  of  the  city  south  of  the 
Seine,  so  that  while  the  southern  forts  at  the  time  of  their 
construction  were  fully  competent  to  the  task  of  preventing 
the  bombardment  of  Paris,  they  proved  useless  as  a  protection 
during  the  recent  siege,  the  German  shells  being  thrown  into 
the  city  over  the  heads  of  the  garrison.  All  that  they 
could  do  was  to  delay  the  construction  of  the  besiegers’  bat¬ 
teries. 

Within  these  defences  was  gathered  the  largest  army  of 
France,  consisting,  according  to  the  most  reliable  data  at 
present  available,  of  121,000  troops  of  the  line,  120,000  Mo¬ 
biles,  and  300,000  National  Guards — in  all  a  force  of  511,000 
men.  Men  were  in  abundance,  but  they  were  undisciplined, 
and  good  officers  were  scarce.  There  was  also  a  great  lack 
of  field  artillery,  and  the  various  foundries  of  the  Capital  were 
taxed  to  their  utmost  capacity  to  supply  the  demand.  The 
lack  of  a  sufficient  force  of  disciplined  troops,  and  the  scarcity 
of  field  artillery,  greatly  hampered  the  movements  of  General 
Trochu  during  the  siege,  and  often  prevented  him  from  secur¬ 
ing  advantages  which  would  have  been  within  his  grasp,  had 
he  possessed  a  force  of  150,000  trained,  reliable,  and  v, 'ell- 
equipped  troops. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  had  been  rapidly  following  up 
their  success  at  Sedan.  On  the  5th  of  September,  the  news¬ 
papers  of  the  German  cities  published  the  following  announce¬ 
ment  : 

'  Berlin,  Sept.  5  (official). 

The  Emperor  Napoleon  having  declared  that  his  captivity  prevents 
him  from  negotiating  the  peace,  the  French  Government  being  at  Paris, 
the  war  will  be  continued. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


343 


It  has  been  urged  by  many  persons  that  the  King  of  Prus¬ 
sia  should  have  paused  at  Sedan,  and  offered  peace  to  France. 
Having  proclaimed  that  he  made  war  upon  the  Imperial  Gov¬ 
ernment,  and  not  upon  the  people,  it  is  said  that  he  should 
have  checked  the  advance  of  his  armies  immediately  upon 
the  full  of  the  Empire,  and  have  offered  peace  to  the  Provi¬ 
sional  Government.  However  sincere  the  King  may  have 
been  in  his  belief  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  that  his  quarrel 
was  with  the  Emperor  alone,  he  had  been  given  abundant 
proof,  long  before  the  fall  of  Sedan,  that  the  war  was  the 
work  of  the  French  people,  and  that  it  was  from  them  that 
he  must  exact  guarantees  for  the  future  peace  of  his  country. 
The  truth  is,  doubtless,  that  the  whole  question  was  tho¬ 
roughly  understood  by  the  Prussian  Government  long  before 
the  first  shot  was  fired,  and  that  the  King’s  declaration  that 
the  war  was  against  the  Empire,  was  meant  merely  to  weaken 
and  distract  the  enemy  by  encouraging  dissensious  between 
the  friends  and  opponents  of  the  Empire  in  Paris.  Count 
Bismarck  was  too  profoundly  acquainted  with  the  temper  of 
the  French  people  to  be  ignorant  of  the  extent  to  which  they 
had  driven  the  Emperor,  and  he  was  too  skilled  a  statesman 
to  believe  that  the  French  people  would  relinquish  their  pre¬ 
tensions  and  their  hostility  to  Germany,  simply  because  the 
Empire  had  ceased  to  exist.  It  was  plain  to  him  that  the 
conflict  between  the  two  nations  was  one  which  could  not 
have  been  delayed  many  years,  whatever  the  system  of  gov¬ 
ernment  in  France,  and  now  that  it  had  come,  it  was  but 
natural  that  he,  in  common  with  the  other  German  statesmen, 
should  be  determined  to  gain  from  it  the  most  solid  advan¬ 
tages  for  Germany.  Immediately  upon  the  fall  of  the  Empire, 
the  popular  wish  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war  became  more 
emphatic  than  ever.  From  all  parts  of  France  came  the  asser¬ 
tion  that  the  country  would  never  consent  to  a  loss  of  terri¬ 
tory,  that  the  war  must  go  on  until  France  was  crushed,  or 
the  Germans  driven  across  the  Rhine.  Whichever  way  they 
turned,  the  German  commanders  saw  nothing  but  resistance, 
heard  nothing  but  defiance,  and  they  would  have  been  worse 


344 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


than  idiotic  had  they  stopped  their  advance,  to  offer  terms  to 
a  people  who  declared  they  would  not  make  peace  unless  the 
victors  would  consent  to  relinquish  every  advantage  they  had 
won.  Furthermore,  the  Germans  knew  not  with  whom  to 
negotiate.  The  Imperial  Government  had  been  overturned, 
and  a  Provisional  Government  had  been  formed,  but  it  was 
very  uncertain,  for  sometime  after  the  victors  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Paris,  whether  the  nation  would  accept  the  new 
Government,  and  extremely  doubtful  whether  that  Govern¬ 
ment  could  negotiate  a  peace  upon  such  terms  as  the  interests 
of  Germany  required,  with  the  consent  of  the  people.  The 
German  leaders,  therefore,  wisely  for  their  country,  decided 
to  follow  up  their  advantages,  and  bring  France  to  such  a 
condition,  that  she  would  be  compelled  to  make  peace  upon 
their  terms. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender  of  Sedan,  the  Eleventh 
Corps  and  the  1st  Bavarians  were  detached  from  the  army  of 
the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia,  and  ordered  to  escort  the  French 
prisoners  to  Pont-a-Mousson,  where  they  were  to  hand  over 
their  captives  to  the  Tenth  Prussian  Corps,  before  Metz,  and 
then  by  forced  marches  rejoin  the  Crown  Prince  before  Paris. 
On  the  2d  of  September,  these  corps  took  charge  of  the  pris¬ 
oners,  and  the  remainder  of  the  3d  and  4th  armies  bivouacked 
on  the  battle-field,  in  readiness  to  resume  their  advance  upon 
Paris  on  the  3d.  By  early  morning  on  the  3d,  they  were 
under  arms,  and  moving  rapidly  towards  the  Capital  of 
France. 

The  advance  of  the  3d  and  4th  armies  was  by  different 
routes.  The  3d  army  moved  by  way  of  Bethel,  Rheims,  and 
Epernay,  as  far  as  the  south  bank  of  the  Marne,  whence  it 
continued  its  march  by  Montmirail  to  Coulommiers,  from 
which  last  place  the  various  corps  passed  to  the  positions  as¬ 
signed  them  in  the  line  of  investment. 

The  4th  army,  moving  by  Vouziers  and  Rheirns,  reached 
the  northern  bank  of  the  Marne,  along  which  it  continued  its 
course  to  Claye,  from  which  place  it  moved  to  its  position  in 
the  line  of  investment. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


345 


In  making  this  march  it  became  necessary  for  the  3d  and 
4th  armies  to  cross  each  other’s  line  somewhere  between  Se¬ 
dan  and  Paris.  This  was  done  at  Rheims;  and  so  accurately 
was  the  movement  planned,  that  two  large  armies,  each  press¬ 
ing  forward  with  speed,  crossed  each  other’s  line  of  march 
without  confusion  and  without  the  loss  of  a  day. 

Before  leaving  Rheims,  the  Crown  Prince  issued  the  fol¬ 
lowing  address  to  his  troops  : 

Soldiers  : — ' Through  great  victories  of  the  armies,  the  hope  of  a  glo¬ 
rious  peace  has  been  won  for  the  German  people. 

On  the  battle-fields  of  France  the  nation  has  become  conscious  of  its 
greatness  and  union,  and  this  gain,  sanctified  by  the  blood  of  many 
thousands  of  our  warriors,  we  trust,  will  keep  its  binding  power  for  all 
future  tine.  Blit  to  the  enthusiastic  outbursts  and  emotions  of  these 
weeks  have  come  also  feelings  of  deep  sorrow.  Many  of  the  flower  of  our 
youth,  many  of  the  leaders  of  our  army,  have  fallen  victims  of  the  vie 
tory  ;  and  greater  still  is  the  number  of  those  who,  from  wounds,  and 
excessive  endurance  and  exertions,  will  be  unable  in  future  to  gain  their 
livelihood  by  their  own  efforts.  They,  above  all,  and  those  whom  the 
dead  have  left  behind  them,  and  the  living  victims  of  the  war,  have  a 
claim  to  the  gratitude  of  the  nation.  Whoever  has  shared  the  enthusi 
asm  of  this  contest — whoever,  from  the  rising  up  of  our  whole  people  in 
their  might,  hopes  for  a  new  happy  era  of  peace,  and  in  our  victories 
and  the  defeat  of  our  foes  worships  a  judgment  of  God  on  high — let  him 
now  prove  his  fidelity  to  the  warriors  of  our  people’s  army,  and  their 
families.  Help  from  the  State  alone,  however  fully  it  may  be  given,  will 
not  suffice  to  support  the  large  number  of  invalids  and  their  families. 
That  help  only  affords  what  is  absolutely  necessary,  and  unavoidably 
confined  to  general  normal  rules,  and  cannot  attend  to  the  need  and 
wants  of  the  individual.  Great  efforts  of  voluntary  help  will  be  required 
this  time,  for,  huge  as  the  successes  have  been,  the  losses  of  the  war  are 
enormous.  In  the  same  way  in  which  this  war  has  created  a  uniform 
and  united  German  army,  in  which  sons  of  all  the  German  lands  fought 
in  brotherly  emulation  of  bravery,  the  care  for  the  invalids  and  helpless 
whom  the  war  leaves  behind  must  become  the  common  business  of  Ger¬ 
many,  the  North  and  South  of  our  Fatherland  taking  a  like  share  in  it. 
Former  experience  has  taught  that  it  does  not  suffice  with  generous 
hearts  to  offer  donations  of  money.  Nay,  not  less  important  and  more 
difficult  is  the  proper  distribution  thereof — the  kind  consideration  of  per¬ 
sonal  circumstances,  and,  most  important  of  all,  the  precaution  that  the 
assistance  rendered  shall  not  weaken  instead  of  strengthen,  the  power  to 
earn  which  may  still  exist,  and  that  it  really  prove  beneficial  for  the  life 


346 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


of  those  assisted.  The  “Victoria  National  Invalid  Fund,”  which  was 
founded  in  1868,  throughout  the  largest  part  of  Germany,  having  an¬ 
swered  this  purpose,  and  having  been  found  effective  in  its  organization, 
I  hereby  authorize  the  executive  manager  of  that  fund  to  take  in  hand 
the  organization  and  management  of  an  “  Invalid  Fund  of  Germany,” 
and  to  call  for  contributions  and  the  establishment  of  branches  thereof. 
His  Majesty,  the  King,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  German  army,  as  in 
the  years  1864  and  1866,  has  given  me  his  consent  to  this  patriotic  en¬ 
terprise.  This  time  it  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  lead  an  army  into 
the  field,  in  which  the  Bavarian,  the  Wurtemberger  and  the  Badener, 
have  fought  side  by  side  with  the  Prussian,  and  I  may  address  myself 
to  the  hearts  of  all  Germans.  May  this  work  of  love  be  a  common  labor 
between  us  for  our  Fatherland,  and  may  it  be  the  introduction  of  many 
united  and  blessed  works  of  peace.  Friedrich  Wilhelm, 

Grown  Prince  of  Prussia. 

Headquarters,  Rheims,  Sept.  6,  1870. 

The  scenes  which  attended  the  advance  of  the  invaders,  are 
thus  described  by  a  correspondent  who  accompanied  the 
headquarters  of  Crown  Prince  Fritz.  His  letter  was  written 
on  the  12th  of  September  : 

“  Montmirail  is  a  small  place  when  compared  with  the  fine 
city  of  Rheims,  through  which  I  have  passed  on  my  way 
hither.  In  Rheims,  with  its  glorious  cathedral,  and  its  memo¬ 
ries  of  royal  coronations,  there  is  gloom  and  restraint.  The 
enemy  have  taken  possession  of  the  city.  King  William 
himself  is  there.  The  King’s  headquarters  are  established  in 
the  episcopal  palace  beside  the  cathedral,  and  the  headquar¬ 
ters  of  the  Wiirtemberg  Corps,  which  garrisons  the  city,  are 
established  in  the  hotel  before  the  cathedral  door.  Officers 
come  and  go,  horses  clatter  over  the  stones,  and  orderlies  trot 
in  and  out  with  incessant  bustle.  But  though  there  is  plenty 
of  life  in  one  sense,  yet  Rheims  is  gloomy  and  restrained. 
The  people  do  not  like  it,  and  they  cannot  prevent  it.  Here 
are  enemies  far  milder  than  the  invaders  of  1814.  I  saw  doz¬ 
ens  of  young  women  passing  across  the  public  square  on  their 
way  to  the  cathedral,  and  they  had  no  violence  to  fear.  I 
saw  shops  open,  which  were  receiving  money  payments  for 
the  purchases  of  the  soldiery.  But  it  is  hard  to  be  ordered 
about  by  strangers  and  enemies,  when  we  have  been  led  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


347 


think  ourselves  beyond  all  attack.  The  mayor  has  to  advise 
his  townsfolk  earnestly  to  abstain  from  violence,  and  the 
Prussian  authorities  make  such  requisitions  as  they  think 
necessary  for  the  good  of  their  service.  These  requisitions 
are  made  on  the  city,  it  is  fair  to  add,  and  the  private  citizen 
has  only  to  provide  food  for  the  soldiers  actually  quartered 
upon  him.  He  need  not  let  himself  be  bullied  by  any  chance 
soldier  even  out  of  a  morsel  of  bread.  King  William  has  re¬ 
solved  that  no  irregular  exactions  shall  cause  the  people 
greater  suffering  than  the  war  must,  perforce,  inflict.  It  is 
difficult  to  prevent  small  irregularities  and  petty  plundering, 
but  these  things  press  more  harshly  on  country  villages  than 
on  a  city  like  Rheims,  where  His  Majesty  himself  is  quar¬ 
tered. 

“Whilst  the  rain  poured  in  torrents  on  the  gusty  Septem¬ 
ber  days  which  followed  the  great  victory,  there  was  ceaseless 
trampling  of  mud  and  splashing  up  of  muddy  water  in  the 
town  and  on  the  battle-field  of  Sedan.  Thousands  came  and 
went  along  the  road  to  the  Belgian  frontier,  until  this  same 
road,  so  quiet  at  ordinary  times,  was  made  the  busiest  of  in¬ 
ternational  thoroughfares.  Thousands  marched  away  towards 
Germany  with  heavy  steps  and  grave  downcast  faces.  These 
were  the  French  prisoners.  Who  could  say  what  foolish 
dreams  of  easy  victory  and  of  promenades  raililaires  had  floated 
through  their  heads  a  month  before  ?  They  had  misunder¬ 
stood  the  case,  they  had  been  ill  commanded  and  signally 
overthrown.  But  it  was  impossible  not  to  pity  the  poor  fel¬ 
lows  as  they  went  by  in  long  mud-splashed  columns,  their 
gay  uniforms  utterly  faded,  their  small  relics  of  equipment 
carried  with  anxious  care.  Here  was  one  with  a  saddle-cloth 
held  over  his  shoulders  to  keep  off  the  rain,  and  an  empty 
cooking  tin  clutched  in  his  other  hand.  Then  came,  perhaps, 
a  couple  whose  great-coats  were  to  the  fore,  but  who  had 
nothing  else.  Then  a  man  fairly  drenched  in  his  uniform 
coat,  yet  with  the  rare  luxury  of  a  knapsack,  and  with  the 
suspicion  of  a  pair  of  boots  therein.  So  they  went  by  in 
never-ending  columns.  Batches  of  men  in  great  distress  from 


348 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


damp  and  hunger.  Other  batches  seemingly  more  fortunate, 
better  clothed,  or,  for  some  reason,  better  provided.  The 
cavalry  without  their  horses,  the  infantry  without  their  load 
of  sack  and  coat,  and  tent,  -which  is  almost  part  of  themselves. 

“  There  was  dismal  work  to  be  done  amid  all  the  rain  and 
mud  of  the  days  which  followed  the  great  victory.  The  dead 
were  to  be  buried  and  the  wounded  were  to  be  removed  for 
fear  of  sickness.  As  late  as  the  fourth  day  there  were  dozens 
of  dead  Frenchmen  on  the  road  between  Sedan  and  Givonne, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  sixth  day  after  the  battle  that  the 
dead  horses  were  seriously  dealt  with.  So  many  men  still 
living,  but  suffering  great  agony,  claimed  the  care  of  all  who 
could  lend  a  helping  hand,  that  to  leave  the  dead  unburied 
for  awhile  was  as  nothing  in  comparison.  In  the  villages,  on 
the  battle-field  itself,  there  was  scarcely  a  foot  of  shelter  to  be 
found  unoccupied.  Every  house  had  a  garrison  of  wounded 
men,  and  the  doctors  were  busy  with  their  drugs  and  their 
instruments  working  hard  to  relieve  the  sufferers.  The  red 
cross  of  the  hospital  assistants  was  to  be  seen  in  all  directions. 
If  there  was  a  mass  of  sufferers  to  be  helped  and  tended,  there 
was  also  a  wide-spread  organization  to  bring  them  help. 
AVounded  men  were  in  the  villages  and  in  the  town.  They 
were  taken  over  the  Belgian  frontier,  to  be  conveyed  away 
by  rail  to  France  or  Germany.  They  were  spread  fai’ther 
and  farther,  by  slow  degrees,  from  the  spot  where  they  had 
fallen,  in  order  that  there  might  be  better  means  of  caring  for 
them  and  less  chance  of  infection.  It  often  seemed  that  the 
•  common  suffering  and  mutual  helplessness  had  made  the 
enemies  of  a  few  hours  before  quite  forget  their  hostile  atti¬ 
tude.  I  remember  noticing  on  the  morning  after  the  battle 
that  Frenchmen  and  Germans  limped  along  together  in  for¬ 
lorn  groups  of  twenty  or  a  dozen,  without  the  least  sign  of 
enmity,  in  fact  with  tolerable  politeness  one  to  another.  These 
lightly-wounded  men  found  their  way  to  the  rear  at  their  own 
pace,  often  stopping  to  rest.  You  might  have  seen  at  times 
a  soldier  of  either  side  chatting  in  broken  fashion,  by  signs 
and  stray  words,  to  some  soldiers,  also  wounded,  of  the  other 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


349 


side.  Or  it  would  happen  that  the  courtesies  of  a  resting- 
place  beside  the  road,  of  a  sheltered  corner,  or  grassy  bank, 
were  done  with  a  simple  nod  and  grunt  of  welcome  by  the 
first  comers  to  the  sometime  enemy,  who  limped  up  with  an 
imploring  look.  Between  the  unwounded  prisoners  and  their 
guard  it  could  not  but  be  that  roughness  and  jealousy  should 
appear.  The  prisoners  were  sullen  of  mood,  the  guard  put 
over  them  were  disposed  to  try  whether  loud  speaking  would 
not  make  German  clearly  comprehended.  But  the  wounded, 
conquerors  and  conquered,  got  on  together  excellently  well. 
They  had  a  fellow-feeling  which  made  them  almost  friends. 

“All  through  the  fertile  province  of  Champagne,  down  the 
straight  chaussees ,  with  their  lines  of  poplar  trees,  and  among 
the  pleasant  villages  on  the  vine-covered  slopes,  the  Prussians 
have  advanced  towards  Paris. 

“  There  was  a  great  bend  to  the  northward  when  the  Crown 
Princeswung round  uponMacMahon,  and  pinned  himin  against 
the  Belgian  frontier  at  Sedan.  There  was  a  momentary  pause 
after  the  success  of  September — a  pause  merely  to  rest  the 
exhausted  troops,  and  then  a  second  movement  as  decided 
and  almost  as  rapid  as  that  of  the  shutting  in  of  MacMahon. 
The  German  forces  returned  to  the  main  road  to  their  promised 
goal.  They  came  slanting  back  to  the  line  of  the  Marne,  and 
occupied  village  after  village,  town  after  town,  with  astonishing 
quickness.  The  French  had  no  time  to  prepare  a  systematic 
defence.  Before  the  National  Guard  could  even  be  armed, 
far  less  exercised,  those  fluttering  pennants  of  black  and  white 
which  told  of  the  Prussian  Lancers,  or  those  spiked  helmets 
of  the  Prussian  Dragoons,  were  seen  approaching.  Every¬ 
thing  had  to  be  abandoned.  The  armed  force,  such  as  it  was, 
dispersed  or  retreated,  and  the  people  submitted  themselves 
to  the  inevitable  in  the  way  of  war  contributions.  It  has 
been  such  a  flood  of  invasion  as  has  been  seldom  seen  in  the 
history  of  the  world.  There  has  been  the  energy  of  some 
fl’eutonic  inroad  of  the  fifth  century  combined  with  the  care¬ 
ful  preparation  of  modern  thought  and  science.  The  rough 
cavaliers  who  lead  the  way  are  indifferent  to  hardship  and 


350 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


danger.  With  them  it  is  a  change  from  damp  bivouacs  one 
day,  to  snug  quarters  in  a  fine  old  chateau  on  the  next.  They 
take  good  and  evil  fortune  as  it  happens  to  come,  live  well 
when  they  can,  and  frighten  the  inhabitants  far  more  than 
they  hurt  them.  Then  follow  the  regular  brigades  and  divi¬ 
sions,  the  artillery  and  ammuition,  of  the  main  army.  Guns 
are  dragged  steadily  forward,  wagons  block  up  the  roads, 
whole  fields  and  hill-sides  are  turned  into  camps,  as  the  army 
advances.  There  is  no  delay  in  the  rear.  More  and  more 
wagons  come  streaming  up  from  every  depot  of  provisions. 
The  field  telegraph  is  brought  into  play  as  fast  as  possible, 
and  the  field  hospitals  are  got  ready,  stage  after  stage,  for  the 
sick 'or  wounded  who  may  require  help.  To  travel  up  to 
headquarters  when  one  has  lingered  a  few  days  behind  the 
great  machine  is  a  curious  study.  In  some  respects,  it  is 
painful  to  pass  through  a  country  so  occupied  and  over¬ 
whelmed  by  soldiers.  There  are  no  blazing  ruins  to  tell  of 
an  enemy’s  passage,  no  women  complaining  of  outrage,  no 
bodies  of  murdered  men  lying  in  the  streets,  as  in  bad  old 
wars  of  other  times.  But  there  is  a  pitiful  scarcity  of  food, 
and  a  sullen  tone  of  despair  among  the  inhabitants.  They 
have  been  eaten  up,  they  say.  Not  a  drop  of  wine  is  left, 
not  a  crust  of  bread.  If  this  goes  on  much  longer  they  must 
starve.  Take  any  small  village  by  the  wayside.  Let  a  force 
of  hungry,  thirsty  men,  march  through  such  village,  and  the 
result  is  certain.  Food  will  be  devoured,  liquor  will  disap¬ 
pear,  the  people  will  groan  over  their  losses,  as  well  they 
may,  poor  souls!  Yet,  with  remembrance  of  what  has  been 
in  war,  and  of  what  might  be  again,  these  villagers  are  rather 
to  be  congratulated  that  they  live  in  times  like  ours.  The 
dreaded  foe  has  been  among  them,  and  this  is  all  that  has 
been  done. 

“The  German  line  of  March  in  the  very  heart  of  France 
is  a  curious  historical  study.  Groups  of  fine  strapping  fel¬ 
lows,  of  from  thirty  to  fifty  years  of  age,  lounge  about  the 
corners  of  the  village  streets  or  stand  half-awed,  half-defiant, 


BETWEEN  GERMAN'S  AND  FRANCE. 


351 


in  the  doors  of  the  houses.  They  are  just  such  material  as 
ought  to  be  in  a  French  Landwehr.  But  they  have  neither 
weapons  nor  drill.  Some  have  served  in  the  regular  army, 
and  these  scowl  most  fiercely  at  the  invaders,  yet  even  these 
are  utterly  unprepared  and  out  of  training.  The  uniform 
coat  has  so  long  given  place  to  the  blouse,  that  they  have 
slipped  back  into  their  native  condition  of  peaceful  cultivators 
of  the  soil.  Monsieur  le  Maire,  or  Monsieur  le  Cure,  has 
them  always  under  his  eye.  They  are  safe,  quiet  bodies,  who 
could  no  more  get  up  a  guerilla  war  than  could  a  village  full 
of  our  English  rustics.  We  hear  about  Francs-Tireurs,  and 
desperate  deeds  to  be  done  to  every  foreigner  who  ventures 
out  alone.  But,  to  their  honor  be  it  said,  the  French  peasants 
take  very  slowly  to  such  ways.  I  have  heard  of  cases  of 
“bushwhacking,”  and  I  am  aware  that  some  roads  are  far 
from  safe.  This  is  the  most  that  I  can  say  on  the  dangerous 
side.  On  the  other  side — or  the  side  of  painting  things  in 
tamer  colors — it  is  certain  that,  as  a  whole,  the  war  is  not  a 
war  of  partisans,  of  ambuscades  and  surprises.  The  one 
great  surprise  has  been,  that  of  the  French  nation  from  first 
to  last,  and  being  surprised,  outdone,  and  marched  over,  this 
French  nation  takes  its  sufferings  with  patient  logic.  A  In 
guerre  comme  cl  la  guerre,  as  I  have  before  said,  is  the  great 
motto  of  the  time.  Monsieur  le  Maire  advises  his  people  to 
pay  the  contributions  quietly,  though  this  particular  Maire 
of  Coulommiers  is  under  arrest  for  failing  to  do  so.  Mon¬ 
sieur  le  Cure  stands  by  his  flock  in  the  hour  of  trouble — 
comforts  and  encourages  them  to  bear  what  must  be  borne; 
and  the  villages  are  spared  the  additional  troubles  of  martial 
law  and  fierce  retaliation.  It  is  only  a  few  days  ago  that  I 
saw  General  Von  Moltke  driving  into  Rheirns  late  in  the 
day,  quite  alone  in  a  carriage,  with  no  escort  of  any  kind. 
At  another  time  I  saw  one  Prussian  soldier  on  foot  calmly 
halting  in  a  village  full  of  Frenchmen,  to  light  his  pipe  at 
the  inn  door.”  * 


*  War  Correspondence  of  the  London  Daily  News. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


In  stating  the  line  of  march  pursued  by  the  two  German 
armies,  we  have  only  given  the  general  direction.  The  usual 
system  of  the  Prussians,  to  march  by  every  practicable  par¬ 
allel  road,  was  put  in  practice  upon  this  occasion.  The  cav¬ 
alry  were  thrown  out  far  to  the  front,  and  thus  accurate  in¬ 
formation  of  all  that  was  passing  in  the  country  into  which 
the  columns  were  advancing,  was  obtained  by  the  German 
commander.  The  flanks  of  both  armies  were  well  protected 
by  these  bodies  of  horse,  and  lateral  communication  between 
the  various  columns,  as  well  as  between  the  two  armies,  was 
thus  maintained. 

The  march  of  the  German  armies  was  begun  from  Sedan 
on  the  3d  of  September,  and  on  the  5th,  King  William,  with 
the  advance,  a  column  of  25,000  men,  entered  Rheims,  where 
the  royal  headquarters  were  established.  The  main  body  of 
the  3d  army  moved  more  slowly,  and  did  not  reach  Rheims 
until  the  6th.  From  Rheims,  where  a  halt  was  made  by  the 
King  until  the  10th,  the  armies  moved  towards  Paris  by  the 
general  routes  we  have  indicated.  A  third  route  was  also 
taken  from  Rheims.  The  right  wing  of  the  German  army 
moved  from  Rheims  to  Soissons  and  Laon. 

Laon  was  summoned  to  surrender,  but  the  demand  was  at 
first  refused.  The  commandant,  however,  wishing  to  spare 
the  town  the  horrors  of  a  bombardment,  at  length  decided  to 
capitulate.  The  terms  of  the  surrender  were  similar  to  those 
granted  by  the  Germans  at  Sedan,  and  at  noon  on  the  9th, 
the  Germans  entered  the  place.  Half  an  hour  later,  the  mag¬ 
azine  of  the  citadel  blew  up  with  terrific  violence,  killing 
about  fifty  Prussians  and  over  100  of  the  Garde  Mobile,  and 
wounding  about  300  Gardes  Mobiles  and  several  Germans, 
the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin  being  among  the  latter. 
It  was  at  first  believed  that  the  explosion  was  the  work  of 
treachery,  but  it  was  afterward  discovered,  upon  investigation, 
that  it  was  the  result  of  an  accident. 

From  Laon,  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Sch  werin’s  column 
moved  to  Soissons,  twenty  miles  distant  to  the  southwest.  On 
the  11th  of  September  the  town,  which  is  an  important  fortress 


Palace  of  Uic  Tuileries  :  Paris. 

tpalaft  fccr  luilcricn  :  VariS. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


353 


commanding  not  only  the  river  Aisne,  but  the  railway  to 
Amiens  and  the  communications  with  that  part  of  Picardy, 
for  the  supply  of  Paris,  was  summoned  to  surrender,  but  the 
commandant  replied  that,  rather  than  surrender  it,  he  would 
blow  it  up.  Preparations  were  at  once  made  to  reduce  the 
place  by  a  siege,  and  on  the  12th  of  September,  the  invest¬ 
ment  was  begun. 

On  the  8th,  the  advance  of  the  3d  army  moved  off  from 
Pheims,  and  on  the  10th  reached  Chateau  Thierry.  The 
4th  army,  passing  to  the  south  of  Soissons,  reached  Villers- 
Cotterets  about  the  same  time.  The  average  distance  passed 
over  by  the  Germans  in  their  advance  was  about  fourteen  miles 
per  day.  On  the  12th,  they  occupied  Meaux,  and  on  the  13th 
their  cavalry  penetrated  to  points  within  five  miles  of  Paris. 
The  4th  army  passed  by  way  of  Dammartin  and  Claye  towards 
St.  Denis.  On  the  18th,  while  moving  through  the  Yalley 
of  the  Marne,  this  army  was  attacked  by  the  corps  of  General 
Yinoy.  Yinoy  had  been  sent  to  join  MacMahon,  but  being 
unable  to  reach  him  before  his  disaster,  had  retreated  upon 
Paris  with  his  corps  in  good  condition.  He  made  a  gallant 
attempt  to  interrupt  the  advance  of  the  Saxon  Crown  Prince, 
but  was  repulsed  with  loss.  The  4th  army  also  had  a  slight 
skirmish  with  the  French  on  the  19th  between  St.  Denis  and 
Gonesse. 

Had  General  Trochu  possessed  a  force  of  125,000  trained 
and  reliable  soldiers,  the  Germans  would  have  found  their 
long,  winding  march  to  their  positions  around  the  city  an 
operation  of  great  difficulty,  if  indeed  the  French  commander 
had  not  succeeded  in  preventing  them  from  investing  the  city 
so  thoroughly.  Moving  from  the  centre  of  the  circle,  on  the 
circumference  of  which  the  Germans  were  marching,  the 
French  commander  could  have  struck  a  succession  of  terrible 
blows  against  the  weak  points  of  their  long  line  before  they 
were  able  to  cover  that  line  with  intrench ments,  and  might 
have  compelled  them  to  abandon  the  investment  and  concen 
trate  for  their  own  safety.  General  Trochu  seems  to  have 
been  fully  aware  of  this,  and  anxious  to  profit  by  the  oppor- 
23 


354 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


tunity,  but  he  was  without  adequate  field  artillery,  and  his 
troops  were  not  to  be  depended  on  in  an  operation  of  such 
delicacy.  As  it  was,  however,  he  did  not  allow  the  Germans 
to  take  up  their  positions  without  an  effort  to  check  them. 

Meanwhile,  upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  the  country 
around  Paris  was  stripped,  as  far  as  possible,  of  everything 
that  could  facilitate  their  movements.  The  villages  were 
deserted,  and  all  the  houses  which  could  afford  cover  to  an 
enemy  were  burned.  Trees  were  felled,  roads  dug  up,  and 
the  country  around  the  capital,  once  so  beautiful  and  inviting, 
was  as  blackened  and  desolated  as  if  a  whirlwind  had  passed 
over  it.  The  woods  in  many  places  were  fired,  lest  they 
should  conceal  the  movements  of  the  Germans;  and  from  the 
towers  of  Paris  dense  columns  of  heavy  smoke  could  be  seen 
at  almost  every  point  of  the  horizon,  marking  the  approach 
of  the  enemy.  Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  hostile  columns. 
The  German  horsemen  were  in  the  suburbs  as  early  as  the 
18th.  On  the  18th  of  September,  the  gates  of  the  city  were 
shut,  and  Paris  was  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  France. 

The  3d  army  turned  obliquely  to  the  left  after  passing 
Lagny,  and  moved  towards  the  Seine,  which  river  it  was  com¬ 
pelled  to  cross  in  order  to  reach  its  positional!  the  line  of  in¬ 
vestment.  On  the  17th  of  September,  the  Fifth  Prussian 
Corps,  which  constituted  the  advance  of  the  3d  army, 
threw  several  pontoon  bridges  over  the  Seine  at  Villeneuve 
St.  George,  by  means  of  which  it  crossed  the  river,  followed 
subsequently  by  the  Sixth  Prussian  and  the  Second  Bavarian 
Corps.  These  columns  were  directed  towards  Bougival  on 
the  Seine,  to  the  northwest  of  Paris,  by  way  of  Sevres.  Their 
march  exposed  them  to  the  attacks  of  the  French,  and  Crown 
Prince  Fritz  was  on  the  alert  to  detect  the  first  hostile  move¬ 
ment  from  the  direction  of  the  forts.  In  order  to  cover  the 
building  of  the  bridges  and  the  passage  of  the  river,  he  posted 
one  brigade  of  infantry  and  two  batteries  of  artillery  on  the 
heights  of  Limeil,  extending  from  the  Seine  to  Boissy  St. 
Leger.  At  two  o’clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  17th,  a  French 
force  of  eight  battalions  of  infantry  and  two  batteries  of  artil- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


355 


lery,  moved  out  from  Charenton,  across  the  bridges  of  the 
Seine  and  Marne,  which  unite  at  that  point,  and,  advancing 
along  the  narrow  neck  of  land  which  lies  in  front  of  Fort  de 
Charenton,  with  their  flanks  covered  by  the  two  rivers,  attacked 
the  Germans  on  theLimeil  heights.  Their  attack  was  repulsed 
without  difficulty,  and  they  retreated  in  considerable  disorder. 

The  Fifth  Corps  passed  the  river  on  the  18th,  and  moved 
towards  Versailles  by  two  routes,  one  leading  through  Palai- 
seau,  and  the  other  through  Bievre.  The  latter  column,  being 
the  nearest  to  Paris,  was  covered  in  the  direction  of  the  city 
by  the  cavalry,  who  had  an  unimportant  skirmish  in  the  after¬ 
noon.  The  Second  Bavarian  Corps  crossed  the  Seine  on  the 
same  day,  and  occupied  Longjumeau. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September,  the  two  columns 
of  the  Fifth  Corps,  resumed  their  movement  from  Palaiseau 
and  Bievre  towards  Versailles.  The  Second  Bavarian  Corps 
marched  from  Longjumeau,  through  Palaiseau,  to  its  position 
in  the  line  of  investment  at  Chatenay.  The  Sixth  Prussian 
Corps,  which  did  not  pass  the  river  until  the  morning  of  the 
19th,  marched  through  Osby  to  the  position  assigned  it  at 
Chevilly. 

As  the  head  of  the  9th  division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  ap¬ 
proached  the  little  hamlet  of  Petit  Bicetre,  just  beyond  Bihvre, 
it  was  attacked  by  the  Fourteenth  French  Corps,  commanded 
by  General  Ducrot,  who  had  escaped  from  Sedan,  and  who  had 
just  reached  Paris.  Finding  that  he  had  no  adequate  force 
to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  Seine,  General  Trochu  had  re¬ 
solved  to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  check  the  advance  of  the 
Crown  Prince,  believing  that  he  could  hold  the  wood  of  Meu- 
don  and  Chatillon  at  least  some  days.  He  accordingly  collec¬ 
ted  such  troops  as  he  could  rely  upon,  to  the  number  of  about 
35,000  men.*  Believing  that  the  presence  of  an  officer  who 
had  distinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry  and  determination 
at  Sedan,  would  excite  the  enthusiasm  of  the  troops,  General 
Trochu  confided  the  command  to  General  Ducrot.  A  recon- 

*  The  French  force  at  Petit  BicOtre  is  variously  estimated  at  from  30,000  to 
40,000  men. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


noissance  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  disclosed  the  passage  of 
the  river  by  the  Germans  and  their  advance  towards  Versailles, 
and  it  was  decided  by  General  Ducrot  to  make  the  attack  the 
next  morning. 

Accordingly,  as  the  head  of  the  German  column  approached 
the  French  position  from  Bi&vre,  it  was  attacked  by  Ducrot. 
The  attack  was  met  with  firmness,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
right  wing  of  the  French  broke  and  fled  from  the  field  in 
great  confusion.  The  left  stood  firm,  however,  and  pressed 
the  Prussians  so  hard  that  they  were  obliged  to  hurry  up  the 
other  division  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  which  had  reached  Jouy  on 
the  southern  road  to  Versailles,  and  two  Bavarian  brigades 
from  Chatenay,  in  order  to  open  the  way  from  Bitfvre  to  Ver¬ 
sailles.  They  succeeded  in  accomplishing  their  object,  how¬ 
ever,  and  compelled  the  French  to  retire  under  the  guns  of 
the  forts.*  The  French  occupied  an  intrenched  position  in 
this  engagement,  but  were  driven  from  it  with  a  loss  of  seven 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  from  2000  to  3000  prisoners. 

On  the  same  day,  the  4th  army  took  up  its  position  to  the 
north  and  east  of  Paris.  Upon  its  approach,  the  French 

*  General  Trochu  issued  the  following  order  of  the  day  after  the  defeat  of 
Ducrot : 

“  To  the  National  Guard,  the  Garde  Mobile ,  and  the  Troops  in  Garrison  at 
Paris : 

“  In  the  combat  of  yesterday,  which  lasted  nearly  the  whole  day,  and  in 
which  our  artillery,  whose  firmness  cannot  be  too  highly  praised,  has  inflicted 
enormous  losses  on  the  enemy,  some  incidents  have  occurred  which  it  is  ne¬ 
cessary,  in  the  interest  of  the  great  cause  which  we  defend  in  common,  should 
be  communicated  to  you. 

“An  unjustifiable  panic,  which  the  efforts  of  an  excellent  chief  of  the  corps 
and  of  his  officers  were  unable  to  prevent,  seized  the  regiment  of  Zouaves 
which  held  our  right  wing.  From  the  commencement  of  the  action  the  most 
part  of  the  soldiers  were  thrown  into  disorder,  producing  there  the  greatest 
alarm. 

“  In  order  to  excuse  their  conduct,  these  cowards  have  declared  that  they 
were  being  led  to  certain  destruction,  although  their  effective  was  intact, 
and  they  were  without  wounds  ;  that  they  wanted  cartouches,  although  they 
had  not  used  those  with  which  they  were  supplied,  I  have  ascertained 
myself,  from  what  they  still  have ;  that  they  had  been  betrayed  by  their 
chiefs,  etc.,  etc.  The  truth  is,  that  these  unworthy  fellows  have  compromised 


The  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  viewing  Paris  from  the  Heights  oi  Chatillon. 


358 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


abandoned  their  position  at  Pierrefitte — a  village  to  the  north 
of  St.  Denis,  between  one  and  two  miles  distant  from  it,  and 
standing  at  the  base  of  a  range  of  heights  that  extend  from 
the  Oise  almost  to  St.  Denis.  The  Fort  of  Vineennes  was 
also  abandoned  as  untenable,  about  the  same  time. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  Crown  Prince  Fritz,  who  had 
crossed  the  Seine  at  Corbeil,  and  moved  with  his  headquarters 
to  Palaiseau,  at  which  place  he  passed  the  night  of  the  19th, 
rode  over  the  battle-field  to  an  eminence  behind  Chatillon, 
from  which  Paris  could  be  seen.  “  This,”  says  a  writer  who 


an  engagement,  which,  notwithstanding  this  panic,  has  produced  consider¬ 
able  results  due  to  others,  soldiers  of  the  infantry  joined  to  them. 

“Alreadj'  the  misfortunes  which  have  happened  to  us  in  the  commencement 
of  the  war  have  caused  to  flow  into  Paris  undisciplined  and  demoralized 
soldiers,  who  produce  inquietude  and  trouble,  and  escape,  through  circum¬ 
stances,  the  authority  of  their  chiefs  and  all  attempts  at  repression. 

“  I  am  firmly  resolved  to  put  an  end  to  such  grave  disorders.  I  command 
all  the  defenders  of  Paris  to  seize  all  men  who,  being  regular  soldiers  or  be¬ 
longing  to  the  Garde  Mobile,  are  rolling  about  the  town  in  a  state  of  drunk¬ 
enness,  thus  bringing  scandal  and  dishonor  upon  the  uniform  they  wear. 

“  The  soldiers  or  Gardes  Mobiles  thus  arrested  will  be  conducted  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  place — 7  Place  Vendome — the  inhabitants  arrested  to  the 
Prefecture  of  Police.  They  will  afterwards  be  brought  before  a  council  of 
war,  which,  sitting  en  permanence,  will  adjudge  the  rigorous  application  of 
martial  law. 

“Article  213  prescribes  the  punishment  of  death  to  every  soldier  who  aban¬ 
dons  his  post  in  presence  of  the  enemy  or  of  armed  rebels. 

“Article  218  prescribes  the  punishment  of  death,  with  military  degradation, 
to  all  soldiers  who  refuse  to  obey  when  commanded  to  march  upon  the 
enemy. 

“Article  250  prescribes  the  punishment  of  death,  with  military  degradation, 
to  all  who  pillage  food,  merchandise,  or  effects,  by  soldiers  in  bands,  either 
with  arms  or  by  open  force,  or  with  violence  towards  the  person. 

“Article  253  prescribes  the  punishment  of  death,  with  military  degradation, 
to  all  soldiers  who  destroy  the  means  of  defence,  supplies  of  arms,  victuals, 
or  munitions  of  war,  etc.,  etc. 

“It  is  as  much  the  duty  of  the  Government  to  defend  Paris,  which  is  just 
being  subjected  to  siege,  as  it  is  to  maintain  order.  By  the  present  arrange¬ 
ments,  it  associates  in  the  effort  all  men  of  heart  and  will,  of  which  the  num¬ 
ber  is  great  in  the  city. 

“  The  President  of  Government,  Governor  of  Paris, 

Paris,  September  20.  General  Trochu.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


359 


accompanied  him,  “  was  another  of  the  lovely  days  which  we 
have  lately  enjoyed.  All  the  country  was  bathed  in  sunshine, 
and  there  was  more  than  enough  of  dust  along  the  road.  We 
passed  through  the  pleasant  valleys,  with  chateaux  and  gar¬ 
dens  thickly  scattered  about  them,  and  came  to  ambulance 
wagons  full  of  wounded  men.  The  houses  were  occupied  as 
hospitals,  and  many  a  poor  fellow  with  bandaged  head,  or 
with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  came  to  the  garden  gates  to  salute  the 
Prince.  More  than  once  His  Highness  stopped  to  speak  to 
the  wounded,  and  they  seemed  much  pleased  by  the  notice 
that  was  taken  of  them.  They  had  done  their  duty  well,  and 
deserved  a  share  of  praise. 

“  From  the  four  cross-roads  at  Le  Petit  Bicetre  to  the  slope 
eastward  of  Chatenay  there  were  grizzly  traces  of  yesterday’s 
fight.  Dead  men  lay  here  and  there  iu  the  fields,  hospital 
wagons  were  halted  by  the  roadside  with  relief  for  those  who 
still  lived,  and  fragments  of  weapons  were  to  be  seen  in  all 
directions.  The  village  of  Chatenay  was  utterly  abandoned 
by  its  inhabitants,  the  houses  gutted,  and  everything  smashed. 
On  the  road  to  Chatillon  the  trees  were  felled,  the  ground 
broken  up,  and  evident  preparation  made  for  defence.  Then 
we  came  to  the  unfinished  outwork  on  the  hill  behind  Chatil¬ 
lon,  from  whence  Paris  could  be  seen.  Here  was  a  view  of 
the  whole  city — the  dome  of  the  Invalides  and  the  towers  of 
Notre  Daine  were  clearly  visible,  and  the  distance  was  such 
that  a  long-range  gun  would  carry  into  Paris.  The  Bavari¬ 
ans  were  busy  completing  the  defences  of  the  outwork,  to 
turn  them  against  the  city  at  a  fitting  time.  Even  whilst  we 
were  looking,  there  came  a  shot  from  one  of  the  French  forts 
with  a  roar  and  a  hissing  over  our  heads.  It  was  a  wonder 
that  they  did  not  shoot  oftener.  They  would  have  done  so, 
doubtless,  if  the  escort  had  come  in  sight,  or  if  the  staff  had 
advanced  on  horseback  to  the  brow  of  the  hill.” 

Meanwhile  the  King  had  followed  the  army  more  leisurely. 
Leaving  Rheims  on  the  12th  of  September,  he  established  his 
headquarters  in  the  Chateau  of  Baron  Rothschild,  at  Fer- 
ri&res,  on  the  16th.  There  he  remained  until  the  investment 


360 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


of  Paris  was  completed,  when  the  royal  headquarters  were 
transferred  to  Versailles. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  September,  the  3d  army  re¬ 
sumed  its  march  toward  Versailles.  As  early  as  the  18th,  three 
German  Hussars  entered  that  city.  They  presented  them¬ 
selves  at  the  gates,  and  were  conducted  to  the  presence  of  the 
Mayor  by  the  National  Guard  on  duty  at  the  gates.  They 
demanded  to  enter  into  a  parley,  but  the  Mayor  replied  that 
he  could  only  treat  with  an  officer  having  power  to  receive 
the  surrender  of  the  place. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  the  German  cavalry  moving 
ahead  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  arrived  before  Versailles,  and  an 
aide-de-camp,  accompanied  by  a  private,  bearing  a  flag  of 
truce,  was  sent  to  confer  with  the  municipal  authorities  for 
the  surrender  of  the  city.  He  was  conducted  before  the  mu¬ 
nicipal  authorities,  from  whom  he  demanded  a  place  for  the 
German  wounded,  and  the  keys  of  the  stores  for  fodder.  He 
then  returned  to  General  Von  Kirchbach,  the  commander  of 
the  Fifth  Corps,  for  consultation.  At  eleven  o’clock  A.  M., 
there  arrived  a  captian  of  engineers,  also  an  aide-de-camp  to 
General  Von  Kirchbach,  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  town. 
Skirmishing  was  at  this  time  going  on  between  the  Prussians 
and  the  French  in  the  vicinity  of  Sceaux  and  Meudon.  The 
terms  of  the  surrender  of  Versailles  were  as  follows  : 

1st.  All  property  and  every  person  will  be  respected,  as  well  as  all 
monuments  and  works  of  art. 

2d.  'Hie  confederates  shall  occupy  all  the  barracks  with  their  soldiers, 
but  the  inhabitants  must  lodge  the  officers,  and  in  case  the  barracks  are 
insufficient,  the  soldiers  also. 

3d.  The  National  Guards  will  remain  armed,  and  in  the  common  in¬ 
terest  will  be  charged  with  the  duties  of  police  inside  the  town,  and  in 
all  the  posts  there  situated.  Only  the  confederates  will  occupy,  as  they 
require,  the  gates  of  the  barriers. 

4th.  There  shall  be  no  contribution  in  money,  but  the  town  must  fur¬ 
nish,  at  the  market  price,  all  that  will  be  necessary  to  the  armies  pass¬ 
ing  through,  as  well  as  to  those  stationed  in  Versailles. 

5th.  The  same  day  the  gates  of  the  city  shall  be  opened  to  the  passage 
of  the  Fifth  Corps. 

The  details  of  the  surrender  being  arranged,  the  Fifth 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


3G1 


Sevres  Porcelain  Factory,  and  Heights  of  St.  Cloud. 


Corps  moved  towards  Versailles,  the  head  of  the  column 
passing  the  gates  at  a  quarter  past  twelve  o’clock.  Until 
five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  troops  continued  to  defile 
through  the  city  to  the  positions  assigned  them.  The  entry 
was  made  with  all  the  pomp  and  ceremony  of  a  grand  review, 
and,  notwithstanding  their  long  marching  and  hard  fighting, 
the  men  were  as  neat  in  their  appearance,  and  as  cleanly 
shaven  as  if  going  to  a  review.  The  bands  of  the  regiments 
played  the  Marseillaise  and  other  French  national  airs,  as  they 
passed  through  the  old  seat  of  French  royalty. 

On  the  21st,  Crown  Prince  Fritz  reached  Versailles,  and 
established  his  headquarters  in  the  prefecture  of  the  city. 
He  had  passed  the  20th  in  personally  superintending  the 
placing  of  his  corps  in  the  positions  assigned  them,  and 
reached  Versailles  covered  with  dust,  and  worn  out  with  fa¬ 
tigue.  He  was  received  with  ringing  cheers  by  his  troops, 
and  in  silence  by  the  inhabitants.  It  had  been  supposed  that 
he  would  establish  his  headquarters  in  the  Palace  of  Louis 
XIV.,  but  that  building  had  already  been  occupied  as  a  hos¬ 
pital,  and  the  red  cross  flag  was  waving  over  it. 


362 


HISTORY  OP  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  investment  of  Paris  was  now  complete.  The  3d  army 
held  the  left  of  the  German  position,  and  its  forces  were 
posted  as  follows:  The  Fifth  Corps  held  the  extreme  left,  and 
its  line  extended  from  Bougival  on  the  Seine,  in  front  of  Fort 
du  Mont  Valbrien,  through  Sevres,  Meudon,  in  front  of  Fort 
d’lssy.  The  Second  Bavarian  Corps  continued  the  line  from 
Meudon  to  Clamart,  in  front  of  Fort  de  Vanves.  The  Sixth 
Prussian  Corps  held  the  line  from  Clamart,  through  Chatil- 
lon  to  Chevilly,  in  front  of  Fort  de  Bicetre  ;  and  the  Eleventh 
Prussian  Corps  continued  the  line  from  Chevilly  to  the  Seine 
at  Choissy-le-Roi,  in  front  of  Fort  d’lvry.  The  Wurtemberg 
contingent,  consisting  of  two  divisions  of  cavalry,  one  division 
of  infantry,  and  a  proportionately  strong  artillery  force,  held 
the  neck  of  land  lying  in  front  of  Fort  de  Charenton,  and  be¬ 
tween  the  Seine  and  the  Marne.  The  First  Bavarian  Corps 
constituted  the  reserve  of  the  3d  army,  and  was  stationed  in 
the  rear  of  Meudon,  midway  between  Clamart  and  Versailles. 

The  4th  army  held  the  right  of  the  line  of  investment. 
The  Twelfth  Prussian  Corps  formed  its  left,  and  extended 
from  the  Marne,  on  the  right  of  the  Wiirtembergers,  to  a 
point  between  the  villages  of  Bondy  and  Sevran,  with  Forts 
de  Vincennes,  Nogent,  Rosny,  Noisy  and  Romainville,  before 
it.  The  Saxon  Guards  continued  the  line  from  the  left  of 
the  Twelfth  Corps  to  Pierrefitte,  with  Forts  Aubervilliers,  De 
l’Est,  De  la  Briche  and  St.  Denis,  in  its  front;  and  the  Fourth 
Prussian  Corps  finished  the  circle  from  Pierrefitte,  through 
Argenteuil,  to  Chatou  on  the  Seine,  opposite  Bougival. 
The  spaces  between  the  corps,  wherever  they  existed,  were 
held  by  the  cavalry,  and  the  various  commands  at  once  began 
to  cover  their  positions  with  intrenchments.  For  the  while 
these  were  armed  with  field  artillery,  it  being  the  intention 
of  the  Germans  to  bring  up  siege  guns  capable  of  reducing 
the  defences  and  commanding  the  city  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  unfinished  works  of  the  French  to  the  right  and  left  of 
Mont  Valerien  were  promptly  occupied  by  the  Germans,  and 
every  precaution  was  taken  to  repel  sorties  from  the  city  and 
forts,  and  to  maintain  the  line  of  investment.  It  was  not  yet 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


363 


possible  to  bombard  Paris,  for  the  long-range  guiis  had  not 
arrived  from  Germany,  being  still  en  route.  A  portion  of  the 
siege  train  was  transported  along  the  canal  of  the  Marne.  On 
the  17th  of  September,  the  French  scouts  destroyed  the  locks, 
and  let  the  water  out  of  the  canal,  and  the  boats  on  which  the 
heavy  guns  were  placed,  settled  down  into  the  mud.  The 
headquarters  of  the  3d  army  were  at  Versailles  ;  those  of  the 
4th  army  at  Grand  Tremblay. 

Although  unable  to  prevent  the  formation  of  the  line  of  in¬ 
vestment,  General  Trochu  did  not  allow  the  besiegers  to  con¬ 
tinue  their  operations  in  peace. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  he  made  three  distinct  recon- 
noissances  of  their  position. 

The  first  of  these  was  conducted  by  Admiral  Saisset,  who, 
with  200  picked  riflemen,  400  marines,  and  eight  companies 
of  Eclaireurs  de  la  Seine,  made  a  sharp  attack  on  the  Prus¬ 
sians  at  Drancy.  He  drove  them  out  of  the  village,  and  pur¬ 
sued  them  to  within  400  yards  of  the  railway  station  of  Le 
Bourget.  The  Prussians  were  obliged  to  retreat  under  the 
fire  of  a  portion  of  the  guns  of  Fort  de  Romainville.  The 
French  had  one  officer  and  one  private  wounded.  They  held 
the  ground  they  had  gained  until  the  afternoon,  when  they 
made  an  orderly  retreat  to  their  main  line. 

General  Belanger,  commanding  at  St.  Denis,  on  the  same 
day  attacked  the  Prussians  at  Pierrefitte,  his  movements  being 
covered  by  the  fire  of  the  guns  of  the  forts  about  St.  Denis. 
A  hand  to  hand  fight  ensued  in  the  village.  The  Prussians 
were  reenforced,  and  the  French  being  unable  to  occupy  the 
village,  retired  in  good  order  in  the  afternoon. 

General  Hand  Luy,  about  the  same  time,  attacked  the 
heights  of  Villejuif,  and  succeeded  in  occupying  them.  His 
batteries,  supported  by  the  fire  of  the  guns  of  the  forts,  can¬ 
nonaded  the  Prussian  position  before  Villejuif  for  several 
hours.  He  succeeded  in  compelling  the  Germans  to  abandon 
the  construction  of  some  advanced  works  at  this  point. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  the  French  made  their  first 
sortie  in  force  from  Paris.  After  the  occupation  of  Villejuif 


364 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


by  the  division  of  General  Mand  Luy,  the  Germans  remained 
masters  of  the  villages  of  L’Hay  Chevilly,  Thais,  and  Choissy 
le  Roi,  which  completely  covered  their  line  of  communication 
with  Versailles.  Between  the  23d  and  30th  of  September 
they  exerted  themselves  to  complete  the  construction  of  a 
system  of  earthworks  on  this  line.  General  Trochu  decided 
to  attack  them  at  once,  in  order  to  ascertain  their  exact  posi¬ 
tion  and  the  strength  of  their  works,  and  also  with  the  hope 
of  being  able  to  break  up  these  works.  Accordingly,  on  the 
night  of  the  29th,  a  strong  column,  under  the  command  of 
General  Vinoy,  was  massed  towards  the  forts  of  Ivry,  Bicetre, 
and  Montrouge,  on  the  south  of  Paris.  At  daybreak  on  the 
30th,  they  left  their  lines  and  moved  rapidly  towards  the  Ger¬ 
man  position.  They  were  received  with  a  brisk  fire  of  mus¬ 
ketry  and  cannon,  to  which  they  replied  with  energy.  This 
attack  was  made  upon  the  right  centre  of  the  army  of  Crown 
Prince  Fritz,  who,  as  soon  as  he  heard  the  firing,  hastened  to 
the  field  and  assumed  the  command.  The  battle  soon  became 
general,  extending  from  the  Seine,  near  its  junction  with  the 
Marne,  to  the  vicinity  of  St.  Cloud.  It  was  well  contested  on 
both  sides,  and  continued  for  about  three  hours.  The  French 
pressed  the  Prussians  so  heavil}r  that  the  latter  were  obliged 
to  call  up  reenforcements.  The  villages  of  Chevilly  and  Thais 
were  occupied  by  the  French,  but  at  length  the  terrible  fire 
of  the  German  artillery  began  to  tell  upon  them,  and  General 
Vinoy  ordered  a  retreat  to  the  main  line  around  the  forts, 
which  was  effected  in  good  order,  though  with  severe  loss  in 
consequence  of  the  heavy  fire  with  which  the  Germans  fol¬ 
lowed  their  retiring  foe.  The  French  troops  manifested  more 
steadiness  in  this  encounter  than  they  had  yet  displayed  since 
the  fall  of  Sedan.  General  Trochu  in  his  report  of  the  en¬ 
gagement,  says,  “  The  combats  of  September  30th  have  proved 
to  our  soldiers  how  much  they  are  worth,  to  their  chiefs  what 
they  may  expect  of  them  ;  and  this  day  is  honorable  to  the 
efforts  of  the  defensive  bourgeoise.”  The  Paris  Temps  con¬ 
tained  the  following,  the  morning  after  the  battle :  “  The  ob¬ 
ject  of  the  sortie  was  to  blow  up  a  bridge  over  the  Seine,  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


365 


arouse  the  courage  of  the  Parisians  by  obtaining  a  success 
where  the  Prussians  were  not  supposed  to  be  in  force.  Neither 
end  was  attained,  and  Paris  is  consequently  greatly  depressed.”* 
The  French  lost  about  1200  men,  and  one  general  officer  in 
this  engagement.  The  German  loss  was  much  smaller. 

Paris  was  now  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  France,  though  there 
is  good  reason  for  believing  that  General  Trochu  found  the 
means  of  communicating  with  the  forces  in  other  parts  of  the 
country,  apart  from  the  balloon  service.  Communication 
with  the  provinces  was  almost  entirely  carried  on  by  means 
of  balloons.  These,  in  charge  of  skilful  and  determined  aero¬ 
nauts,  were  sent  up  from  Paris,  at  stated  intervals,  when  the 
direction  of  the  wind  was  favorable,  and  floating  securely  over 
the  German  lines  descended  in  the  country  occupied  by  the 
French.  Once  or  twice,  however,  the  Prussian  cavalry  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  capturing  a  balloon  which  had  made  a  premature 
descent, ^ind  one  of  these  aerial  voyagers  was  carried  as  far 
out  of  his  course  as  Norway.  Occasionally  balloons  were 
dispatched  from  Tours  to  Paris,  f  but  as  the  area  within  the 


*  The  official  dispatches  were  as  follows : 

“  Ferrieres,  September  30. 

“  To  the  Queen  : 

“Early  this  morning,  the  French  troops  of  the  line  made  a  sortie  against 
the  troops  of  the  Sixth  Prussian  Corps,  while  the  Prussian  Fifth  Corps 
was  attacked  by  three  battalions.  At  the  same  time  a  brigade  made  a 
demonstration  against  the  Eleventh  Corps.  At  the  end  of  two  hours  the 
French  took  shelter  under  the  guns  of  the  forts.  The  Crown  Prince  com¬ 
manded  the  Prussians.  William.’’ 

“  Vitry,  September  30. 

“  To  the  People: 

“  Our  troops,  in  a  vigorous  sortie,  successively  occupied  Chevilly  and 
L’Hay,  and  advanced  as  far  as  Thais  and  Choissy-le-Roi.  All  these  positions 
(on  the  south  of  Paris)  were  wholly  occupied.  After  a  sharp  artillery  and 
musketry  engagement  our  troops  fell  back  on  their  positions  with  remarkable 
order  and  coolness.  The  Garde  Mobile  was  very  firm.  Our  losses  were  con¬ 
siderable  ;  those  of  the  enemy  probably  as  large.  As  a  whole,  the  day  was 
very  honorable.  Trochu.” 

|  The  following  is  an  account  of  the  voyage  of  M.  Nadar,  who  was  the  first 
to  make  the  attempt  to  enter  Paris  with  his  balloon : 

“  M.  Nadar  left  Tours  for  Paris,  with  Government  dispatches  to-day 


366 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR. 


lines  of  investment  offered  too  limited  a  space  for  the  descent 
of  the  balloon  to  be  made  certain,  these  ventures  were  discon¬ 
tinued.  Leaving  Paris  was  much  easier,  as  the  aeronaut  had 
the  whole  of  Europe  beyond  the  portions  occupied  by  the 
Prussians,  in  which  to  choose  his  place  of  descent.  Some  of 
these  balloons  carried  away  from  Paris  as  many  as  20,000 
letters,  in  addition  to  dispatches  for  the  Government  at 
Tours. 

Meanwhile,  having  secured  his  position  in  front  of  Paris, 
Crown  Prince  Fritz  determined  to  take  advantage  of  the  rest 
which  the  investments  gave  to  his  army,  to  bestow  upon  his 
most  distinguished  officers  and  soldiers  the  reward  of  their 
gallantry  and  patriotism.  On  the  26th  of  September,  a  grand 

(October  1st),  at  six  a.  m.,  in  the  ‘Intrepide,’  arriving  in  view  of  Paris  at 
eleven  a.  m.  AVhile  M.  Nadar  was  floating  about  3000  metres  above  Fort 
Charenton  in  the  ‘Intrepide,’  a  second  balloon  was  observed  in  the  horizon. 
Nadar  was  seen  to  display  a  streamer  with  the  French  national  colors.  Im¬ 
mediately  another  national  flag  floated  from  the  car  of  the  other  balloon. 
Vigorous  hurrahs  and  cries  of  ‘  C’est  Durouf!’  proceeding  from  the  garrison 
of  the  fort,  greeted  the  appearance  of  the  two  aeronauts,  whose  balloons 
gradually  approached.  When  they  were  within  a  short  distance  of  each 
other,  suddenly  a  loud  report  was  heard  in  the  air,  followed  by  a  series  of 
explosions.  These  were  at  first  thought  to  be  demonstrations  or  signals  of 
victory,  until  Nadar  was  seen  to  fling  himself  into  the  network  of  his  balloon 
and  to  cling  to  its  sides.  During  this  time  the  other  aeronaut  continued  dis¬ 
charging  shots  at  Nadar,  which  were  traced  in  the  sky  by  their  luminous 
effects.  The  ‘Intrepide’  descended  rapidly,  and  it  appeared  to  the  spectators 
below  that  some  incomprehensible  events  had  taken  place  above.  But  mark 
what  the  French  flag  in  the  neighboring  balloon  had  come  to.  It  had  been 
removed,  and  a  black  and  yellow  standard  was  observed  to  be  floating  in  its 
place.  Then  all  was  explained.  1  Treason  I  It  is  a  Prussian  balloon!  He 
has  fired  on  the  “  Intrfipide  !  ”  Nadar  is  lost !  ’  were  the  cries  that  burst  sim¬ 
ultaneously  from  the  French  people.  But  Nadar  was  safe ;  for  he  was  seen 
to  descend  rapidly  in  his  car,  and  the  balloon  to  nearly  reach  the  earth.  He 
cast  out  the  ballast,  and  reascended,  having  stopped  the  hole  made  in  his 
balloon  by  his  adversary.  Then  shots  were  rapidly  fired  from  the  ‘Intrfipide’ 
into  the  Prussian  balloon,  which  one,  losing  all  power,  descended  to  the  earth 
with  giddy  velocity.  A  detachment  of  Uhlans  who  were  in  the  plain,  and 
who  had  been  following  the  aerial  combatants  throughout  this  exciting 
struggle,  rushed  forward,  and,  surrounding  the  balloon,  received  their  cham¬ 
pion,  and  then  all  hastened  off  at  full  speed  to  the  Prussian  advanced  posts. 
In  the  meantime  Nadar  descended  safely  at  Charenton.” 


Prussians  Examining  French  Newspapers  and  Letters  from  a  Captured  Balloon. 


36S 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


parade  was  ordered  in  the  “  Court  of  Statues,”  in  front  of  the 
Palace.  “  On  the  upper  step  of  the  two  steps,  from  which 
arises  the  pedestal  of  the  equestrian  statue  of  Louis  le  Grand, 
stood  a  powerfully  built  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  of  fine 
bearing,  with  a  fair,  full  beard,  and  a  keen,  bright  eye.  Two 
stars  are  on  his  breast,  but  it  does  not  need  them  to  mark  the 
Crown  Prince  of  Prussia.  He  wears  his  flat  cap,  with  peak 
and  red  band,  undress  frock,  and  long  boots  coming  above 
the  knees.  On  his  left  an  officer  of  dragoons  held  a  salver 
encircled  with  laurels,  on  which  were  placed  a  heap  of  the 
iron  crosses  and  their  ribbons,  which  will  mark  this  war. 
The  cross  is  of  iron,  with  a  silver  edge ;  on  one  side  is  a 
crown,  with  the  letters  ‘F.  W.’  (for  Friedrich  Wilhelm),  and 
the  date  1813 ;  on  the  other  side,  a  crown,  with  the  letter 
‘  W.’  (for  Wilhelm,  the  present  King),  and  the  date  1870. 
The  ribbon  is  broad  black,  with  a  white  border.  On  the  right 
of  the  Prince  stood  a  group  of  generals  and  officers  of  the 
staff — Blumenthal,  Tiimpling,  Kirchbach,  Voigts-Rhetz,  Gott- 
berg,  Eulenberg,  Heyte,  Seckendorff,  Schleinitz,  Bissing,  and 
others.  On  the  step  below  were  ranged  the  Duke  of  Coburg, 
the  Princes  of  Wiirtemberg  and  Mecklenberg,  Prince  Leopold 
of  Hohenzollern,  and  the  Duke  of  Augustenburg,  with  their 
staff.  In  the  courtyard,  drawn  up  at  right  angles  to  the 
statue  of  Louis  le  Grand,  a  regiment  of  dismounted  dragoons 
formed  one  side  of  the  square,  of  which  that  facing  the  statue 
was  constituted  by  two  regiments  in  masses  of  grand  divisions 
in  close  order,  with  the  officers  on  the  flanks ;  and  on  the  left 
of  the  Prince,  below,  two  lines  of  troops  formed  a  kind  of  alley 
for  the  recipients  of  the  crosses.  A  band  of  buglers  and 
drummers,  apart  at  one  of  the  angles  of  the  square,  gave  a 
martial  welcome  to  the  Prince  when  he  entered  and  mounted 
the  steps  of  the  statue.  There,  as  he  stood,  were  ‘France 
triumphant  over  Spain,’  ‘  France  triumphant  over  the  German 
Empire,’  before  him,  and  ‘  Peace  ’  and  ‘Abundance  ’  nearer  at 
hand;  and  in  monumental  rows  on  each  side  were  old  Du 
Guesclin,  grim  Turenne,  Bayard,  Conde,  and  the  later  effigies 
of  Jourdan,  Massena,  Lannes,  Mortier,  and  the  rest  of  the  il- 


Palace  of  Versailles:  View  from  the  Terrace. 


370 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


lustrious  sixteen,  who  once  adorned  the  Pont  de  la  Concorde. 
Higher  still,  lift  your  eyes  over  those  serried  helmets,  just 
across  the  angle  of  the  statue  of  Louis  the  Great,  and  above 
the  Prince’s  head,  as  you  look  from  the  left  of  the  Court,  you 
see  an  inscription  on  the  front  of  the  pavilion.  The  world 
knows  it.  The  words  are,  ‘A  toutes  les  gloires  de  la  France.'' 
But  the  happy  recipients  of  the  Iron  Cross  came  up,  one  after 
another,  to  the  number  of  more  than  thirty ;  and  the  Prince 
said  a  word  or  two  to  all,  shook  hands  with  some ;  and  when 
that  ceremony  was  over,  he  drew  his  sword,  raised  it  in  the 
air,  and  with  a  loud  voice  called  for  ‘three  cheers  for  the 
King.’  The  wounded  men  in  the  gilded  and  pictured  gal¬ 
leries  far  away  must  have  heard  the  cheers  that  followed — 
three  great  shouts  as  of  one  tremendous  throat — and  then  a 
General,  Voigts-Rhetz,  called  for  ‘three  cheers  for  the  Crown 
Prince,’  which  were  also  given  with  imtnense  effect,  and  the 
drums  and  bugles  repeated  a  triumphant  blare  and  beat. 
Then  the  Crown  Prince  descended  from  the  base  of  the  indig¬ 
nant  statue,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  out  to  the  Place 
d’Armes,  where  the  generals  and  staff  went  on  foot,  to  see  the 
march  past  of  the  troops.”  * 

On  the  5th  of  October  the  royal  headquarters  were  trans¬ 
ferred  from  the  Chateau  of  Ferri5res  to  Versailles.  Early  in 
the  afternoon  Crown  Prince  Fritz,  attended  by  General  Von 
Blumenthal,  Count  Eulenberg,  Colonel  Von  Gottberg,  and 
his  staff,  set  out  from  Les  Ombrages  to  meet  King  William 
on  his  way  to  the  headquarters  of  the  3d  army. 

“At  5.35,”  says  a  correspondent,  “  the  cheers  of  the  troops 
who  lined  the  Rue  de  Chantiers  heralded  the  arrival  of  the 
King  at  last.  The  officers  in  front  of  the  Prefecture  formed 
front.  The  cheers  sounded  nearer.  A  pelolon  of  lancers 
with  their  lances  lowered  swept  round  the  corner,  and  took 
post  on  the  right  front  of  the  Prefecture.  These  were  fol¬ 
lowed  by  a  small  body  of  dragoons  or  gendarmerie.  Then 
came  the  Stahlmeister  and  some  mounted  equerries,  closely 


*  Correspondence  of  the  London  Times. 


Arrival  of  the  King  of  Prussia  at  Versailles. 


372 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


followed  by  a  general  or  field  officer,  at  whose  heels  clattered 
a  troop  of  lancers,  with  lances  raised,  who  wheeled  round 
and  halted  on  the  flank  of  the  rest  of  the  squadron.  Next,  in 
an  open  carriage,  appeared  the  King.  He  was  covered  with 
dust,  but  looked  wonderfully  well  and  strong.  On  his  left 
was  the  Crown  Prince,  dusty,  and  vigorous-looking  also. 
The  troops  cheered,  the  colors  were  lowered,  the  band  burst 
into  a  wild  triumphal  blare  of  drums  and  trumpets,  and  the 
whole  crowd  of  officers,  with  upraised  casques  and  caps  and 
shakos,  shouted  lustily.  The  caliche  drew  up  some  thirty 
yards  in  front  of  the  Prefecture,  and  the  King  bounded  rather 
than  stepped  out  of  it,  followed  by  the  Crown  Prince.  His 
officers  pressed  forward  to  greet  him,  and,  with  that  peculiar 
mixture  of  profound  respect  and  heartiness  which  we  cannot 
imitate,  thronged  close  to  the  King.  He  shook  hands  most 
warmly  with  Generals  Von  Kirchbach,  Voigts-Rhetz,  and 
others,  and  then,  with  the  Crown  Prince  a  little  behind  him, 
strode  off  to  inspect,  according  to  custom,  the  color  company, 
drawn  up  on  the  left  of  the  Palace,  which  received  him  with 
the  usual  honors.  His  Majesty  walked  along  the  front  of  the 
line,  and  as  he  went,  the  crowd  of  Princes,  Dukes,  Generals, 
and  officers  broke  from  their  places  and  followed  him,  being 
in  turn  hemmed  in  by  the  crowd,  to  whom  in  general  the 
gendarmerie  were  very  indulgent.  There  was  no  space 
cleared,  no  border  kept,  and  the  people  got  quite  close  to  the 
person  of  the  royal  conqueror.  The  excitement  was  great. 
As  the  King  turned  he  shook  hands  with  the  members  of  the 
great  German  Confederation,  whose  soldiers  fight  under  his 
banners,  stopping  now  and  then  to  talk  to  some  old  soldier, 
servant,  or  some  familiar  friend,  and,  followed  by  the  Crown 
Prince,  General  Blumenthal,  Colonel  Gottberg,  and  his  staff, 
he  stode  at  last,  vigorous,  straight,  and  strong,  into  the  court¬ 
yard  of  the  Prefecture,  turned  round  and  saluted  the  uni¬ 
formed  multitude,  and  then  passed  into  the  hall,  over  the 
portal  of  which  was  waving  the  royal  standard.  The  crowd 
slowly  dispersed,  but  it  was  long  before  the  groups  of  citizens 
were  broken  up,  and  they  stood  in  front  of  the  Prefecture  in 
the  moonlight,  talking  of  their  new  visitor.  lC'est  un  lelhomme , 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


373 


cp  vieux  Guillaume;  mais  je  serais  ire’s  content ,  pourtant ,  de 
n' avoir  pas  vu  le  bon  Roi  de  Prusse  d  Versailles'  ” 

The  next  day  there  was  a  grand  display  of  “  the  waters  of 
Versailles,”  in  honor  of  the  King’s  arrival.  “  About  two 
o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  terrace  of  the  Palace  was  filled 
with  French  civilians  and  Prussian  soldiers  who  had  flocked, 
there — the  Germans  to  see  a  sight  they  had  never  beheld 
before ;  the  French,  to  witness  the  unwonted  spectacle  of  the 
throng  of  their  invaders  gazing  on  the  sight  they  knew  so 
well  themselves.  Princes  arrived  by  twos  and  threes,  and  by 
scores.  Wounded  soldiers  left  the  painted  chambers  of  their 
gorgeous  Lazaret  and  leant  against  the  bronze  statues  or 
marble  vases.  The  Mayor,  with  watch  in  hand,  and  four  or 
five  dignitaries  of  Versailles,  stood  looking  glum  enough. 
The  turncocks,  in  green  and  gold,  held  their  hands  upon  the 
water  keys.  All  was  ready.  Then  came  Prince  Adalbert, 
High  Admiral  of  the  Fleet,  the  King’s  brother.  Then  the 
Grand  Duke  of  Saxe  Coburg.  Then,  Bismarck,  mighty  in 
deed,  mien,  and  stature.  He  wore  a  dragoon’s  uniform  of  blue, 
with  a  cap  of  white  with  yellow  band.  Last  of  all  came  the 
King,  tall  and  hale,  with  smiling,  honest  face.  The  Crown 
Prince  was  with  him,  and  the  Mayor  led  them  to  the  brink 
of  the  terrace.  Then  the  word  was  given,  the  conduits 
opened,  and  the  figures  of  the  grand  old  King — the  stalwart 
Prince,  the  gigantic  Bismarck,  stood  dark  against  the  white 
spray  of  a  fountain  illuminated  by  the  sun.  At  their  feet, 
veiled  in  a  liquid  film  tinted  with  the  colors  of  the  rainbow, 
rose  from  the  dazzling  foam,  Venus  Aphrodite.  Beyond 
stretched  the  Grand  Avenue,  at  the  end  of  which  leapt  three 
tall  jets  from  the  fountain  of  the  Chariot  of  the  Sun.  Be¬ 
yond  them,  a  pleasure  yacht,  with  flying  tri-color,  lay  on  the 
calm  surface  of  the  canal  that  ran  far  into  the  faint  distance, 
reflecting  the  sun-tipped  trees  that  fringed  its  banks.  From 
there  the  royal  party  passed  rapidly  from  fountain  to  fountain, 
and  finally  bade  adieu  to  the  Mayor  before  the  fountain  of 
Neptune,  and  the  King  and  Prince,  son  and  sire,  drove  away 
from  the  scene  which  Versailles  had  never  seen  before,  and 
probably  would  never  see  again.” 


374 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  IX. 

STRASBOURG — ITS  MILITARY  IMPORTANCE — ITS  DEFENCES  — IS  MADE  THE 
HEADQUARTERS  OF  MARSHAL  MACMAHON — DEPARTURE  OF  THE  MAR¬ 
SHAL  FOR  WOEIlTn— THE  NEWS  OF  THE  FRENCH  REVERSES — ARRIVAL 
OF  STRAGGLERS  FROM  MACMAHON’S  ARMY — THE  CITY  IN  DANGER- 
GENERAL  UHRIGH  IN  COMMAND — THE  FIRST  COUNCIL  OF  WAR — RESOLU¬ 
TION  TO  DEFEND  THE  CITY — STRENGTH  OF  THE  GARRISON — APPEARANCE 
OF  ThI  GERMANS  BEFORE  THE  FORTRESS— THE  SUMMONS  TO  SURRENDER 
— GENERAL  UHRICH’S  REPLY — THE  INVESTMENT  OF  THE  FORTRESS — 
GENERAL  UHRICH  ACTS  IN  CONCERT  WITH  THE  CITIZENS — THE  SIEGE 
— THE  FRENCH  SORTIES  UNSUCCESSFUL — GENERAL  VON  WERDER  IN¬ 
FORMS  THE  FRENCH  COMMANDANT  THAT  HE  INTENDS  TO  BOMBARD  THE 
CITY — UHRICH  FIRES  ON  THE  TOWN  OF  KEHL — OPENING  OF  THE  BOM¬ 
BARDMENT — AVERBACH’S  DESCRIPTION— SUFFERINGS  OF  THE  CITIZENS 
— GENERAL  VON  WERDER  STOPS  FIRING  ON  THE  TOWN — THE  GERMAN 
PARALLELS  OPENED  — THE  FORTRESS  BREACHED— AN  ASSAULT  ORDERED 
— EFFECT  OF  THE  BOMBARDMENT  IN  STRASBOURG — A  TERRIBLE  PICTURE 
— ARRIVAL  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  PREFECT — DISAFFECTION  OF  THE  CITI¬ 
ZENS  —  SURRENDER  OF  THE  CITY — THE  TERMS  OF  THE  CAPITULATION — 
OCCUPATION  OF  STRASBOURG  BY  THE  GERMANS — A  GENEROUS  FOE — THE 
INJURY  TO  THE  CITY — AID  FROM  GERMANY — STRASBOURG  MADE  THE 
SEAT  OF  GOVERNMENT  FOR  ALSACE — PHALSBOURG  AND  TOUL  CAPTURED 
BY  THE  GERMANS — ALSACE  AND  LORRAINE  OVERRUN — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
FRONTIER  POSTS  OF  FRANCE — CAPITULATION  OF  SOISSONS  AND  VERDUN 
— BOMBARDMENT  AND  SURRENDER  OF  THIONVILLE — A  RUINED  TOWN — 
CAPTURE  OF  MONTMEDY. 


•'HILE  the  events  related  in  the  preceding  chapters 
were  transpiring  between  the  Moselle  and  Paris, 
others  of  no  little  importance  were  occurring  on 
the  frontier. 

The  city  of  Strasbourg,  the  capital  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  Lower  Rhine,  and  the  old  capital  of  Alsace,  is  situ¬ 
ated  on  the  River  Ill,  about  one  mile  from  the  junction  of 
that  stream  with  the  Rhine,  and  opposite  the  fortified  town 
of  Kehl  on  the  Baden  side  of  the  Rhine.  It  is  two  hundred 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


375 


and  fifty  miles  distant  from  Paris,  with  which  it  is  connected 
by  a  railway.  It  is  a  place  of  considerable  importance,  pos¬ 
sessing  in  1869  a  population  of  87,000. 

Since  the  days  of  Louis  XIV.,  who  brought  it  under 
French  rule,  Strasbourg  has  .been  a  fortress  of  the  first  class. 
Its  defensive  works  were  executed  by  Vauban  in  1682-8-4. 
The  circuit  of  the  rampart  enclosing  the  city  is  six  miles. 
The  defences  consist  of  a  wall,  with  bastions,  ditches,  and 
outworks,  and  a  strong  citadel  of  five  bastions,  whose  out¬ 
works  extend  to  the  arm  of  the  Rhine.  The  citadel  lies  im¬ 
mediately  opposite  the  town  of  Kehl  on  the  Baden  side  of 
the  Rhine.  By  means  of  large  sluices,  where  the  River  Ill 
enters  the  city,  the  country  between  Strasbourg  and  the 
Rhine  can  be  easily  inundated,  except  at  one  side,  and  on 
that  side  the  glacis  is  mined.  The  armament  of  the  defences 
consisted,  previous  to  the  war,  of  400  pieces  of  cannon.  An 
extensive  arsenal  and  cannon  foundry,  an  artillery  school, 
and  a  military  hospital  were  attached  to  the  fortress,  and  it 
was  popularly  believed  at  the  outset  of  the  war  that  the  place 
was  abundantly  supplied  with  stores  of  all  kinds.  As  has 
been  stated  already,  its  depots  were  unfilled,  however,  and  it 
was  without  an  adequate  garrison  when  the  German  armies 
crossed  the  frontier. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  the  fortress  constituted 
the  extreme  right  of  the  French  line,  and  was  made  the  head¬ 
quarters  of  Marshal  MacMahon.  The  immediate  commander 
of  the  post,  General  Alexis  Uhrich,  was  astonished  to  find, 
upon  taking  charge  of  it,  that  it  had  been  left  by  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  entirely  unprepared  for  a  siege.  The  French  com¬ 
manders  seemed  to  think  that  no  attack  upon  it  would  ever 
be  made  by  the  Germans,  who,  they  imagined,  would  be  too 
much  engaged  in  defending  their  own  territory,  to  think  of 
invading  France ;  and  this  conviction  was,  doubtless,  strength¬ 
ened  by  the  destruction,  by  the  Badish  cavalry,  on  the  21st 
of  July,  of  the  bridge  over  the  Rhine  between  Strasbourg 
and  Kehl. 

On  the  2d  of  August  Marshal  MacMahon  left  Strasbourg, 


376 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


with  his  command,  and  began  his  movement  towards  the  cen¬ 
tre,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Emperor.  Before  leav¬ 
ing  the  city,  he  informed  General  Uhrich  that  he  had  received 
a  telegram  from  the  Emperor,  intimating  that  his  corps  d’armbe 
was  threatened  by  the  Prussians  with  an  attack,  and  that  being 
in  want  of  all  his  troops,  he  would  leave  him  only  one  regi¬ 
ment  of  the  line,  the  87th,  to  garrison  the  fortress.  He  added 
that  Strasbourg  would  be  covered  by  his  corps  for  the  present, 
and  that,  in  case  he  was  obliged  to  uncover  it  by  moving  to 
the  northwest,  he  would  send  him  a  reenforcement. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  after  the  departure  of  the  Marshal, 
the  garrison  of  the  town  was  composed  of  the  87th  regiment 
of  the  line,  of  the  depots  of  the  18th  and  96th  regiments  of  the 
line,  and  of  the  depots  of  the  10th  and  16th  battalions  of 
Chasseurs. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  the  division  of  General  Douay  was 
defeated  at  Weissenbourg,  and  on  the  6th,  the  battles  of  W oerth 
and  Forbach  were  won  by  the  Germans.  The  next  day  a 
demoralized  mass  of  3000  fugitives,  officers  and  privates,  from 
MacMahon's  army,  threw  themselves  into  Strasbourg.  They 
were  not  the  most  encouraging  reenforcement  that  could  have 
come  to  the  aid  of  the-  little  garrison,  for  they  had  lost  their 
arms,  and  were  badly  demoralized  by  their  defeat.  Neverthe¬ 
less,  General  Uhrich  resolved  to  make  use  of  them,  and 
promptly  embodied  them  in  the  garrison,  with  which  they 
fought  bravely  during  the  siege.  It  being  evident  that  the 
Germans  would  now  attack  the  city,  the  General  set  to  work 
to  render  his  force  as  strong  as  possible,  the  director  of  the 
Custom  House  offered  his  services  and  those  of  450  douaniers, 
under  him;  and  Admiral  Excelmans,  who  had  arrived  with 
90  sailors  to  take  charge  of  the  gunboat  flotilla,  which  the 
French  had  designed  launching  on  the  Rhine,*  volunteered 
to  remain  with  his  men,  and  assist  in  the  defence. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  the 
headquarters  of  General  Uhrich,  and  the  strength  of  the  garri- 


*  These  boats  were  sent  from  Paris  to  the  Rhine  in  sections,  but  the  rapid 
change,  of  affairs  in  that  region  prevented  their  being  even  launched. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


377 


son  found  to  be  as  follows:  7000  infantry,  including  the 
sailors  and  douaniers,  600  cavalry,  1600  artillerymen,  a  bat¬ 
talion  of  Mobile  Guards,  and  3000  National  Guards — making 
altogether  an  effective  force  of  about  15,000  men,  the  supplies 
consisted  of  bread  for  180  days,  provisions  for  60  days,  but  a 
very  small  quantity  of  live  stock.  There  was  a  good  supply 
of  ammunition.  The  Council  unanimously  decided,  that  the 
place  should  be  defended  ;  that  the  garrison  should  be  divi¬ 
ded  into  three  bodies — one-third  for  the  service  of  the  ram¬ 
parts,  one-third  for  marching,  sorties,  etc.,  and  the  remainder 
for  a  reserve,  that  the  supplies  should  be  stored  in  the  cellars, 
to  protect  them  against  a  bombardment  or  an  assault;  that 
all  useless,  disreputable,  and  dangerous  persons  should  be  ex¬ 
pelled  from  the  city;  and  that  the  aged,  the  women  and  the 
children  should  be  urged  to  depart  at  once. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia,  immedi¬ 
ately  after  the  battle  of  Woerth,  sent  the  Baden  contingent  to 
lay  siege  to  Strasbourg,  which  had  been  isolated  by  the  retreat 
of  the  French  army.  On  the  10th  of  August,  this  force,  be¬ 
tween  20,000  and  30,000  strong,  appeared  before  Strasbourg, 
and  an  officer,  with  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to  demand  the 
surrender  of  the  fortress  and  city.  In  answer,  General  Uhrich 
led  the  German  officer  to  a  window  of  his  headquarters,  and, 
showing  him  the  crowds  of  citizens  parading  the  streets  and 
shouting  “Down  with  Prussia,  Vive  la  France /”  assured  him 
that  the  garrison  and  citizens  were  in  perfect  harmony  in  their 
determination  to  defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  The 
officer  then  returned  to  his  commander,  with  this  reply. 

The  next  morning  the  following  proclamation  was  issued 
from  the  headquarters  of  the  garrison  : 

Disturbing;  rumors  and  panics  have  been  spread,  either  by  accident  or 
design,  within  the  past  few  days,  in  our  brave  city.  Some  individuals 
have  dared  to  express  the  opinion  that  the  place  would  surrender  with¬ 
out  a  blow.  We  protest  energetically,  in  the  name  of  a  population  coura¬ 
geous  and  French,  against  these  weak  and  criminal  forebodings.  The 
ramparts  are  armed  with  400  cannon.  The  garrison  consists  of  11,000 
men,  without  reckoning  the  stationary  National  Guard.  If  Strasbourg 
is  attacked,  Strasbourg  will  defend  herself  as  long  as  there  shall  remain  a 


378 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


soldier,  a  biscuit,  or  a  cartridge.  The  well-affected  may  reassure  them 
selves :  as  to  others,  they  have  but  to  withdraw. 

i  'The  General  of  Division,  Uhrich. 

The  Prefect  of  the  Bas-Rhin,  Baron  Pron, 

Strasbourg,  Aug.  10th. 

At  4  p.  M.,  the  11th  of  August,  the  signal  officers  posted  in 
the  spire  of  the  Strasbourg  Cathedral,  reported  the  advance 
of  the  German  columns.  They  were  marching  by  the  Lauter- 
bourg  road,  and  they  took  position  on  the  north  of  Strasbourg, 
a  few  miles  from  the  advanced  works,  occupying  the  villages 
of  Koenigshoffen,  Oberhausbergen,  Mittelhausbergen,  and 
Schiltisheim,  forming  a  circle  of  three  miles.  On  the  14th 
of  August,  Lieutenant  General  Von  Werder  arrived  and  as¬ 
sumed  the  command  of  the  besieging  force,  and  by  the  17th, 
the  investment  was  completed.  Somewhat  later,  a  reenforce- 
inent  of  two  Prussian  divisions  was  received,  and  the  town 
was  closely  surrounded,  the  German  line  extending  from  the 
Rhine  above,  to  the  same  river  below  Strasbourg.  The  Ger¬ 
man  position  was  quickly  made  secure  by  means  of  earth 
works,  and  heavy  siege  guns  were  mounted  for  the  purpose 
of  bombarding  the  town. 

Soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  a  deputation  from  the 
council  of  citizens  formed  for  the  defence  of  the  city,  waited 
upon  General  Uhrich,  to  learn  his  intentions  respecting  the 
defence.  “Opinions  were  freely  and  frankly  interchanged 
between  the  Governor  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  council  on 
the  other.  The  former  admitted  the  difficulty  of  making  a 
successful  defence.  The  latter  enlarged  on  the  dangers  of 
prolonging  a  hopeless  resistance.  The  result  was  that  a  com¬ 
mon  understanding  was  arrived  at.  It  was  unanimously  re¬ 
solved  by  the  council  to  strain  every  nerve  to  prevent  the 
city  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  besiegers.  General 
Uhrich,  on  his  part,  pledged  himself  to  avert  the  calamity  of 
exposing  the  city  to  the  horrors  and  the  consequences  of  an 
assault.  As  a  soldier  who  had  determined  to  do  his  duty,  the 
General  reserved  to  himself  the  sole  right  to  determine  when 
the  critical  moment  had  arrived.  He  would  neither  treat  nor 


Bombardment  of  Strasbourg. 


380  • 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


consent  to  listen  to  any  proposition  to  surrender  until  it  bad 
become  actual^  impossible  to  continue  the  defence.  Many 
persons  thought  that  the  decisive  moment  had  arrived  long 
before  Governor  Uhrich  had  become  either  weary  or  dis¬ 
heartened.  When  the  fortress  was  no  longer  tenable,  and 
when  two  breaches  of  a  formidable  kind  had  been  made,  the 
Governor  determined  to  fulfil  his  pledge,  and  in  conformity 
therewith  the  white  flag,  which  as  I  write,  flies  from  the  top¬ 
most  gallery  of  the  cathedral,  was  hoisted.  Strange  to  say, 
though  the  inhabitants  had  suffered  severely,  and  were  re¬ 
duced  to  great  straits,  the  resolve  of  Governor  Uhrich  not 
only  took  the  majority  by  surprise,  but  upset  certain  schemes 
of  the  most  reprehensible  character,  to  which  the  majority 
hoped  to  give  effect  before  a  German  soldier  entered  Stras 
bourg  as  a  victor.”  * 

With  the  consent  of  the  Council  of  War,  General  Uhrich 
made  his  arrangements  for  the  defence  as  follows  :  “  The  gen¬ 
eral  defence  of  the  perimeter  of  the  town  was  divided  into  four 
districts,  having  for  commanders,  General  Moreno,  Admiral 
Excelmans,  and  two  colonels  who  were  in  the  town.  The 
provisional  regiments  were  sent  to  occupy  the  fortress ;  the 
Mobiles  were  designed  to  help  in  the  operations.  The  ambu¬ 
lances,  under  the  Intendants  Brisac  and  Milon,  of  the  Com¬ 
missariat,  were  soon  organized.  Two  students  of  the  medical 
school  took  the  direction  of  the  medical  service.” 

The  Germans  having  secured  their  position,  opened  an  ar¬ 
tillery  fire  at  long  range  upon  the  works  of  the  town,  to  which 
the  French  guns  replied  ;  but  as  yet  the  French  commander  was 
not  certain  whether  the  Germans  meant  to  besiege  or  blockade 
him.  Accordingly,  with  a  view  to  develope  their  actual  position 
and  strength,  he  made  a  reconnoissance  with  two  companies 
of  infantry  and  two  squadrons  of  cavalry  on  the  13th  of  Au¬ 
gust.  This  reconnoissance  was  pushed  as  far  as  the  villages 
of  Neuhaff  and  Alkirch,  and  100  oxen  and  some  supplies 
were  secured,  but  no  information  of  importance  was  gained. 

During  the  13th  and  14th  the  besiegers  kept  up  a  constant 

*  War  Correspondence  of  the  London  Daily  News.  Pp.  205-6. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


381 


fire  of  small  arms,  their  marksmen  endeavoring  to  pick  off 
the  French  generals,  under  the  cover  of  which  they  got  some 
of  their  long  range  guns  into  position.  On  the  morning  of 
the  14th  they  opened  fire  from  these  guns,  sending  their  shells 
with  precision  into  the  fortifications,  while  the  French  shells 
were  scarcely  able  to  reach  their  lines. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  14th,  Colonel  Morritz,  of  the  En¬ 
gineers,  was  ordered  by  General  Uhrich  to  reconnoitre  the 
German  position  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  Ill.  He  took 
with  him  900  infantry  of  the  line,  50  cavalry,  and  two  pieces 
of  artillery.  He  had  a  sharp  encounter  with  the  Germans, 
and  was  forced  to  retreat  to  the  town.  On  the  same  day 
the  garrison  received  a  reenforcement  in  the  person  of  Gen¬ 
eral  Barral,  of  the  artillery,  who  succeeded  in  penetrating  into 
Strasbourg,  under  the  disguise  of  a  workman.* 

The  next  day,  the  15th  of  August,  was  the  fete  Napoleon , 
and  was  observed  in  Strasbourg  with  due  ceremony.  A  Te 
Deum  was  sung  in  the  Cathedral,  amidst  the  thunders  of  the 
cannonade,  and  such  observances  by  the  people  as  were  prac¬ 
ticable,  were  scrupulously  carried  out.  In  the  afternoon  the 
German  fire  became  heavier  and  more  effective,  and  that 
night  their  batteries  were  advanced  closer  to  the  town. 
Several  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and  a  house  was  set 
on  fire. 

On  the  16th,  General  Uhrich  made  his  first  sortie,  with  the 
hope  of  breaking  up  some  new  works  which  the  Germans 
had  constructed.  His  force  consisted  of  two  battalions  of 
infantry,  two  squadrons  of  cavalry,  and  a  battery  of  artillery. 
The  column  moved  to  the  northwest  of  Strasbourg,  and  soon 
encountered  the  Germans,  who  drove  it  back  with  severe 
loss.  Three  of  the  guns  were  abandoned  by  the  French 
One  of  these  was  recovered  by  some  peasants  and  brought 
back  to  the  town,  but  the  others  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Germans. 

On  the  17th,  an  engagement  took  place  near  Schiltisheim-, 

*  This  officer  succeeded  in  making  bis  escape  after  the  capitulation  of 
Strasbourg. 


382 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


between  tne  87th  regiment  of  the  line  and  a  German  column, 
the  former  being  compelled  to  retire  under  the  guns  of  the 
ramparts. 

The  Germans  worked  industriously  on  their  batteries. 
Their  lines  were  advanced  within  easy  range  of  the  town, 
and  heavy  siege  guns  and  mortars  were  placed  in  position. 
With  the  hope  of  hastening  the  surrender,  General  Von 
Werder  determined  to  open  his  guns  upon  the  city.  On  the 
20th  of  August,  be  notified  General  Uhrich  of  his  intention 
to  bombard  Strasbourg  at  the  expiration  of  twenty-four  hours, 
but  the  French  commander  failed  to  communicate  this  an¬ 
nouncement  to  the  citizens.  He  requested  General  Von 
Werder  to  allow  him  to  send  the  women  and  children  out  of 
the  city,  but  his  request  was  refused. 

On  the  19th,  the  guns  of  the  French  citadel  opened  fire  on 
the  town  of  Kehl,  across  the  Rhine,  destroying  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  place.  General  Von  Werder  at  once  notified 
General  Uhrich  that  Kehl  was  an  undefended  place,  and  pro¬ 
tested  against  its  bombardment. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st,  the  German  batteries  opened  upon 
Strasbourg.  Berthold  Auerbach,  the  novelist,  thus  describes 
the  scene : 

Strasbourg  burns  !  In  this  word  are  crowded  all  the  horrors,  terrors, 
anguish  of  heart  we  experienced  in  the  past  night.  My  eyes  yet  smart  from 
the  fire  flashes,  my  hand  trembles  still.  So  was  it  to  be  !  Again  is  there 
a  night  of  St.  Bartholomew — for  such  was  the  one  just  passed — with 
detestation  to  be  graven  in  history,  but  not  through  fault  of  ours.  On 
those  who  must  needs  deck  their  heads  with  glory — on  their  heads  alone 
lies  the  blame.  The  worst  injury  an  enemy  can  inflict  upon  a  man,  upon 
a  people,  is  to  force  them  to  acts  from  which  they  recoil  with  aversion. 
We  are  in  the  position  of  a  man  who  declines  a  duel,  and  yet  is  com¬ 
pelled  to  shoot  down  his  adversary.  Unhappily  it  must  be  done.  But 
yesterday  we  made  offers  to  the  commandant  of  Strasbourg  to  come  out, 
or  send  a  trusty  officer,  to  convince  himself  that  resistance  was  in  vain, 
and  that  we  could  only  with  the  utmost  pain  bring  ourselves  to  fire  even 
a  part  of  Strasbourg.  He  replied,  an  inspection  of  our  position  would  be 
construed  as  a  first  probability  of  surrendering  the  fortress.  He  had, 
however,  resolved  to  defend  it  to  the  last  man  and  the  last  cartridge. 
It  was  said  yesterday,  and  the  broad  pillars  of  smoke  testified,  that  Kehl 
was  again  set  on  fire  by  the  French.  We  kept  quiet  until  the  break 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


383 


of  evening;  the  columns  of  flame  in  Kehl  flared  up  wide,  mounting 
heavenwards,  and  incessantly  were  fire-balls  hurled  thither  from  the 
citadel.  Now  began  on  our  side  the  fire;  flash  for  flash,  blow  for  blow 
they  were  returned  with  interest.  There,  the  citadel  blazes  up  ;  the  fast- 
falling  night  revealed  every  fire-flame.  Bombs  soared  aloft  and  descended. 
Now  the  city  was  on  fire  north  from  the  Cathedral.  It  must  have  fallen 
on  inflammable  material,  for  instantly  the  flames  shot  heavenward. 
From  this  point  who  can  paint  the  scene  ?  Here  and  there  it  blazed  up  ; 
we  saw  four,  five  conflagrations ;  two  united,  and  presented  a  vast  roar¬ 
ing  furnace.  The  wind  blew  from  the  west  and  fanned  the  flames  ;  they 
darted  up  forked  tongues  of  fire.  A  spectator  cried  out,  “  See  how  the 
Cathedral  towers  aloft  above  the  clouds  of  smoke!  how  venerable,  as 
if  mutely  threatening  and  reproving  the  men  who  hurl  reckless  flames 
against  each  other  !”  “If  the  Cathedral  does  but  remain  unharmed,” 
was  the  cry  that  ran  from  mouth  to  mouth,  and  meanwhile  feelings 
of  deep  compassion  were  expressed  for  those  within  the  city.  In  spirit 
we  were  transported  among  those  now  wailing  in  vaulted  cellars,  as  they 
heard  the  thunder  of  the  guns,  ignorant  where  the  fires  were  raging, 
perhaps  even  their  own  homes.  And  in  the  streets  the  fires  must  be 
left  to  rage  unchecked.  Who  could  strive  to  quench  them  while  each 
minute  further  discharges  were  falling?  How  many  cry  out  to  their 
own  dear  ones,  seek  them,  and  are  like  beings  bewildered  in  their  own 
homes.  What  shrieking,  what  misery !  If  one  could  but  compress 
together  the  heart-throbs  of  the  people,  far  louder,  quicker,  mightier 
must  be  the  stroke  than  the  deep  roar  of  the  guns,  which,  incessantly 
discharged,  light  up  the  gloom,  here — there — till  the  eye  could  no  longer 
follow.  Midnight  had  set  in  before  we  decided  to  go  home.  We  could 
see  each  other  as  in  full  moonlight.  The  fields,  the  vineyards  were  lit 
up.  The  church  of  Mundolsheim,  with  its  white  gravestones ;  suddenly 
the  light  grows  still  brighter.  Now  that  we  had  not  seen  the  flames  for 
a  time,  they  appeared  broader,  stronger,  more  voracious.  It  was  difficult 
to  tear  one’s  self  away  from  the  fearfully  grand  spectacle,  and  yet  it 
must  be.  The  villagers  we  met  professed  to  know  which  parts  of  the 
city  would  be  saved  from  the  flames.  We  strove  to  believe  their  assu¬ 
rances  that  the  precincts  of  the  Cathedral,  above  all  itself,  would  remain 
uninjured.  And  yet  for  a  moment  it  had  seemed  to  us  that  the  Cathe¬ 
dral  terrace,  which  had  been  made  the  observatory  of  the  enemy,  was  on 
fire.  It  was,  however,  an  illusion.  The  flames  illumined  our  homeward 
way.  The  sky  was  overspread  with  light  clouds  of  a  blood-red.  The 
fire  must  have  been  visible  beyond  the  Rhine,  far  into  the  Black 
Forest. 

For  six  days  the  bombardment  was  continued.  The  de¬ 
struction  of  property  in  the  city  was  enormous.  Three  hun- 


3S4 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


dred  people  sought  shelter  from  the  German  fire  in  the  large 
theatre.  The  building  was  set  on  fire  by  a  shell,  and  the 
crowd  made  a  rush  for  the  door.  One  hundred  succeeded  in 
escaping,  but  the  rest  were  burned  to  death  in  the  building, 
which  was  entirely  destroyed.  The  loss  of  life  in  other  por¬ 
tions  of  the  city  was  severe,  and  the  inhabitants,  abandoning 
their  dwellings,  took  refuge  in  their  cellars,  where  they  re¬ 
mained  in  wretchedness  and  terror  till  the  surrender. 

Finding  that  the  garrison  was  determined  to  hold  out,  and 
anxious  to  diminish  the  loss  of  life  as  much  as  possible  on 
the  part  of  the  citizens,  General  Yon  Werder  discontinued 
the  bombardment  of  the  town  on  the  27th  of  August,  and, 
during  the  remainder  of  the  siege,  confined  his  efforts  to  re¬ 
ducing  the  fortifications* 

In  order  to  deprive  the  garrison  and  citizens  of  water,  the 
course  of  the  little  River  Ill  was  changed  by  the  Germans. 
On  the  night  of  the  29th  of  August,  the  German  forces 
opened  their  first  parallel  against  the  northwestern  front,  at 

“  More  than  one  German  artillery  officer  assured  me  that  orders  were 
daily  given  not  only  to  spare  the  city,  but  also  carefully  to  avoid  firing  in 
such  a  way  as  would  either  damage  or  endanger  the  Cathedral.  .  .  . 

It  is  possible  that  General  Werder  may  be  blamed  for  the  way  in  which  he 
•onducted  the  siege,  and  may  even  be  severely  censured,  not  only  for  making 
a  large  portion  of  Strasbourg  an  unsightly  pile  of  ruins,  but  also  for  inflicting 
much  suffering  upon  defenceless  inhabitants.  In  anticipation  of  these 
charges,  I  may  state  what  I  know  from  direct  personal  knowledge  to  be  the 
view  held  by  the  General  himself.  His  own  desire  was  to  do  nothing  that 
would  protract  or  embitter  the  war.  He  was  anxious  to  act  in  the  way  most 
conducive  to  the  re-establishment  of  peace.  The  bombardment  which  Stras¬ 
bourg  underwent  in  the  first  instance,  was  simply  designed  with  a  view  to 
demonstrate  to  the  citizens  that  the  risk  of  refusing  to  capitulate  at  once  was 
alike  serious  and  palpable . As  I  have  mentioned  in  previous  let¬ 

ters,  General  Werder  gave  General  Uhrich  twenty-four  hours’  notice  of  his 
intention  to  bombard  the  city  ;  but  the  latter  omitted  to  communicate  the  in¬ 
telligence  to  the  inhabitants.  Nor  was  the  bombardment  protracted.  No 
sooner  was  it  perceived  that  the  garrison  was  determined  to  hold  out,  than 
the  siege  was  conducted  with  direct  reference  to  the  destruction  of  the  forti¬ 
fications.  But  these  have  been  so  constructed  as  to  render  it  impossible  to 
direct  a  fire  against  them,  which  should  not  at  the  same  time  destroy  the 
dwellings  immediately  behind  them.” — Correspondence  of  the  London  Daily 
New a. 


285 


25 


The  Citadel  of  Strasbourg  alter  the  Bombardment. 


386 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


a  distance  varying  from  600  to  800  yards  from  the  ramparts. 
On  the  night  of  the  31st,  they  began  the  approaches  to  the 
second  parallel,  and,  on  the  next  night  (September  1st),  the 
second  parallel  was  opened  at  a  distance  of  from  300  to  400 
paces  from  the  French  works.  The  siege  batteries  were  put 
in  position  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and,  by  the  9th  of  Septem 
her,  ninety-eight  rifled  guns,  and  forty  mortars,  were  placed 
in  the  advanced  works,  from  which  a  terrible  storm  of  shell 
was  rained  upon  the  French  works,  almost  entirely  silencing 
their  fire."  In  addition  to  these  batteries,  thirty-two  rifled 
guns,  and  eight  mortars,  opened  fire  from  Kehl,  on  the  Baden 
side  of  the  Rhine,  upon  the  citadel  of  Strasbourg.  This  por¬ 
tion  of  the  attack  was  particularly  successful,  and  the  citadel 
was  literally  knocked  to  pieces.  Upon  occupying  it,  the  Ger¬ 
mans  themselves  expressed  their  surprise  and  admiration  that 
the  French  had  been  able  to  man  their  guns  so  long  under 
such  an  overpowering  fire.  It  had  been  supposed  that  the 
citadel  would  serve  as  a  last  refuge  for  the  garrison  after  the 
city  was  taken,  but  it  was  rendered  untenable  long  before  the 
town  yielded. 

In  the  nights  between  the  9th  and  11th  of  September,  the 
approaches  to  the  third  parallel  were  laid,  and,  between  the 
11th  and  13th,  the  third  parallel  was  dug  and  armed.f  From 
these  works  the  besiegers  rained  a  fire  upon  the  fortress, 
which  General  Uhrich,  in  a  dispatch  to  the  Minister  of  War, 
described  as  “  overwhelming.”  The  French  outworks  were 


*  On  the  9th  of  September,  General  Uhrich  sent  the  following  dispatch  to 
the  Government  at  Paris  : 

“  Strasbourg,  Friday,  September  9. 

“Affairs  are  in  a  deplorable  condition,  and  are  growing  worse.  The  bom¬ 
bardment  from  the  Prussian  advanced  work3  is  incessant  and  frightful.  I 
hold  out  to  the  end.  Uhrich, 

“  the  Commandant  of  the  City  of  Strasbourg.” 

-j-  “  A  foreign  officer  of  engineers  with  whom  I  walked  over  the  German 
works,  said  that  he  had  never  seen  trenches  or  parallels  more  skilfully 

planned  or  more  efficiently  finished . In  General  Werder’s  opinion, 

the  siege  works  constructed  by  the  Wurtembergers  were  patterns  of  military 
engineering.” — Correspondence  of  the  London  Daily  News. 


MAP  SHOWING  THE  INVESTMENT  OF  STRASBOURG. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


387 


taken,  and  the  defenders  forced  back  within  the  walls  of  the 
city.  The  guns  of  the  fortress  were  almost  entirely  silenced, 
their  replies  coming  feebly,  and  at  long  intervals.  Efforts 
were  made  to  survey  the  interior  of  the  fortress  from  bal¬ 
loons,  and  to  drop  explosive  shells  into  the  magazines,  but 
they  were  foiled  by  contrary  winds.  As  early  as  the  first 
week  in  September,  General  Leczynski,  General  Werder’s 
chief  of  staff,  declared  that  it  “was  mathematically  certain” 
that  the  fortress  would  be  reduced  about  the  24th  of  Septem¬ 
ber. 

By  the  26th  of  September,  two  large  breaches  had  been 
made  in  the  city  wall,  one  at  bastion  No.  11,  and  the  other  at 
bastion  No.  12.  The  former  was  the  more  important  of  the 
two ;  it  was  200  feet  wide  at  the  top,  and  was  the  result  of 
a  direct  fire.  The  latter  was  the  result  of  a  vertical  fire,  and 
was  not  so  large.  It  was  certain  that  a  continuation  of  the 
fire  for  twenty-four  hours  would  render  these  breaches  prac 
ticable,  and  an  assault  was  ordered  for  the  28th.  The  mate¬ 
rials  for  filling  up  the  moat  were  prepared,  and  the  troops 
were  gotten  in  readiness  for  the  storming,  when,  on  the  27th, 
the  siege  came  to  an  end. 

Matters  had  gotten  to  their  worst  in  Strasbourg.  The  out 
works  had  been  taken,  and  the  Germans  were  under  the  walk 
of  the  city.  Their  fire  was  incessant,  and  the  defences  of  the 
place  were  in  ruins.  “  The  soldiers,”  says  an  eye-witness, 
“  crouching  behind  them  to  obtain  a  precarious  or  uncertain 
shelter  from  the  thickly  falling  shot,  were  blood-stained  and 
begrimed  out  of  all  semblance  to  the  military  type.  They 
had  discarded  all  their  useless  ornaments  and  trappings,  and 
the  scanty  clothes  they  wore  were  mud-stained  like  a  common 
laborer’s  suit.  All  the  foulness  and  all  the  horrors  of  an  ill- 
kept  camp  offended  the  eye  and  sickened  the  stomach  at  every 
turn.  .......... 

‘‘On  the  25th,  the  awful  roar  of  the  German  batteries,  in¬ 
cluding  the  no w  ones,  completed  simultaneously  with  the 
capture  of  the  lunettes,  was  such  that  the  pluck  of  the  stout¬ 
est  men  was  literally  shaken  out  of  them  like  breath  from  a 


388 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


feeble  body,  and  numbers  of  those  more  nervous  and  timorous 
by  nature  went  raving  mad.  I  think  at  least  we  must  have 
had  fifteen  continuous  charges  per  minute  of  shot  or  shell  for 
all  that  day  and  night.  There  were  no  more  houses  to 
merely  ‘  injure.’  Every  house  had  suffered  that  process 
already,  but  there  were  still  millions  of  tons  of  stone  that  had 
once  been  houses,  to  pound  and  chip  into  finer  fragments, 
and  to  scatter  in  showers  about  the  deserted  streets.  The 
firing  on  the  town  had,  it  is  true,  ceased  nominally,  but  only 
so  far  you  cannot  very  well  break  egg-shells  without  break¬ 
ing  eggs,  and  you  cannot  pound  away  at  a  citadel  that  hap¬ 
pens  to  lie  on  one  side  of  a  river  Ill  without  sometimes  send¬ 
ing  your  missiles  over  to  the  town  that  happens  to  be  on  the 
other. 

“  The  bombardment  of  the  town  of  Strasbourg  had 
long  since  ceased.  It  must  have  ceased,  because  such  was 
the  announcement  made  by  telegraph  and  otherwise  from  the 
headquarters  of  His  Majesty,  the  King  ;  and  yet  but  poor  com¬ 
fort  was  this  announcement,  I  suspect,  to  that  family  of  three 
brothers,  with  the  old  woman,  their  mother,  who,  suddenly, 
without  a  word  of  warning,  found  themselves  crushed  and 
buried  beneath  the  ruins  of  a  house  which  stood  on  the  cathe¬ 
dral  side  of  the  river,  between  that  structure  and  the  batteries 
of  the  citadel.  They  were  seen  at  night  going  to  their  accus¬ 
tomed  shelter,  and  an  upright,  though  a  damaged  house,  stood 
over  their  heads.  In  the  morning  those  who  came  to  look 
for  their  dwelling-place,  found  simply  a  heap  of  stones.  This 
was,  I  think,  the  most  awful  incident  of  this  awful  siege. 

“  On  the  26th,  with  the  first  streak  of  morning,  the  German 
dogs  of  war  began  to  vomit  fire  on  us  again.  They  had  never 
begun  so  early  before.  It  was  evident  that,  acting  under  in¬ 
structions  from  headquarters,  the  besiegers  had  resolved  to 
make  an  end  of  our  resistance  that  day.  We  could  see  them 
flitting  about  in  their  batteries  in  far  greater  numbers,  and 
with  more  of  excitement  in  their  gestures,  than  was  their 
wont. 

“  Speech  and  hearing  were  impossible  even  to  men 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


389 


placed  close  to  one  another,  and  the  whole  bloody  business, 
both  on  our  side  and  on  theirs,  seemed  to  have  resoved  itself 
into  a  kind  of  diabolical  dumb-show.  Men  made  certain  au¬ 
tomaton  movements.  A  gun  was  withdrawn  and  then  thrust 
forth  again,  and  then  came  darting  forth  the  tongue  of  fire 
and  the  crashing  shot.  Our  fire  was  as  nothing  ;  we  had  but 
few  guns  uninjured,  and  of  those  few  some  could  not  be 
worked  for  the  very  sufficient  reason  that  all  their  gunners 
had  been  killed,  and  others  because  their  wooden  ‘  ways’  had 
sunk  at  all  sorts  of  impracticable  angles  into  the  ploughed  and 
soddened  earth.  Our  earthworks  were  mere  shapeless  heaps, 
reddened  with  blood. 

“  Sometimes  a  stray  shot  was  fired  by  artillerymen,  who 
ran  neck  or  nothing  to  their  work  with  heads  ducked  instinc¬ 
tively — like  children  running  for  wagers  in  the  rain.  From 
time  to  time,  indeed,  there  came  from  us  a  something  that 
sounded  like  the  promise  of  a  worthy  reply.  A  few  frenzied 
men  would  get  together,  and  half  of  them  sobbing  the  while 
with  rage  and  hate,  would  pour  in  a  1  passionate  ’  fire  at  some 
point  of  a  German  battery  that  for  a  time  carried  everything 
before  it,  and  converted  besiegers  into  besieged.  But  the  fire 
soon  drooped,  and  then  became  utterly  silent,  and  the  Ger¬ 
mans  worked  their  unresisted  will  again.” 

Although  the  Germans  endeavored  to  limit  the  destruction 
to  the  military  works,  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  injuring 
those  portions  of  the  city  lying  behind  them.  The  buildings 
here  were  literally  torn  to  pieces.  The  inhabitants,  crouch¬ 
ing  in  the  dark  cellars  in  which  they  had  taken  refuge,  were 
filled  with  despair.  They  merely  existed  during  these  terri¬ 
ble  days.  They  became  desperate,  and  finally  began  to  de¬ 
nounce  the  brave  old  General  and  the  troops  who  Tiad 
defended  them  so  well.  In  a  military  point  of  view,  there 
was  as  yet  no  necessity  for  surrendering ;  but  the  sufferings 
of  the  inhabitants  were  driving  them  to  despair.  The  dis¬ 
affection  began  among  the  poorer  classes,  and  at  length  spread 
to  the  rest ;  and  it  was  resolved  by  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  populace,  that  if  the  General  would  not  surrender,  they 


390 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


would  open  the  gates  to  the  Germans,  and  put  an  end  to  their 
misery.  * 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  the  deserted  streets  began  to 
be  crowded  with  people,  regardless  of  the  fire  of  the  besieg¬ 
ers,  and  messengers  were  sent  to  General  Uhrich,  begging 
him  to  surrender.  lie  was  firm,  however,  but  on  the  after¬ 
noon  of  the  27th  of  September,  he  yielded  to  the  wishes  of 
the  citizens,  and,  in  accordance  with  the  pledge  he  had  pre¬ 
viously  given  the  Council,  the  white  flag  was  displayed  from 
the  spire  of  the  cathedral  about  four  o’clock.  The  fire  of  the 
German  guns  immediately  ceased.  Says  an  English  gentle¬ 
man  who  was  present  in  the  trenches  at  this  moment : 

“  A  man  called  our  attention  to  a  white  flag  just  placed  on 
one  of  the  redoubts  of  the  town,  in  front  of  our  position. 
Immediately  after  this  another  flag  appeared,  more  to  the  left. 
We  assumed  that  it  was  a  flag  of  truce  ;  but  scarcely  a  minute 


*  The  Republican  Government  at  Paris  appointed  M.  Valentin,  who  repre¬ 
sented  Strasbourg  in  1848,  Prefect  of  the  Department  of  the  Lower  Rhine, 
and  desired  him  to  manifest  his  patriotism  by  obtaining  admission  to  Stras¬ 
bourg  with  the  least  possible  delay.  He  obeyed  his  instructions,  and  entered 
Strasbourg  by  an  indirect  and  difficult  road.  Disguised  as  a  peasant,  and 
availing  himself  of  his  acquaintance  with  the  German  tongue,  he  made 
friends  with  the  Prussian  soldiers  quartered  in  Bischeim.  From  them  he  ob¬ 
tained  full  particulars  regarding  the  position  and  character  of  the  works 
erected  between  that  village  and  the  city.  He  remarked  that  at  one  o'clock 
the  fire  of  the  besiegers  was  weakest,  and  the  vigilance  of  their  sentries  most 
relaxed.  Even  a  siege  had  to  be  suspended  while  the  soldiers  dined.  Pass¬ 
ing  through  the  Prussian  lines  between  one  and  two  o’clock  on  the  22nd  of 
September,  he  arrived  in  safety  at  the  moat.  Leaping  into  it,  he  swam 
across.  The  French  soldiers  fired  at  him  repeatedly,  but  their  bullets  always 
missed  their  mark.  He  called  out  to  them  to  permit  him  to  land,  and  to 
arrest  him  on  landing.  Their  reply  took  the  form  of  jeers,  supplemented  by 
bullets.  At  last  he  reached  a  spot  near  one  of  the  gates,  where  he  was  shel¬ 
tered  from  the  fire  directed  from  the  walls.  Again  and  again  he  begged  the 
soldiers  to  take  him  prisoner,  and  carry  him  before  Governor  Uhrich.  Finally 
they  consented.  When  brought  before  the  governor,  he  turned  up  the  sleeve 
of  his  shirt,  and  took  therefrom  the  official  document  containing  his  appoint¬ 
ment  as  Prefect.  His  title  to  the  post  was  at  once  recognized,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  he  issued  a  proclamation  wherein  his  assumption  of 
his  post  was  announced,  and  the  Republic  formally  proclaimed.  He  was 
little  more  than  a  week  in  office. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


391 


had  elapsed,  when  a  soldier  pointed  out  a  white  flag  on  the 
steeple  of  the  cathedral.  It  was  on  the  top  of  the  tower,  at 
the  northeast  corner.  This  left  no  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of 
these  signals.  We  turned  to  the  lunette,  which,  from  its 
height,  dominated  the  ground  behind  us,  and  which  had,  a 
moment  before,  shown  only  the  brown  ridges  of  earth  thrown 
up  in  forming  the  trenches  and  batteries — no  sign  of  man 
being  visible  in  them  but  the  smoke  of  cannon  and  muskets, 
as  they  carried  on  their  steady  work.  In  an  instant  there 
grew  up  out  of  this  long  lines  of  figures  forming,  with  their 
dark  blue  dress,  what  seemed  a  black  ridge  on  the  top  of 
every  embankment.  The  soldiers’  caps  were  taken  off,  and 
cheer  after  cheer  followed,  all  along  the  works.  The  cheer¬ 
ing  soon  changed  to  singing,  shaking  hands,  and  drinking. 
At  the  same  time,  on  the  town  side,  groups  began  to  gather 
upon  the  well  battered  redoubts,  the  easily  distinguished  red 
breeches  of  the  French  soldiers  predominating,  but  a  few  of 
the  townspeople  were  also  visible.  There  was  a  desire  be¬ 
tween  the  soldiers  on  each  side  to  fraternize  with  each  other, 
but  the  fosse  full  of  water  lay  between  them.  Still  this  could 
not  stop  all  communication,  and  supplies  were  thrown  into 
the  town  for  the  first  time  since  the  siege  commenced.  The 
havresacks  of  the  men,  containing  their  food  for  the  night, 
and  pieces  of  bread  and  meat,  were  thrown  over  the  fosse. 
From  the  eagerness  with  which  these  were  caught  by  the  be¬ 
sieged,  it  was  evident  that  they  were  acceptable.” 

The  firing  having  ceased,  and  the  offer  of  the  French  to 
surrender  being  communicated  to  the  German  commander, 
arrangements  were  at  once  entered  into  for  negotiating  the 
terms  of  the  capitulation.  The  commissioners,  two  on  each 
side,  met  in  the  city,  and  the  following  terms  were  decided 
upon  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  and  approved  by  General 
Yon  Werder  the  next  morning: 

The  Royal  Prussian  Lieut-Gen.  Von  Werder,  commander  of  the  corps 
besieging  Strasbourg,  solicited  by  the  French  Lieut.-Gen.  Uhrich,  com¬ 
mander  of  Strasbourg,  to  put  an  end  to  the  hostilities  against  the  fortress, 
in  consideration  of  the  honorable  and  brave  defence  of  the  place,  agrees 
to  conclude  the  following  capitulation  : 


392 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Article  I.  At  8  o’clock  in  the  morning  on  Septemoer  28th,  1870, 
Lient.-Gen.  Uhrich  evacuates  the  citadel,  the  Austerlitz  gate,  the  Fisher 
gate,  and  the  National  gate.  At  the  same  time  the  German  troops  will 
occupy  these  positions. 

Article  II.  At  11  o’clock  on  the  same  day  the  French  garrison,  inclu¬ 
ding  Gardes  Mobiles  and  National  Guards,  leave  the  fortress  through 
the  National  gate,  take  up  position  between  lunette  No.  44  and  redoubt 
No.  37,  and  there  lay  down  their  arms. 

Article  III.  The  Troops  of  the  line  and  the  Gardes  Mobiles  become 
prisoners  of  war,  and  march  out  with  their  luggage.  The  National 
Guards  and  Francs-Tireurs  are  released  on  parole,  and  by  11  o’clock  a.m. 
surrender  their  arms  at  the  Mayor’s  office.  The  list  of  the  officers  of 
these  troops  at  the  same  hour  to  be  furnished  to  Gen.  Von  Werder.  , 

Article  IV.  The  officers  of  the  French  garrison  of  Strasbourg  are  at 
liberty  to  depart  and  chose  their  own  place  of  residence  on  parole;  the 
i form  of  the  parole  is  attached  to  these  articles  of  capitulation.  Those 
officers  who  do  not  sign  the  parole  proceed  with  the  garrison  as  prisoners 
•  of  war  to  Germany.  All  the  French  military  surgeons  remain  until 
further  notice  in  their  functions. 

Article  V.  Lieut. -Gen.  Uhrich,  immediately  upon  the  surrender  of 
:arms,  agrees  to  deliver  over,  through  the  proper  officers,  all  the  military 
material  on  hand.  Officers  and  officials  charged  with  this  duty  assemble 
■  on  the  .28th,  at  12  o’clock,  upon  the  Place  de  Broglie. 

This  capitulation  is  executed  and  signed  by  the  following  plenipoten¬ 
tiaries  :  On  the  German  side,  by  Lieut.-Ool.  Von  Leczynski,  chief  of  staff 
of  the  Corps  besieging  Strasbourg,  and  Count  Henckel  Vcyi  Donnersmark, 
Captain  of  Cavalry  and  Adjutant.  On  the  French  side,  by  Col.  Ducasse, 
Commander  of  Strasbourg,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Mangin,  Sub-Director  of  Ar¬ 
tillery. 

Read,  accepted,  and  signed, 

Von  Leczynski, 

Count  Henckel  Von  Donnersmark, 
Ducasse, 

Mangin. 

Affirmed,  'Munflokheim,  September  28th,  1870, 

Von  Werder,  Lieutenant-General. 

It  is  said  that  the  mildness  of  these  terms  was  attributable 
to  the  orders  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  that  in  Alsace  and  Lor¬ 
raine  the  people  should  be  conciliated  by  kind  treatment, 
since  it  was  his  purpose  to  retain  those  provinces  for  Germany. 

At  eight  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  a  detachment 
of  German  troops  took  possession  of  the  gates  of  the  city,  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


393 


at  eleven,  the  French  garrison — 11,000  in  all— headed  by  Gen¬ 
erals  Uhrich  and  Barral  and  Admiral  Excelmans,  marched 
out.  They  were  received  by  General  Yon  Werder  and  his 
staff  in  presence  of  the  German  army,  paraded  outside  before 
the  glacis,  near  the  Porte  Nationale  and  Porte  de  Saverne.  Ad¬ 
vancing  to  the  victorious  commander,  General  Uhrich  said  in 
an  agitated  voice : 

“I  have  yielded  to  an  irresistible  force,  when  further  resis¬ 
tance  was  only  a  needless  sacrifice  of  the  lives  of  brave  men. 
I  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  I  have  yielded  to  an 
honorable  enemy.” 

General  Yon  Werder,  much  affected,  placed  both  hands  on 
General  Uhrich’s  shoulders,  and  replied  : 

“  You  fought  bravely.  You  will  have  as  much  honor  from 
the  enemy  as  you  can  have  from  your  own  countrymen.” 

The  French  troops  then  laid  down  their  arms.  The  Mobiles 
and  National  Guard  were  dismissed  to  their  homes,  and  the 
garrison,  including  such  officers  as  refused  to  sign  their  parole, 
were  sent  off  to  the  Fortress  of  Rastadt,  in  Baden,  in  the  course 
of  the  afternoon. 

At  half  past  eleven,  the  German  army  marched  into  the 
city,  and  took  possession,  entering  through  the  Porte  Blanche 
or  Porte  Nationale,  on  the  western  side,  and  Strasbourg  ceased 
to  be  French. 

By  the  capitulation,  eleven  hundred  guns  of  all  kinds, 
twelve  thousand  chassepots,  three  tons  of  ammunition,  and 
fifty  locomotives  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Germans.  The 
German  loss  during  the  siege  was  906  killed  and  wounded, 
including  113  officers. 

The  city  was  greatly  damaged  by  the  German  fire,  and  a 
large  part  of  it  was  a  mass  of  ruins  when  the  victors  entered. 
Fortunately  the  grand  old  cathedral  was  not  much  injured, 
but  the  theatre,  the  library,  (one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the 
world,)  and  a  Protestant  church,  were  entirely  destroyed. 
Says  a  writer  who  went  into  Strasbourg  with  the  Germans : 

“  The  destruction  at  the  Austerlitz  railway  station,  lying 
outside  the  city,  was  thorough.  Shortly  after  the  siege  began 


394 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR. 


this  station  was  captured  by  the  besiegers.  Near  this  place 
more  than  one  severe  fight  occurred  when  the  garrison  made 
a  sortie.  The  fire  from  one  of  the  mortar  batteries  was  con¬ 
centrated  upon  this  station,  and  the  numerous  carriages  which 
once  stood  on  the  line  had  been  converted  into  heaps  of 
charred  wood  and  twisted  iron.  On  approaching  the  Porte 
Saverne,  I  saw  countless  marks  indicating  the  severity  of  the 
fire  which  the  besiegers  had  directed  towards  this  spot.  Be¬ 
tween  this  and  the  Porte  des  Pierres  the  walls  had  been 
breached  in  two  places.  After  I  had  passed  through  the 
gate,  the  spectacle  of  destruction  which  I  witnessed  was  one 
I  shall  not  soon  forget.  On  the  right,  as  far  as  I  could  see, 
the  whole  quarter  was  a  pile  of  rubbish.  There  were  few 
marks  of  fire.  Cannon  shot  and  shells  had  reduced  house 
after  house  to  its  original  elements.  When  the  space  be¬ 
tween  Temple  Bar  and  Carey  Street,  on  which  the  new  Law 
Courts  are  to  be  erected,  was  being  cleared  of  houses,  the  ap¬ 
pearance  presented  was  not  dissimilar;  with  this  difference, 
that  in  the  case  of  the  houses  removed  from  that  site  there 
were  signs  of  regularity  in  the  midst  of  the  destruction, 
whereas  in  Strasbourg  the  ruined  houses  were  literally  piles 
of  rubbish,  and  unless  I  had  known  that  houses  had  once 
covered  the  spot,  I  should  not  have  supposed  that  the  rubbish 
had  ever  taken  the  form  of  shapely  dwellings.  In  front  of 
nearly  every  shop  window  were  sloping  planks,  arranged 
with  a  view  to  ward  off  the  falling  shot.  All  the  openings 
made  to  admit  air  and  light  into  the  cellars  were  covered 
over  with  a  mass  of  earth  and  straw.  In  some  cases  the 
straw  had  evidently  been  taken  from  the  most  offensive, 
though  not  the  least  useful,  part  of  the  farmyard.  The  de¬ 
privation  of  light  and  air,  and  the  presence  of  noisome  smells, 
which  those  who  occupied  the  cellars  must  have  had  to  en¬ 
dure,  must  have  been  not  only  a  severe  trial,  but  also  most 
detrimental  to  health.  One  house  standing  at  a  corner  was 
propped  up  lest  it  should  topple  over.  A  cannon  ball  had 
swept  a  large  piece  out  of  the  corner,  and  had  cut  through 
one  of  the  beams  which  supported  the  two  upper  floors.  On 


Scene  in  the  Rue  de  Suverne,  Strasbourg,  as  it  appeared  immediately  after  the 

Capitulation. 


396 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


reaching  the  Place  Kleber,  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  open 
spaces  in  Strasbourg,  the  signs  of  destruction  were  most 
striking.  The  handsome  building  which  filled  the  north¬ 
eastern  side  of  the  square,  and  in  which  was  a  valuable 
museum  of  ancient  and  modern  works  of  art,  is  now  repre¬ 
sented  by  empt3r  walls.  Nearly  every  house  has  been  pierced 
■with  shot  or  shell.” 

After  the  fall  of  the  city,  a  subscription,  headed  by  the 
Queen  of  Prussia,  was  opened  in  Germany  for  the  relief  of  the 
suffering  people  of  Strasbourg.  Subsequently  the  German 
Government  of  Alsace  was  moved  from  Haguenau  to  Stras¬ 
bourg.* 

*  Later  in  the  year,  the  following  decree  was  issued  by  the  King  of  Prussia: 

“  We,  William,  King  of  Prussia,  order  the  following  for  the  general  govern¬ 
ment  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine  : 

“Article  1.  Whoever  shall  join  the  French  armies  will  be  punished  by 
confiscation  of  his  present  and  future  property  and  banishment  for  ten  years. 

“Article  2.  The  sentence  follows  upon  the  order  of  our  Governor-General 
three  days  after  it  has  been  published  in  the  official  portion  of  the  gazette  of 
the  Governor-General.  It  will  have  all  the  effect  of  a  legal  decision,  and  is  to 
be  carried  into  execution  by  civil  and  military  officials. 

“Article  3.  Every  payment  and  transfer  which  shall  afterwards  be  made 
to  the  enemy  will  be  considered  void. 

“Article  4.  Every  disposition  of  his  property,  or  of  portions,  to  the  same, 
whether  to  come  into  effect  during  his  lifetime,  or  after  death,  which  the 
condemned  shall  make,  after  this  decree,  is  null  and  void. 

“Article  5.  Whoever  shall  desire  to  leave  his  place  of  residence,  must  ob¬ 
tain  a  written  decree  from  the  prefect,  to  whom  he  must  give  notice  of  object. 
Whoever  shall  absent  himself  from  his  dwelling  for  more  than  eight  days 
will  be  legally  considered  to  have  joined  the  French  armies.  This  supposi¬ 
tion  will  be  sufficient  for  his  condemnation. 

“Article  6.  The  prefects  are  to  adopt  means  for  keeping  and  controlling 
a  list  of  all  males. 

“Article  7.  The  receipts  from  the  confiscation  are  to  be  paid  into  the  ac¬ 
count  of  the  general  government. 

“Article  8.  Returning  from  banishment  is  punishable  in  accordance  with 
the  penalty  laid  down  by  Article  33  of  the  Penal  Code. 

“Article  9.  This  order  comes  in  force  on  the  day  of  its  publication. 

“  Given  at  our  headquarters,  at  Versailles,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1870. 

(Signed)  “William 

“Von  Bismarck, 

“  Von  Roon.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


397 


While  the  siege  of  Strasbourg  was  in  progress,  two  impor¬ 
tant  fortresses  were  closely  invested  by  the  Prussians.  These 
were  Toul  and  Phalsbourg.  The  latter  was  a  strong  work 
built  by  Yauban,  during  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  under  the 
crest  of  the  Vosges,  for  the  protection  of  one  of  the  principal 
passes  through  the  range.  The  railway  from  the  German 
frontier  to  Paris,  through  Saverne,  Nancy,  and  Chalons, 
passes  immediately  under  the  guns  of  the  fortress.  This  road 
being  one  of  the  principal  lines  of  communication  for  the  Ger 
mans,  the  capture  of  Phalsbourg  became  a  matter  of  necessity. 
The  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  detached  a  force  to  blockade  it 
immediately  after  the  defeat  of  MacMahon  at  Woerth.  Gen¬ 
eral  Talhouet,  the  commander,  refused  to  surrender,  and  the 
blockade  eventually  became  a  siege. 

Toul,  a  fourth-rate  fortress,  on  the  same  line  of  railway, 
lies  twenty  miles  west  of  Nancy.  It  also  barred  the  railway 
to  the  Germans,  who  were  compelled,  both  here  and  at  Phals¬ 
bourg,  to  transfer  their  stores  from  the  railway  cars  to  wagons, 
and  haul  them  around  these  fortresses  to  the  railway  beyond 
the  range  of  the  guns,  thus  rendering  the  task  of  forwarding 
supplies  and  material  of  war  to  the  army  before  Paris  both 
difficult  and  slow.  The  Bavarian  directors,  who  were  given 
the  management  of  the  line  from  Weissenbourg  to  Paris, 
offered  to  build  a  branch  road  around  Toul  in  a  fortnight, 
but  General  Von  Moltke  declined  their  proposition,  believing 
that  the  place  would  be  taken  before  that  time.  The  city  was 
invested  on  the  14th  of  August,  and  on  the  16th,  an  unsuc¬ 
cessful  effort  was  made  to  carry  it  by  assault.  On  the  23d  of 
August,  heavy  guns  having  been  brought  up  by  the  besiegers, 
a  regular  bombardment  was  opened,  and  on  the  23d  of  Sep¬ 
tember  the  fortress  and  garrison  surrendered,  the  terms  granted 
being  precisely  those  given  at  Sedan,  —  109  officers,  2240  pri¬ 
vates,  197  pieces  of  cannon,  3000  muskets,  3000  sabres,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  military  stores  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Germans.* 


*  During  the  siege  of  Toul,  the  Germans  alleged  that  their  flags  of  truce 
were  repeatedly  fired  upon  by  the  French.  A  dispatch  similar  to  the  follow- 


398 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


Phalsbourg  held  out  longer,  and  did  not  surrender  until  the 
1 2th  of  December,  after  a  gallant  resistance  of  four  months. 
Its  garrison  consisted  of  2000  men. 

Having  taken  Strasbourg  and  Toul,  the  Germans  began  a 
systematic  effort  to  reduce  all  the  fortified  places  in  Alsace 
and  Lorraine,  as  well  as  those  on  their  lines  of  communica¬ 
tion.  The  fortified  cities  of  Schlestadt,  Neuf  Brissaeh,  and 
Belfort,  were  invested  towards  the  middle  of  October.  Schle¬ 
stadt  capitulated  on  the  23d  of  October,  and  Neuf  Brissaeh  on 
the  11th  of  November,  the  latter  surrendering  only  after  a 
severe  bombardment. 

ing  (which  was  addressed  to  Baron  Gerolt)  was  sent  to  each  of  the  North 
German  Ministers  in  foreign  countries,  instructing  him  to  protest  against  this 
disregard  of  the  usages  of  civilized  warfare  : 

“  Berlin,  August  26. 

“The  incident  mentioned  in  the  telegram  of  the  22d  has  occurred  twice 
since.  Captain  Rochow,  sent  by  General  Alvensleben  to  Toul  with  a  flag  of 
truce,  has  been  received  with  shots,  and  a  trumpeter  accompanying  another 
flag  of  truce  has  been  killed.  You  will  lodge  a  protest  with  the  United  States 
against  these  repeated  violations  of  international  law,  and  declare  that  we 
shall  heneeforth  be  unable  to  send  flags  of  truce  to  a  nation  whose  soldiers 
have  lost,  in  Africa,  China,  and  Mexico,  all  recollection  of  the  usages  of  civi¬ 
lized  warfare.  Von  Thile.” 

In  reply  to  this  circular,  the  Prince  De  la  Tour  d’Auvergne,  the  French 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  French  Min¬ 
isters  abroad : 

“Paris,  August  30,  1870. 

“  Sir  The  Prussian  Government  has  alleged  in  documents  of  which  we 
have  had  information  that  our  soldiers  have  deviated  from  international  law 
by  deliberately  firing  on  ambulances  and  persons  sent  for  a  parley.  Before 
ever  advising  the  Minister  of  War  of  these  allegations,  I  protested  in  the  name 
of  the  traditions  of  our  army,  and  as  soon  as  my  colleague  was  informed  of 
them,  he  energetically  endorsed  the  language  I  had  held. 

“Mistakes  may  happen  in  the  heat  of  conflict;  more  just  than  our  adver¬ 
saries,  we  admit  that  neither  of  the  two  armies  is  certain  not  to  commit  such 
errors ;  but,  that  our  soldiers  have  of  set  purpose  disregarded  the  sacred 
privilege  of  ambulances  and  the  rights  of  parlementaires ,  Prussia  will  per¬ 
suade  nobody,  and  we  have  no  need  to  defend  ourselves  against  such  accu¬ 
sations. 

“  It  seems,  moreover,  that  the  Prussian  Government  has  shown  all  this 
eagerness  in  turning  to  its  advantage  deeds  to  be  regretted,  but  not  yet 
proved  to  have  been  committed,  and,  at  any  rate,  isolated  cases,  only  as  pre¬ 
texts  to  justify  itself  for  much  more  serious  acts  which  we  have  to  urge 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


399 


Soissons,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  invested  by  the  Grand 
Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin  on  the  11th  of  September. 
At  first,  merely  a  blockade  was  enforced  by  the  Germans, 
but  on  the  12th  of  October,  the  siege  batteries  having  been 
prepared,  a  heavy  bombardment  was  opened  upon  the  town, 
which  surrendered  on  the  16th  of  October.  The  Germans 
captured  at  this  place,  99  officers,  4633  men,  132  guns,  150 
tons  of  ammunition,  and  a  military  chest  containing  92,000 
francs.  The  capture  of  Soissons  threw  open  to  the  Germans 
all  the  rich  supplies  of  northern  France. 

Verdun  was  first  attacked  by  the  4th  army,  under  the  Saxon 


against  it,  and  which  involve  much  more  directly  the  responsibility  of  the 
commanders  of  corps. 

“Everybody  knows  of  the  so-called  ‘press’  ambulance,  seized  with  its  at¬ 
tendants  and  material,  which  had  to  traverse  a  part  of  Germany,  Luxem¬ 
bourg,  and  Belgium,  in  order  to  re-enter  France.  The  same  thing  has  been 
recently  repeated  in  the  environs  of  Metz.  Near  Strasbourg,  Baron  de  Bus- 
siere  was  made  prisoner  in  the  midst  of  the  ambulance  which  he  had  organ¬ 
ized,  and  to  which  he  was  devoting  himself.  It  is  equally  notorious  that  a 
French  surgeon  was  killed  on  the  field  of  battle  by  a  Prussian  soldier  while 
in  the  act  of  stanching  a  soldier’s  wound.  It  appears,  moreover,  from  the 
deposition  of  one  of  these  surgeons,  in  the  presence  of  witnesses,  whose  de¬ 
claration  has  been  received  at  the  French  Vice-Consulate  at  Basle,  that 
explosive  balls  have  been  employed  against  our  troops,  and  discovered  in  the 
wounds  of  some  of  our  wounded. 

“  These  are  so  many  violations  not  only  of  the  usages  of  all  armies  in 
modern  times,  but  also  of  the  formal  stipulations  of  diplomatic  conventions 
to  which  Prussia  was  a  contracting  party. 

“  Finally,  the  newspapers  have  announced  that  some  peasants  of  the  neigh¬ 
borhood  of  Strasbourg  had  been  impressed  to  dig  the  trenches  opened  by 
the  Prussians  before  the  place.  We  at  first  refused  to  give  credence  to  these 
rumors.  We  could  not  admit  as  possible  an  act  of  violence  not  less  contrary 
to  the  rules  of  war  than  to  the  laws  of  humanity.  The  certain  testimonies 
which  have  since  reached  us,  leave  no  more  doubt  of  the  complete  accuracy 
of  these  informations.  The  Prussian  authorities  have  not  recoiled  from  a 
measure  which  forces  the  defenders  of  Strasbourg  to  fire  on  Frenchmen. 

“  We  protest  in  the  name  of  universal  conscience  against  such  abuses  of 
strength,  and  in  begging  you  to  bring  them  before  the  special  attention  of  the 
Government  to  which  you  are  accredited,  I  am  confident  that  public  opinion 
will  visit  them  with  a  just  reprobation.” 

This  circular  was  read  in  the  French  Senate  on  the  1st  September,  and  was 
much  applauded. 


400 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Crown  Prince,  on  the  26th  of  August,  when  an  effort  was 
made  to  carry  the  place  by  a  coup  de  main.  This  being  un¬ 
successful,  the  Saxon  Prince  left  a  division  to  invest  it  and 
prosecute  the  siege,  while,  with  the  rest  of  his  army,  he  con¬ 
tinued  his  movement  towards  Chalons.  The  fortress  is  of  the 
fourth  class,  and  was  built  before  the  days  of  rifled  artillery. 
It  contained  a  garrison  of  5000  men,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war,  and  was  commanded  by  Baron  Guerin  de  Wal- 
dersbach.  When  summoned  to  surrender,  the  Commandant 
replied  that  he  would  hold  out  as  long  as  one  stone  remained 
upon  another.  Efforts  were  then  made  by  the  Germans  to 
reduce  the  place  by  means  of  their  artillery.  The  bombard¬ 
ment  was  opened  on  the  26th  of  September,  and  continued  at 
intervals  until  the  3d  of  November,  when,  the  town  having- 
suffered  severely  from  the  German  fire,  and  the  surrender  of 
Metz  having  neutralized  the  defence  to  a  great  extent,  the 
Commandant  opened  negotiations  for  a  surrender.  On  the 
11th,  the  capitulation  was  formally  concluded,  and  the  Ger¬ 
mans  took  possession  of  the  town. 

Thionville,  seventeen  miles  north  of  Metz,  not  far  from 
the  Luxembourg  frontier,  was  garrisoned  by  a  force  of  5000 
men.  It  is  a  fortress  of  a  third  class,  and  a  place  of  consider¬ 
able  strength,  though  it  is  easy  to  bombard  it  with  rifled  guns, 
as  there  are  no  exterior  defences.  Its  armament  consisted  of 
880  guns,  from  sixteen  to  twenty-four  pounders.  On  the  10th 
of  October,  the  place  was  closely  invested  by  the  Germans. 
After  the  surrender  of  Metz,  the  Seventeeth  German  Corps, 
commanded  by  General  Yon  Zastrow,  was  sent  to  reenforce 
the  column  before  Thionville.  The  Germans  placed  400  field 
and  siege  guns  in  position,  and  on  the  4th  of  November 
opened  fire  on  the  town  from  such  of  these  as  were  ready. 
By  the  22d  of  November,  the  German  fire  was  very  heavy, 
the  average  number  of  shots  being  seventeen  per  minute. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  the  city  being  on  fire  in  several 
places,  General  Von  Zastrow  sent  a  message  to  the  French 
Commander,  urging  him  to  surrender  ;  the  latter  replied,  “  So 
long  as  there  remains  one  stone  upon  another,  or  one  drop  of 


401 


Ruins  of  Thionville,  after  the  Bombardment  by  the  Pr 


402 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


French  blood,  the  city  will  not  be  surrendered.”  The  bom¬ 
bardment  was  then  continued  with  terrific  force,  and  on  the 
24th,  towards  six  o’clock  in  the  morning,  the  French  Com¬ 
mander  offered  to  surrender  the  city  on  condition  that  the 
Garde  Mobile  were  allowed  to  go  free.  This  offer  was  rejec¬ 
ted,  and  the  bombardment  was  renewed. 

The  fire  of  the  Germans  was  directed  entirely  upon  the 
city,  their  shots  passing  over  the  ramparts,  where  there  was 
comparatively  little  danger.  The  shells  fell  in  showers  in  the 
town,  and  the  inhabitants  were  unable  to  take  refuge  in  their 
cellars,  as  a  freshet  in  the  Moselle  had  flooded  them.  Thus 
exposed  to  the  pitiless  rain  of  shells,  the  women  and  children 
flocked  to  the  ramparts,  and  on  their  knees  besought  the 
Commandant  to  surrender.  The  sight  of  these  helpless  people 
completely  unmanned  the  brave  soldier,  and,  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  24th,  he  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  German  Commander, 
offering  an  unconditional  surrender.  The  firing  was  promptly 
discontinued,  and  at  six  o’clock,  the  same  evening,  the  capi 
tulation  was  signed.  The  troops  of  the  line,  2000  in  number, 
were  retained  as  prisoners  of  war,  but  the  rest  of  the  garrison, 
consisting  of  the  Mobile  Guards,  were  allowed  to  return  to 
their  homes. 

It  was  stipulated  that  the  victors  should  enter  the  city  at 
nine  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  but  the  occupation 
was  accomplished  two  hours  earlier,  at  the  request  of  the 
French  Commander,  on  account  of  the  insubordination  of  his 
troops,  who,  enraged  at  the  surrender,  threatened  to  explode 
the  magazine. 

In  spite  of  the  severity  of  the  bombardment  there  were  no 
lives  lost  in  Thionville,  the  population  of  which  numbered 
7000,  the  citizens  having  flocked  to  the  ramparts  for  safety, 
and  the  German  shells  passing  over  their  heads;  the  city  was 
almost  demolished,  however.  One  hundred  and  seven  build¬ 
ings  were  totally  destroyed,  eighty-three  were  so  badly  injured 
that  they  had  to  be  pulled  down ;  and  250  were  so  much 
damaged  as  to  require  to  be  rebuilt  from  the  first  story  up¬ 
ward.  The  total  loss,  material  and  commercial,  was  reckoned 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


403 


at  $4,800,000.  The  bombardment  lasted  fifty-three  hours, 
during  which  the  Germans  threw  into  the  city  from  35,000  to 
40,000  shells. 

From  Thionville,  the  Germans  marched  to  Montmedy,  which 
they  compelled  to  surrender  on  the  14th  of  December,  after  a 
brief  defence.  The  garrison  of  this  place  consisted  of  4000 
men.  An  attack  was  made  upon  it  just  after  the  battle  of 
Sedan,  but  was  repulsed.  No  serious  effort  to  capture  it  was 
made,  however,  until  after  the  fall  of  Metz  and  Thionville. 


Marshal  Canrobert. 


404 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  X. 


NAVAL  AFFAIRS— TnE  GERMANS  UNABLE  TO  CONDUCT  THE  WAR  ON  TIIE 
OCEAN — BISMARCK’S  WARNING  TO  MERCHANTMEN — DESIGNS  OF  THE 
FRENCH  GOVERNMENT — THE  BALTIC  FLEET  SAILS  FROM  CHERBOURG 
—AN  ATTACK  ON  TIIE  GERMAN  PORTS  INTENDED —ABANDONMENT  OF 
THE  DESIGN — THE  FRENCH  FLEET  OFF  THE  MOUTH  OF  THE  ELBE — 
CAPTURE  OF  GUNBOATS— ARRIVAL  OF  TIIE  FRENCH  IN  THE  BALTIC — 
RECON NOISSANCE  BY  THE  GERMAN  GUNBOATS — CAPTURE  OF  GERMAN 
MERCHANT  SHIPS — BLOCKADE  OF  TnE  NORTH  SEA  PORTS —FAILURE  OF 
THE  BALTIC  FLEET  TO  ACCOMPLISH  ANYTHING — THE  BLOCKADE  RAISED 
— THE  FRENCH  SHIPS  RETURN  TO  CHERBOURG — NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  OFF 
THE  COAST  OF  CUBA— A  GERMAN  VICTORY. 


J 


T  the  commencement  of  the  war,  it  was  well  under¬ 
stood  that  the  Germans  would  be  able  to  offer  very 
little  opposition  to  the  French  on  the  ocean,  and 
Count  Von  Bismarck,  as  early  as  the  15th  of  July, 
^  warned  all  German  merchant  vessels  to  seek  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  the  nearest  friendly  port.  It  was  believed  that 
France,  with  her  powerful  fleet,  would  be  able  to  close  the 
German  harbors  with  a  rigid  blockade,  and  to  inflict  consider¬ 
able  damage  upon  the  German  coast.  'Therefore  a  strong 
military  force  was  left  in  the  coast  districts,  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  General  Yon  Falckenstein,  for  the  protection  of  those 
regions,  when  the  German  armies  entered  France,  and,  on  the 
18th  of  July,  the  Prussian  Government  ordered  the  removal 
of  all  coast  lights,  buoys,  and  other  aids  to  navigation  on  the 
German  coast. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  to  make  a 
good  use  of  his  fleet.  A  powerful  ironclad  squadron  was 
collected  at  Cherbourg,  for  the  purpose  of  blockading  and 
capturing  the  German  ports  in  the  Baltic.  It  was  commanded 
by  Admiral  Bouet-Willaumez,  and  consisted  of  the  ironclad 
frigates  Surveillante  (the  flag-ship),  Gauloise,  Ocean,  Flandre, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


405 


and  Guyenne,  the  ironclad  corvettes  Jeanne  d’Are,  and  The¬ 
tis,  and  the  dispatch  boat  Jerome  Napoleon.  These  consti¬ 
tuted  the  first  division  of  the  Baltic  fleet,  and  were  honored 
with  a  personal  visit  from  the  Empress,  on  the  25th  of  July, 
the  day  of  their  sailing  from  Cherbourg. 

The  first  division  was  dispatched  so  promptly,  in  order 
that  the  German  ports  might  be  closed  at  once,  and  it  was 
the  design  of  the  French  Government  to  follow  it  in  a  few 
days  with  the  second  division,  consisting  of  the  ironclad 
frigates  Savoie  (flag-ship  of  Rear  Admiral  Pehouet),  Vale- 
reuse,  Revanche,  Montcalm,  Victoire,  Atalante,  Rochambeau, 
and  Taureau,  and  the  dispatch  boats  Duyot,  Cosmos,  Bou¬ 
gainville,  Catinat,  Chateau  Renaud,  Custard,  Peiron,  Bori- 
sanque,  l’Heureuse,  and  Ariel,  and  the  Imperial  yacht  1’IIi- 
rondelle. 

The  second  division  was  to  embark  a  force  of  25,000  troops. 
With  these,  a  series  of  attacks  were  to  be  made  upon  the 
Baltic  ports  of  Prussia,  which,  it  was  believed,  would  result 
not  only  in  important  captures,  but  in  the  retention  of  a  con¬ 
siderable  force  in  the  part  of  Prussia  this  threatened.  The 
condition  of  the  army  on  the  frontier,  however,  made  it  im¬ 
possible  to  spare  these  troops,  and,  consequently,  no  military 
demonstration  was  made  bv  the  French  in  the  Baltic. 

From  Cherbourg,  Admiral  Bouet-  Willaumez  passed  through 
the  English  Channel  into  the  North  Sea.  Arriving  off  the 
mouth  of  the  Elbe,  he  stood  in  towards  the  shore  with  his 
vessels,  and  opened  fire  on  the  naval  station  of  Wilhelmsha- 
ven.  Two  gunboats  were  captured  by  the  French  fleet  at 
the  same  time.  'The  Admiral’s  object  was  merely  to  try  the 
guns  of  his  ships,  and  having  satisfied  himself  with  regard  to 
this,  he  continued  his  voyage  towards  the  entrance  to  the 
Baltic,  entering  that  sea  on  the  29th.  As  the  fleet  passed 
Skagen,  in  Denmark,  the  information  was  at  once  telegraphed 
to  General  Von  Falckenstein  by  the  Prussian  agent,  and 
orders  were  issued  from  the  Prussian  headquarters  to  keep  a 
strict  watch  for  the  French  ships  at  all  the  German  ports. 
'Touching  at  Copenhagen,  the  French  remained  there  some 


406 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


time,  and  then  continued  their  voyage,  and  soon  appeared  off 
Rugen  Island. 

The  second  division  of  the  fleet  sailed  from  Cherbourg 
during  the  early  part  of  August,  and  by  the  15th  the  mouths 
of  the  Elbe,  Eider,  Jahde,  and  Weser  were  blockaded.  The 
squadron  at  the  mouth  of  the  Elbe  consisted  of  six  frigates, 
one  turret  ship,  two  rams,  and  three  corvettes.  During  the 
first  days  of  the  blockade,  several  German  merchant  vessels 
were  captured  in  entering  the  river.* * 

The  French  made  no  effort,  either  in  the  Baltic  or  North 
Seas,  to  attack  the  German  ports,  all  of  which  were  rendered 

*  When  the  capture  of  these  vessels  was  reported  to  General  Von  Falcken- 
stein,  he  sent  a  letter  to  the  French  Admiral  in  command  of  the  squadron, 

protesting  against  his  course.  The  following  is  the  correspondence  : 

* 

“  Excellency  You  have  opened  hostilities  at  sea  by  the  capture  of  Ger¬ 
man  merchant  ships,  and  have  thereby  forgotten  that  we  are  at  present  in  a 
condition  on  land  to  be  able  to  make  unrestricted  reprisals  for  such  a  war 
against  peaceable  Germans.  In  the  interest  of  your  countrymen  I  submit  to 
your  Excellency  to  make  war  on  the  sea  only  against  armed  forces,  just  as  at 
present  in  France  war  is  not  made  against  unarmed  citizens.  Well,  then,  let 
us  fight  each  other  as  knightly  soldiers,  show  ourselves  equally  honorable,  re¬ 
spect  the  private  property  of  peaceable  citizens.  If  your  Excellency  is  of  the 
same  mind,  you  can  make  known  your  inclination  to  give  back  the  ships  you 
have  taken  ;  you  will  gain  more  by  that  course  than  these  small  prizes  are  worth 
to  you.  The  bearer  of  this,  Rear-Admiral  Prince  Von  Hessen,  is  charged  by 
me  to  deliver  this  letter,  and  to  conclude  terms  with  your  Excellency.  With 
particular  respect,  your  Excellency’s  to  command, 

“Von  Falckenstein, 

“  General  Governor  of  the  Coast  Lands.” 

“  On  Board  the  ‘  Magnanime,’  August  18,  1870. 

«  My  interpreter  of  the  German  language  being  at  this  moment  on  a  cruise 
in  another  frigate,  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  only  an  imperfect  comprehen¬ 
sion  of  the  letter  you  have  done  me  the  honor  to  write ;  but  the  Prince  of 
Hessen,  your  flag-of-truce  bearer,  has  indicated  its  object  to  my  chief  of  stall. 
Its  purpose  is  to  secure  to  private  property  upon  the  sea  the  respect  which 
the  law  of  mankind  accords  it  upon  the  land.  Your  Excellency  is  not  igno¬ 
rant,  that  up  to  the  present  day  the  international  law  and  treaties  do  not 
agree  with  that  stipulation,  and  you  will  readily  acknowledge  that  such  a 
subject  lies  exclusively  within  the  prerogatives  of  our  Governments,  and  that 
r  have  in  no  way  the  right  to  treat  of  them.  Be  pleased,  Excellency,  to  re¬ 
ceive  the  assurance  of  my  highest  consideration, 

“  L.  Fourichon,  Vice-Admiral.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


407 


difficult  of  approach  by  sinking  hulks  of  vessels  and  torpedoes 
in  the  channels  of  the  entrances,  and  some  of  which  were 
strongly  fortified.  The  blockading  fleets  passed  the  months 
of  August  and  September  in  complete  idleness,  merely  over¬ 
hauling  a  few  merchantmen,  and  occasionally  firing  a  shot  at 
one  of  the  German  gunboats  engaged  in  watching  their  move¬ 
ments. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  the  German  dispatch  boat  Grille, 
steamed  out  from  the  Bay  of  Rugen,  to  reconnoitre  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  French  fleet,  which  had  but  recently  ar¬ 
rived  off  the  island  of  that  name.  The  French  ships  had  not 
yet  been  seen  from  the  shore,  and  the  German  officers  were 
anxious  to  ascertain  their  exact  position.  The  Grille  stood 
boldly  out  to  sea  until  the  Danish  island  of  Moen  was  in 
sight,  when  the  French  fleet  was  seen  in  the  distance.  The 
little  vessel  at  once  headed  towards  the  enemy,  and  checked 
her  speed  only  when  within  three  thousand  paces  of  them. 
The  French  at  once  opened  fire,  giving  chase  to  the  Grille, 
which  put  about  to  return  to  Rugen.  Every  now  and  then 
lying  to,  to  fire  a  few  shots  at  her  pursuers  from  her  two 
rifled  twelve  pounders  in  answer  to  the  guns  of  the  whole 
fleet ;  the  little  vessel  drew  the  enemy  after  her  as  far  as  the 
post  house  at  Wittoin,  where  the  gunboats  Drache,  Blitz,  and 
Salamander  were  lying.  These,  hearing  the  cannonade  at 
sea,  at  once  stood  out  to  the  assistance  of  their  consort.  The 
commander  of  the  tiny  squadon,  Captain  Count  Yon  Walder- 
see,  made  the  signal  to  the  commander  of  each  gunboat  to 
attack  the  enemy  at  his  own  discretion.  The  order  was  re¬ 
ceived  with  cheers,  and  as  soon  as  they  came  up  with  the 
Grille,  the  gunboats  opened  fire,  all  standing  in  for  the  bay. 
A  running  fight  of  three  hours  ensued,  when  the  German 
vessels,  finding  that  their  guns  were  harmless  to  the  ironclads, 
retired  to  the  protection  of  the  shore  batteries.  None  of  the 
gunboats  were  struck,  but  one  of  their  shells  was  seen  to  ex¬ 
plode  on  the  deck  of  a  French  frigate. 

A  letter  written  by  an  officer  of  the  Baltic  fl  :et,  on  the  10th 
of  September,  thus  describes  the  difficulties  encountered  by 
the  French  : 


408 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


The  fleet  lias  no  base  of  operations  ;  no  port  of  anchorage,  except  by 
retiring  to  neutral  waters.  Not  having  seized,  as  it  might  have,  some 
small  undefended  islands  off  the  coast  of  Schleswig,  the  squadron,  in  fact, 
never  anchors,  and  is  subject  to  continued  surprises  in  the  night  from 
Prussian  gunboats,  which,  coming  out  of  harbors  known  only  to  them¬ 
selves,  appear  amid  French  vessels  either  to  reconnoitre  or  to  blow  them 
up  with  torpedoes,  as  nearly  happened  in  the  roadstead  of  Dantzic, 
when  Admiral  Bouet  anchored  under  the  very  guns  of  the  Fort.  ■ 

The  Prussian  vessels  being  small  and  swift,  risk  little,  but  if  successful 
might  destroy  a  French  vessel.  The  squadron  can  only  take  in  coal  on 
an  open  sea,  and  in  circumstances  of  danger.  A  want  is  felt  of  suitable 
vessels  for  blockading  purposes  ;  ironclads  are  too  slow,  and  of  too  great 
draft.  Cruising  proves  most  difficult  and  perilous. 

Admiral  Bouet  has  separated  the  squadron  into  two  divisions.  With 
the  first  he  blockades  the  shore  from  the  Russian  frontier  to  Rugen  ;  the 
second,  under  Admiral  Dieudonne,  watches  the  coast  from  Rugen  to 
North  Schleswig.  There  has  been  no  important  encounter  hitherto 
with  the  Prussian  fleet.  Two  vessels,  the  Oc6an  and  the  Flandre,  are 
about  returning  to  France. 

The  news  of  MacMahon’s  and  the  Emperor’s  surrender  is  just  received. 
'The  latter  causes  little  grief,  for  the  fleet  is  not  Bonapartist.  After 
such  events  the  squadron  must  remain  inactive  ;  but  if  the  new  Govern¬ 
ment  resolves  to  continue  the  struggle,  it  will  wage  pitiless  war  on  the 
German  coast. 

The  reverses  of  the  Empire,  and  the  great  straits  to  which 
the  Republic  was  driven  at  the  commencement  of  its  career, 
made  it  impossible  for  the  fleet  to  continue  at  sea.  The  ma¬ 
rines  were  needed  in  the  army,  the  guns  were  wanted  for  the 
defence  of  Paris  and  other  threatened  places,  and  the  seamen 
Avere  needed  to  man  them.  The  blockade  Avas  therefore  im¬ 
practicable,  and  Avas  raised  about  the  18th  of  September,  by 
the  departure  of  the  vessels  Avhich  had  maintained  it,  for  their 
own  Avaters.  Great  as  had  been  the  failures  of  the  French  on 
land,  their  ill  success  at  sea  was  still  more  signal. 

Both  nations  maintained  vessels  of  Avar  in  foreign  waters 
during  the  struggle,  especially  in  the  waters  of  North  Amer¬ 
ica.  It  was  in  this  quarter  of  the  world  that  the  only  naval 
engagement  of  any  importance  fought  during  the  war  was 
destined  to  occur. 

On  Sunday,  the  7th  of  November,  1870,  the  French  mail 


The  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame — from  the  Archbishop’s  Bridge  :  Paris. 

3>ie  Statbcbralc  Wotrt»3>ame— oon  ber  @r}bifd>ofdbrucfe :  SPariS. 


EETTYEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


400 


steamer  Nouveau  Monde,  sailing  between  St.  Nazaire,  in 
France,  and  the  Island  of  St.  Thomas,  in  the  West  Indies, 
called  at  Havana,  in  Cuba,  intending  to  resume  her  voyage 
at  ten  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  The  North  German 
Consul  at  once  telegraphed  information  of  her  intended  de¬ 
parture  to  the  commander  of  the  North  German  gunboat 
Meteor,  then  lying  at  Key  West,  and  early  on  Monday  morn¬ 
ing  the  Meteor  arrived  at  Havana.  Two  hours  later,  the 
French  gunboat  Bouvet  entered  the  port,  her  appearance 
upon  the  scene  being  merely  casual.  At  half-past  nine 
o’clock  the  Meteor  put  to  sea,  and  at  ten  o’clock  the  Nouveau 
Monde  sailed  from  the  harbor.  Upon  arriving  outside,  the 
French  captain  saw  the  German  war  steamer  waiting  for  him, 
with  the  evident  intention  of  making  a  prize  of  his  vessel,  and 
he  deemed  it  prudent  to  return  to  the  harbor.  The  captain 
of  the  Bouvet  at  once  offered  to  escort  the  mail  steamer  safely 
by  the  German  cruiser,  but  the  Spanish  authorities  informed 
him  that  his  vessel  could  not  leave  the  port  until  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  time  of  the  Meteor’s  departure,  which  period 
would  expire  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  In  consequence  of 
this  decision,  both  the  mail  steamer  and  the  French  gunboat 
were  compelled  to  remain  in  the  harbor  during  the  7th,  and 
in  the  evening  the  Meteor  returned.  The  German  comman¬ 
der  was  then  notified  by  the  Captain-General  of  the  Island, 
that  he  could  not  sail  again  until  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
departure  of  the  Nouveau  Monde.  Her  safety  being  thus  se¬ 
cured,  the  mail  steamer  sailed  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  German  vessel,  Captain  Franquet 
of  the  Bouvet,  sent  a  challenge,  through  the  French  and  Ger¬ 
man  Consuls,  to  Captain  Knorr,  of  the  Meteor,  to  meet  him 
the  next  day  off  the  harbor,  and  outside  the  Spanish  waters. 
Captain  Ivnorr  promptly  accepted  the  challenge,  and  notified 
Captain  Franquet  that  he  would  go  to  sea  atone  o’clock  p.  m., 
on  the  9th,  the  earliest  hour  the  Spanish  authorities  would 
permit  him  to  sail. 

The  challenge  and  its  acceptance  being  communicated  to 
the  Spanish  officials,  Admiral  Malcampo,  in  order  to  prevent 


410 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  engagement  taking  place  within  the  limits  prohibited  by 
international  law,  had  the  frigate  Ilernan  Cortes  gotten  in 
readiness,  and,  taking  with  him  three  extra  surgeons  and  a 
quantity  of  medicines,  made  his  preparations  to  follow  the 
Meteor  as  she  left  the  harbor.  The  gunboat  Centinela  was 
ordered  to  accompany  the  Cortes  for  the  purpose  of  render¬ 
ing  assistance  to  the  combatants,  in  case  either  or  both 
should  receive  fatal  injuries.  The  high  officials  of  the  island 
accompanied  the  Admiral  in  the  frigate  in  order  to  witness 
the  combat. 

At  precisely  one  o’clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  of  INo- 
vember,  the  Meteor  weighed  anchor  and  steamed  out  of  the 
harbor,  followed  by  the  Spanish  vessels.  Upon  getting  to 
sea,  the  French  steamer  was  discovered  to  the  northeast  of 
the  harbor,  about  ten  miles  from  the  land.  The  Meteor  at 
once  stood  towards  her,  the  Bouvet  advancing  to  meet  her 
enemy,  and,  at  thirty-two  minutes  after  two  o’clock,  the  French 
vessel  opened  the  engagement  by  a  shot  from  one  of  her 
guns.  The  vessels  were  then  about  a  mile  and  a  half  distant 
from  each  other,  and  five  miles  off  the  shore.  When  within 
a  mile  of  the  Meteor,  the  Bouvet  fired  another  shot,  and 
then  both  vessels  began  manoeuvring  for  position,  the  Me¬ 
teor  succeeding  in  retaining  the  inner  circle.  Three  more 
shots  were  fired  by  the  Frenchman,  and  then  the  German 
responded  with  a  single  gun.  Twelve  shots  were  then  fired 
bv  the  Bouvet,  and  five  from  the  Meteor.  Neither  vessel 
had  yet  succeeded  in  hitting  the  other,  although  there  was  a 
smooth  sea  in  their  favor. 

The  Frenchman  now  turned  directly  upon  his  enemy  and 
ran  straight  down  to  him,  both  vessels  firing  as  they  ap¬ 
proached  each  other.  The  former  was  unable  to  strike  his 
antagonist  squarely,  but  brushed  lightly  by,  firing  a  heavy 
volley  of  musketry  as  he  passed,  which  killed  the  second 
mate,  and  wounded  two  sailors  of  the  German  ship.  Then 
turning  about  rapidly,  the  Bouvet  again  ran  down  upon  the 
Meteor,  striking  her  heavily,  and  at  the  same  time  pouring  a 
severe  musketry  fire  into  her,  and  discharging  two  of  her 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


411 


twenty-four  pounders  at  the  masts  of  the  German.  The  Me¬ 
teor  replied  with  a  volley  of  musketry,  which  slightly 
wounded  one  of  the  French  sailors.  The  French  tried  to 
grapple  the  Meteor  as  they  passed,  but  did  not  succeed. 
Their  twenty- four  pounders,  however,  terribly  damaged  their 
opponent.  The  mainmast  of  the  Meteor  was  cut  in  two  near 
the  deck,  and  the  mizzenmast  was  badly  injured.  It  was 
impossible  to  repair  the  damage  at  once,  as  it  required  all 
the  efforts  of  the  crew  to  prevent  their  enemy  from  grappling 
the  vessel.  As  soon  as  the  ships  were  clear  of  each  other, 
however,  Captain  Knorr  found  it  necessary  to  cut  his  injured 
mizzenmast,  against  which  the  mainmast  had  fallen  and 
caught,  and  to  throw  both  overboard.  This  was  done 
promptly,  but,  unfortunately,  the  rigging  of  the  mast  caught 
in  the  propeller  of  the  ship,  and  became  so  badly  entangled 
in  it,  as  to  render  it  useless.  The  Meteor  was  now  perfectly 
helpless.  She  could  not  use  her  sails,  and  her  propeller  was 
useless.  The  Bouvet,  meanwhile,  had  turned  about,  and  was 
preparing  to  run  into  her  again.  The  French  vessel  was,  as 
yet,  entirely  uninjured,  and  the  German  was  at  her  mercy. 

At  this  critical  period,  the  sixty-eight  pounder  of  the  Meteor 
was  loaded,  and  a  Saxon  sergeant  of  marines  trained  it  care¬ 
fully  upon  the  Bouvet,  then  coming  down  rapidly  upon  the 
disabled  ship,  and  about  six  hundred  yards  distant.  The 
huge  gun  belched  forth  its  deadly  missile,  and  immediately 
the  Bouvet  was  wrapped  in  clouds  of  blinding  steam.  The 
shot  had  struck  the  steam  dome  of  the  vessel,  and  had  knocked 
it  to  pieces.  Three  of  the  crew  were  badly  scalded.  The 
steam  escaping  instantly  ;  the  Bouvet  could  no  longer  use  her 
machinery.  Her  sailing  power  was  not  injured,  however,  but 
being  ignorant  of  the  damage  received  by  his  antagonist,  and 
believing  him  still  able  to  use  his  propeller,  Captain  Franquet 
decided  to  withdraw  from  the  combat.  Sail  was  accordingly 
set  on  the  Bouvet,  and  every  effort  was  made  to  reach  the 
harbor.  The  Meteor,  astonished  at  the  retreat  of  the  French 
ship,  sent  three  parting  shots  after  her,  one  of  which  took 
effect. 


412 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  Spanish  vessels  had  remained  from  three  to  four  miles 
to  the  westward  of  the  combatants,  and  as  the  Bouvet  entered 
the  Spanish  waters,  the  Admiral  fired  a  gun  from  the  Cortes 
to  signify  that  the  combat  must  cease.  He  then  dispatched 
the  Centinela  to  notify  the  French  Captain  that  he  would  not 
be  permitted  to  repair  damages  so  as  to  renew  the  fight,  but 
the  message  was  not  delivered  until  the  Bouvet  had  entered 
the  harbor.  The  Cortes  then  ran  down  to  the  Meteor  with 
offers  of  assistance  for  the  wounded,  but  the  offer  was  thank¬ 
fully  declined.  The  propeller  was  then  cleared  of  the  rigging 
which  had  fouled  it,  this  task  consuming  a  full  hour,  and  the 
Meteor  went  back  to  Havana.  The  only  loss  sustained  by 
the  Bouvet,  apart  from  the  destruction  of  the  steam  dome, 
was  the  breaking  away  of  her  martingale  when  she  ran  into 
the  Meteor. 

The  combat  was  witnessed  by  nearly  the  whole  population 
of  Havana,  who  crowded  the  shores  of  the  bay  in  their  eager¬ 
ness  to  obtain  a  view  of  it. 

In  size,  tonnage,  engine  power,  and  number  of  guns  the 
Meteor  and  the  Bouvet  were  on  an  equality.  The  Bouvet 
was,  however,  the  faster  vessel,  and  had,  besides,  eighteen 
more  men  on  board,  or  eighty-two  officers  and  crew,  to  sixty- 
four  officers  and  crew ;  but  then  these  two  advantages  were 
fully  if  not  more  than  balanced  by  the  Meteor’s  advantage  of 
armament,  her  three  guns  consisting  of  two  twenty-pounders 
and  one  sixty-eight-pounder,  while  the  three  guns  of  the  Bou¬ 
vet  were  all  twenty- four-pounders,  and  the  Meteor’s  machinery 
was  located  mostly  below  the  water  line,  while  that  of  the 
Bouvet  was  mostly  above,  she  having  been  built  for  a  dispatch 
boat  more  than  for  war  purposes. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


413 


CHAPTER  XI. 


TIIE  SIEGE  OF  METZ — VON  MOLTKE’S  PLAN — BEGINNING  OF  TIIE  INVEST¬ 
MENT-DESCRIPTION  OF  METZ  AND  ITS  DEFENCES — CHARACTER  OF  THE 
MILITARY  OPERATIONS — THE  POSITION  OF  TnE  GERMAN  ARMIES — GER¬ 
MAN  SENTRIES  ARMED  WITH  THE  CHASSEPOT — MACMAHON’S  NORTHWARD 
MOVEMENT— BAZAINE’S  DISPATCn  — EFFORTS  OF  THE  FRENCH  TO  PRO¬ 
CURE  SUPPLIES — THE  EMPEROR’S  MESSAGE — SORTIES  OF  AUGUST  31ST 
AND  SEPTEMBER  1ST — BAZAINE’S  TELEGRAMS — NO  NEWS  FROM  WITH¬ 
OUT — THE  GERMANS  STRENGTHEN  TnEIR  POSITION — THE  LANDWEHR 
BROUGHT  INTO  FRANCE — HEROIC  CONDUCT  OF  THESE  TROOPS  —REMOVAL 
OF  GENERAL  VON  STEINMETZ — CARE  OF  THE  GERMAN  COMMANDERS  FOR 
THEIR  TROOPS — SICKNESS  IN  THE  ARMIES — SORTIES  OF  SEPTEMBER  23d 
AND  24TH— FAILURE  OF  THE  FRENCH  TO  GAIN  GROUND — BAZAINE’S 
DIFFICULTIES — SORTIE  OF  OCTOBER  7TII — A  DESPERATE  EFFORT — BRIL¬ 
LIANT  REPULSE  OF  THE  FRENCH — SICKNESS  IN  THE  FRENCH  CAMP — THE 
TROOPS  ON  THE  POINT  OF  STARVATION — ACTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL  OF 
WAR — GENERAL  BOYER  SENT  TO  VERSAILLES— THE  SECRET  NEGOTIA¬ 
TIONS— A  STRANGE  STORY — FIRMNESS  OF  TnE  EMPRESS  OF  THE  FRENCH 
— FAILURE  OF  THE  NEGOTIATIONS — CHANGARNIER’S  MISSION — ITS  FAIL¬ 
URE — BAZAINE  OFFERS  TO  SURRENDER — THE  CAPITULATION  AGREED 
UPON — TERMS  OF  THE  SURRENDER— MAGNITUDE  OF  THE  CAPTURE — THE 
FORTRESS  OCCUPIED  BY  THE  GERMANS — ACTION  OF  THE  CITIZENS  OF 
METZ — BAZAINE  GOES  TO  CASSEL  — nE  IS  INSULTED  BY  THE  CITIZENS  OF 
METZ — CHANGARNIER’S  VIEWS — EXAMINATION  OF  BAZAINE’S  CONDUCT 
— EFFECT  OF  THE  SURRENDER  UPON  THE  FRENCH  NATION — CHARGES 
OF  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT — THE  REPUBLICAN  PROCLAMATION 
— M.  GAMBETTA  SPEAKS  HIS  MIND — REJOICINGS  IN  GERMANY — THE  KING 
OF  PRUSSIA  RAISES  “  OUR  FRITZ  ”  AND  FREDERICK  CHARLES  TO  THE 
RANK  OF  FIELD-MARSHAL — THE  GERMAN  ARMY  LEAVES  METZ. 


E  must  now  return  to  the  army  of  the  Rhine,  which 
*  we  left  retiring  upon  Metz  after  its  bloody  defeat  at 


Gravelotte.  Finding  it  impossible  to  break  through 
the  German  lines,  Marshal  Bazaine  withdrew  to  a 
position  protected  by  the  outlying  forts  of  Metz,  and, 
strengthening  himself  against  further  molestation  from  his 
enemy,  prepared  to  take  advantage  of  the  first  opportunity 
of  cutting  his  way  out  from  Metz. 


414 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


General  Yon  Moltke,  however,  had  no  wish  to  molest  the 
French  in  their  strong  position.  He  had  drawn  them  into 
the  unfortunate  decision  of  lingering  around  Metz  when  they 
might  have  escaped,  and  he  was  determined  that  they  should 
remain  there.  As  Prince  Frederick  Charles  afterwards  told 
General  Changarnier,  the  German  commander  was  thoroughly 
informed  as  to  the  strength  of  the  fortress  of  Metz,  and  knew 
as  well  as  Bazaine  himself  that  it  was  not  provisioned  for  a 
long  siege.  The  effect  of  the  first  German  victories  was  so 
great  that  Von  Moltke  felt  fully  able  to  dispense  with  the 
services  of  the  bulk  of  the  1st  and  2nd  German  armies  in 
the  field.  He  could  spare  these  to  shut  up  Metz  for  the  pres¬ 
ent,  and  he  decided  merely  to  invest  the  fortress,  cutting  off 
every  avenue  of  escape  from  it,  and  to  leave  to  hunger  and 
disease  the  task  of  reducing  Metz. 

Accordingly,  on  the  22d  of  August,  the  fourth  day  after 
the  battle  of  Gravelotte,  the  German  troops  began  the  con¬ 
struction  of  a  series  of  earthworks,  formidable  in  size  and 
extent,  which  enabled  them  to  shut  up  Bazaine  and  his  army 
so  securely  “  that  not  even  a  dog  could  leave  Metz  without 
being  exposed  to  the  fire  of  a  hundred  guns.”  Day  after  day 
the  German  lines  grew  stronger,  enclosing  the  forts  and  city 
in  an  unbroken  circle. 

The  city  of  Metz  contains  a  population  of  60,000,  and  is  a 
place  of  considerable  importance,  and  of  great  historic  interest. 
It  constitutes,  with  its  outlying  forts,  one  of  the  strongest 
fortresses  in  Europe.  Its  fortifications  were  begun  by  Vau- 
ban,  and  continued  by  Marshal  Belleisle.  Many  additions 
and  improvements  wore  made  by  Cormontaigne,  one  of  the 
greatest  masters  of  the  art  of  fortification  the  world  has  ever 
seen,  and  the  works  constructed  by  him  here  are  regarded 
as  his  masterpieces. 

“  The  town  of  Metz,  with  the  great  Cathedral,”  says  a  recent 
writer,  “  lies  for  the  most  part  on  the  east  side  of  a  branch  of 
the  Moselle,  which  forks  off  from  the  main  stream  at  La 
Grange  aux  Dames,  and  forms  the  islands  of  Chambi&re,  and 
lower  down,  of  Sauley  and  St.  Siinphorien.  A  large  suburb, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


415 


however,  stands  on  the  first  of  these  islands.  The  inner  for¬ 
tifications  surround  the  town  continuously,  with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  one  gap  to  the  southward,  which  is  covered  efficiently 
by  the  branch  of  the  Moselle,  which  divides  the  islands  of 
Sauley  and  St.  Simphorien.  On  the  north  of  the  Isle  de 
Chambi^re  are  two  important  forts  on  the  inner  line,  one  at 
the  northwestern  angle  of  the  enceinte ,  the  other  detached  in 
the  plain  of  the  island,  but  connected  with  the  enceinte  by  a 
covered  way.  On  the  south  of  the  inner  line  are  the  Redoubt 
du  Pate  to  the  east,  and  the  Lunette  d’Arcon  to  the  west, 
both  connected  with  the  enceinte  by  a  covered  way.  The 
western  side  of  the  inner  line  is  covered  by  the  great  Fort 
Moselle,  on  the  farther  side  of  the  main  stream  of  the  Moselle, 
a  double  crown  work  of  immense  strength  and  magnitude, 
and  enclosing  great  magazines  and  arsenals.  To  the  south  of 
it  the  bastion  of  He  Sauley  sends  out  a  long  spur  of  fortifica¬ 
tions,  which  crosses  the  Moselle,  and  terminates  in  a  redoubt 
on  the  farther  side.  Nor  is  the  eastern  side  of  the  inner  line 
less  strongly  protected.  In  front  of  the  enceinte  looms  the 
great  double  crown  work  of  Belle  Croix,  Cormontaigne’s  mas¬ 
terpiece,  to  the  full  as  large  as  Fort  Moselle,  and  more  highly 
favored  by  its  natural  position.  To  the  south  of  it  stands  Fort 
Gisors,  a  minor  detached  fortification,  which  serves  to  com¬ 
plete  the  circuit  of  connection  with  the  Redoubt  du  Pate  on 
the  south.  Thus  the  town  of  Metz  is,  in  fact,  environed  by 
two  lines  of  fortifications,  the  continuous  enceinte  with  its  bas¬ 
tions,  and  what  I  may  term  the  outer  cordon  of  the  inner  circle, 
having  intimate  connection  with  the  enceinte. 

“Of  themselves  these  defences  would  make  the  place  all 
but  impregnable,  but  they  are  by  no  means  the  most  impor¬ 
tant  defences  of  this  extraordinary  fortress.  There  is  an  outer 
circle  of  detached  fortifications,  each  of  which  is  the  comple¬ 
ment  of  the  other,  and  of  which  no  one  can  be  assailed  with 
out  the  assailant  laying  his  account  to  be  enfiladed  by  at  least 
two  of  the  others.  Let  me  begin  with  those  at  the  Moselle, 
on  the  north  of  the  town  at  La  Grange  aux  Dames,  and  work 
round,  proceeding  first  in  an  easterly  direction.  After  climb- 


416 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


ing  the  bank  of  the  stream,  we  come  to  the  chaussee  leading 
to  Bouzonville,  and  crossing  it  we  almost  immediately  come 
on  the  great  glacis  of  Fort  St.  Julien.  This  is  an  outlying 
fort  of  the  first  magnitude,  covering  the  whole  of  the  low 
summit  of  a  natural  eminence,  and  having  on  three  sides  a 
natural  glacis — therefore  of  great  extent.  It  lies  about  two 
English  miles  from  Metz,  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and  a 
little  to  the  northeast  of  it  is  the  Monastery  and  wood  of  Grri- 
mont,  the  former  of  which  has  been  scientifically  diverted 
from  ecclesiastical  to  military  purposes.  About  a  mile  and 
a  half  due  south  of  St.  Julien,  and  about  a  mile  due  east  from 
Fort  Belle  Croix,  is  Fort  Les  Buttes,  a  great  hog-backed  struc¬ 
ture  chiefly  of  earth,  which  has  been  thrown  up  as  a  precau¬ 
tionary  measure,  either  immediately  before  or  immediately 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  Its  position  is  very  important 
as  a  link  between  St.  Julien  and  Fort  Queleu,  on  the  south. 
It  stands  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  great  chaussee  from  Metz 
to  Saarlouis  and  Saarbruck,  while  as  yet  the  bisection  has  not 
taken  place.  Forward  about  a  mile  from  Les  Bottes,  and  on 
the  chaussee  just  before  it  bisects,  is  a  village  named  Belle 
Croix,  which  must  not,  however,  be  confounded  with  the  fort 
of  the  same  name.  Here,  also,  there  are  many  earthworks 
and  guns,  but  the  latter,  for  the  most  part,  are  field  artillery, 
and  paucity  of  ammunition  keeps  them  tolerably  quiet.  About 
a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Fort  Les  Bottes,  and  about  the  same 
distance  from  Metz,  is  Fort  Queleu,  also  an  important  struc¬ 
ture,  dominating  the  main  road  to  Strasbourg  and  the  adjoin¬ 
ing  flat  country  as  far  as  the  telegraph  on  the  elevated  ground 
before  Mercy-le-Haut.  Turning  now  westward,  and  inclining 
to  the  south,  we  come  to  Fort  St.  Privat,  at  a  distance  of  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  both  from  Les  Bottes  and  Metz.  Its 
value  consists  in  the  command  it  has  of  the  eastern  side  of  the 
valley  of  the  Moselle,  of  the  road  from  Nancy  and  of  the  rail¬ 
way  lines  which  converge  behind  it.  Leaving  it,  we  come  to 
the  Moselle  again,  this  time  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  town, 
and  striking  up  due  north,  we  have  nothing  in  the  shape  of 
fortifications  till  we  climb  the  great  hump,  on  the  top  of  which 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


417 


stands  Fort  St.  Quentin,  the  greatest  outwork  of  Metz.  St. 
Quentin  is  a  complete  fortress  in  itself;  it  could  hold  out  were 
all  its  neighbors  taken,  and  it  may  safely  be  termed  impreg- 
nable,  looking  at  the  combined  strength  of  its  natural  position, 
and  its  vast  fortifications.  Not  only  does  it  dominate  the 
country  to  the  south,  southwest,  west  and  northwest,  but  it 
frowns  outward  to  the  east,  and  its  great  guns  would  play  an 
important  part  in  the  defence  against  an  attack  on  the  inner 
fortifications  of  Metz.  Northwest  of  it,  about  a  mile  on  the 
top  of  the  bluffs,  lies  Fort  Plappeville,  or  Les  Carrieres,  the 
natural  position  of  which  is  not  so  strong  as  that  of  St.  Quen¬ 
tin,  because  the  elevation  on  which  it  stands  is  not  isolated, 
while  it  is  open  in  the  rear,  and  therefore  requires  St.  Quen¬ 
tin  as  the  complement  of  its  defence.  It,  however,  acts  as  a 
defence  over  a  great  tract  of  country  to  the  west,  and  keeps  a 
besieging  force  at  a  respectful  distance,  so  that  it  cannot  reach 
the  edge  of  the  bluffs  and  pitch  projectiles  down  into  Metz. 
Due  north  from  Metz,  about  two  miles,  and  standing  in  the 
middle  of  the  plain,  bounded  by  the  Thionville  railway  on 
the  west,  and  the  Moselle  on  the  east,  lies  Fort  St.  Floy,  the 
last  but  not  the  least  important  of  the  outworks  of  Metz.  Its 
province  is,  in  combination  with  St.  Julien,  to  take  care  of 
the  valley  of  the  Moselle  to  the  northward,  and  to  dominate 
the  great  road  to  Thionville.  All  these  fortifications  (except 
the  little  Belle  Croix),  are  furnished  with  heavy  guns  of  po¬ 
sition.” 

The  German  position  was  chosen  with  a  view  to  holding 
the  French  at  Metz,  and  though,  after  the  long-range  guns 
were  mounted,  a  steady  fire  was  maintained  upon  the  camps 
of  the  French  for  the  purpose  of  adding  to  their  discomforts, 
and  though  frequent  encounters  occurred  between  the  out¬ 
posts  and  advanced  forces,  a  general  attack  upon  the  place,  or 
even  a  regularly  conducted  siege  formed  no  part  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  plan.  Their  design  was  simply  to  encircle  the  place  with 
a  cordon  of  works  strong  enough  to  enable  their  troops  to  de¬ 
feat  any  effort  of  the  French  to  escape,  and  then  to  starve  the 
garrison  into  submission. 

27 


418 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  position  held  by  the  Germans  was  as  follows,  com¬ 
mencing  on  the  east  side  of  the  Moselle.  The  Seventh  Corps 
held  the  line  of  environment  from  the  river  to  the  village  of 
Ars-Laquenexy,  occupying  the  villages  of  Magny,  Peltre, 
and  Mercy-la-Haut,  with  their  outposts  thrown  forward  some¬ 
what  beyond  this  line.  The  First  Corps  lay  on  the  right  of 
the  Seventh,  its  line  extending  through  Colombey,  Ogy, 
Flanville,  Reton  fay,  and  Gras,  to  Ste.  Barbe.  The  advanced 
forces  of  this  Corps  held  the  villages  of  Coiney,  Montoy,  Noisse- 
ville,  Servigny,  and  Failly.  This  advanced,  or  first  line,  was 
within  easy  range  of  the  guns  of  Fort  St.  JulienA  The  Tenth 
Corps  continued  the  line  to  the  Moselle.  The  Landwehr  di¬ 
visions  occupied  the  line  from  the  right  of  the  Tenth  Corps, 
across  the  Moselle  at  Argancy  to  the  vicinity  of  St.  Agathe. 
The  remaining  corps  of  the  army  (the  Second,  Third,  Eighth, 
and  Ninth,)  prolonged  the  investment  from  St.  Agathe, 
through  Sauley,  Vigneulles,  Lorry,  Chatel  St.  Germain, 
Longeau,  and  Jussy,  to  the  Moselle  at  Vaux. 

The  outposts  were  very  close  together  in  many  places,  and 
the  danger  of  the  sentries  was  thus  greatly  increased ;  for, 
while  the  Germans  strictly  prohibited  their  men  from  firing 
at  small  detached  parties,  the  French  never  permitted  an  oc¬ 
casion  for  picking  off  a  German  sentry  to  pass  by  unimproved. 
Many  of  the  German  sentries  were  armed  with  the  chassepot, 
to  enable  them  to  cope  with  the  French  pickets  on  equal 
terms,  f 

*  “  Between  the  first  and  second  line  there  is  only  an  interval  of  about  a 
mile.  To  the  front  there  lie,  first,  the  foreposts,  then  the  feldwachls,  and 
lastly  the  single  sentries,  within  800  yards  of  Fort  St.  Julien.  The  first  line 
occupies  a  continuous  intrenchment,  the  continuation  of  which  runs  right 
found  Metz.  All  the  villages  are  roughly  fortified  by  barricades,  cheveaux- 
de-frise,  etc. ;  holes  are  broken  through  all  the  houses  for  firing,  and,  indeed, 
every  village  forms  a  very  respectable,  if  rough  and  ready,  festung.  The 
foreposts  lie  either  in  single  houses,  also  well  fortified  by  intrenchments  and 
barricades,  or  in  the  field  behind  earthworks  of  no  inconsiderable  magnitude. 
The  feldwachls  (field  watchers)  chiefly  occupy  woods  or  the  gardens  of  cha¬ 
teaux.” — Letter  from  Metz. 

•j-  “The  alertness  and  completeness  of  the  Prussian  forepost  system  is  a 
great  feature  of  the  army,  and  one  of  the  leading  causes  of  its  success.  At 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


419 


Meanwhile  Marshal  Bazaine  had  found  the  means  of  making 
his  situation  perfectly  known  in  Paris,  where,  as  has  been 
related,  the  resolution  was  formed  by  the  Ministers  of  sending 
MacMahon  to  rescue  him.  MacMahon’s  protests  having  been 
disregarded,  and  the  march  to  the  northward  having  been 
forced  upon  him,  he  did  his  best  to  act  in  concert  with  Baz¬ 
aine  in  the  difficult  task  before  them.  On  the  22d,  MacMa¬ 
hon  received  the  following  dispatch  from  Bazaine : 

“  I  have  been  obliged  to  take  up  a  position  near  Metz,  to 
give  rest  to  the  soldiers  and  to  renew  my  supplies  of  pro¬ 
visions  and  munitions.  The  enemy  is  continually  increasing 
around  me,  and  I  shall  probably  take  the  northern  line  to  join 
you,  and  will  give  you  warning  if  a  march  can  be  undertaken 
without  compromising  the  army.” 

To  this  dispatch  Bazaine  received  no  reply.  Immediately 
after  Gravelotte,  Bazaine  instituted  a  close  investigation  as  to 
the  means  of  subsisting  his  army,  but  found  that  Metz  was 
inadequately  provided  with  stores.  Supplies  could  be  ob¬ 
tained  to  a  limited  extent  in  several  of  the  neighboring  vil- 
lages,  and  on  the  26th  of  August  a  Council  of  War  decided, 
“in  order  to  raise  the  spirits  of  the  troops,  to  make  demon¬ 
strations  to  harass  the  enemy,  and  thus  to  augment  the  pro 
visions.”  Preparations  were  made  to  carry  out  this  decision, 

night  the  feldwacht  goes  forward  to  the  post  occupied  during  the  day  by  the 
farthest  outlying  sentry.  Here  it  breaks  right  and  left  into  small  pickets, 
leaving  a  strong  nucleus  in  the  centre.  The  front,  at  a  distance  of  200  or 
300  yards,  is  continually  traversed  by  cavalry  patrols,  who  often  ride  right  in 
among  the  sleeping  Frenchmen,  whose  system  of  night  vigilance  is  not  at  all 
what  it  should  be.  Then  there  is  a  pistol  shot  and  round  of  bootless  chasse- 
pot  firing  in  the  dark — the  daring  Uhlan  dashes  out  through  the  red  legs, 
back  to  his  supports.  Talking  of  chassepots,  I  may  mention  that  the  Prus¬ 
sian  forepost  troops  are  now  extensively  armed  with  these  weapons,  to  enable 
them  to  cope  on  equal  terms  with  the  French  Tirailleurs.  Of  the  2nd  Bat¬ 
talion  of  the  4th  Regiment  seventy-five  men  are  so  armed,  or  rather  seventy- 
five  chassepots  are  in  use,  and  are  transferred  from  feldwacht  to  feldwacht ,  as 
the  changes  of  guard  are  made.  One  whole  regiment  (the  35th)  is  armed 
with  the  chassepot.  This  settles  the  question  as  to  the  relative  merits  of  the 
chassepot  and  the  needle-gun  in  the  eyes  of  the  Prussians.  Immediately 
after  the  war,  I  doubt  not  there  will  be  a  general  conversion — the  operation 
will  not  be  difficult.^ — Correspondence  of  the  London  Daily  News. 


420 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  on  tine  28th,  a  train  of  thirty-six  wagons,  protected  bv  a 
strong  escort,  and  covered  by  the  fire  of  Fort  St.  Julien,  was 
sent  into  the  village  of  Colombey,  to  bring  off  a  quantity  of 
grain  which  had  been  stored  there  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Germans.  The  wagons  were  loaded  with  the  grain  and  were 
about  to  start  on  their  return  to  Metz,  when  the  German  field 
batteries  arrived  and  opened  fire  with  such  accuracy  that  but 
fourteen  of  the  wagons  succeeded  in  reaching  Metz. 

There  was  no  effort  to  “  harass  the  enemy  ”  in  this  affair, 
as  the  whole  of  the  French  plan  of  operations  had  been 
changed  by  the  receipt  of  the  following  dispatch  from  the 
Emperor,  written  on  the  23d  : 

I  received  your  dispatch  of  the  19th  instant  at  Rheims. 
I  am  moving  in  the  direction  of  Montmedy,  and  will  be  on 
the  line  of  the  river  Aisne  the  day  after  to-morrow.  I  shall 
act  according  to  circumstances  in  trying  to  come  to  your  as¬ 
sistance.” 

With  the  hope  of  breaking  through  the  German  line,  and 
joining  the  Emperor  and  MacMahon,  Marshal  Bazaine  re¬ 
solved  to  attack  the  Germans  on  the  31st  of  August.  Baz¬ 
aine  was  ignorant  of  the  difficulties  encountered  by  MacMa¬ 
hon,  who  was  at  that  moment  (August  31st)  taking  position 
on  the  fated  field  of  Sedan,  and  had  resolved  to  leave  nothing 
undone  in  his  effort  to  break  through  the  German  line. 
MacMahon  ought,  according  to  his  calculation  (based  upon 
the  belief  that  that  Commander  possessed  an  army  capable  of 
making  the  march)  to  be  then  between  Montmedy  and  Thion- 
ville,  and  once  clear  of  Metz,  Bazaine  felt  sure  he  could  suc¬ 
ceed  in  meeting  him.  The  army  was  gotten  in  readiness,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  a  determined  attack  was  made  on 
the  Prussian  position  to  the  east  of  Metz,  from  Colombey  to 
Servigny,  the  principal  fighting  being  at  Servigny,  Retonfay, 
Noisseville,  and  Poix.  These  villages  were  taken  and  re¬ 
taken  several  times,  the  Germans  using  the  bayonet  freely. 
The  French  were  aided  in  their  attack  by  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  forts  in  the  direction  of  the  battle-field ;  but  all  their  ef¬ 
forts  were  in  vain.  The  Germans  held  on  to  their  positions 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


421 


with  a  determination  which  nothing  could  shake,  and  when 
the  fighting  ceased,  at  eleven  o’clock  at  night,  the  French  had 
gained  no  ground. 

The  next  morning,  September  1st  (the  day  of  Sedan),  the 
battle  was  renewed,  the  field  being  covered  by  a  thick  fog. 
The  French  directed  their  principal  attacks  against  Noisseville 
and  Servigny,  and,  though  they  displayed  great  gallantry  and 
enthusiasm,  they  were,  by  noon,  driven  back  at  all  points  and 
pushed  through  the  Bois  de  Grimont,  under  the  guns  of  fort 
St.  Julien. 

The  battle  was  well  delivered  by  the  French  commander, 
and  the  German  victory  was  the  result  of  hard  fighting.  The 
Landwehr  men  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  engagements  • 
under  the  command  of  General  Von  Kummer,  proving  them¬ 
selves  the  equals  of  the  troops  of  the  line.  Much  of  the  fight¬ 
ing  was  at  close  quarters,  and  the  bayonet  was  used  on  both 
sides.  It  proved  a  most  efficient  weapon  in  the  hands  of  the 
Germans,  who  never  failed  to  carry  the  positions  they  attacked 
with  it.  The  losses  on  both  sides  were  severe.  That  of  the 
Germans  was  1282  killed  and  wounded  (113  officers)  and 
1490  missing,  making  a  total  of  2772.  The  French  loss  was 
much  heavier. 

Having  failed  in  his  efforts  to  leave  Metz,  Marshal  Bazaine 
retired  to  his  entrenched  camp  around  that  city,  and  that  his 
situation  might  be  fully  known  to  the  Government,  he  sent 
the  following  dispatches  to  the  Emperor  and  to  the  Minister 
of  War.  He  did  not  then  know  that  the  one  was  on  the  eve 
of  captivity,  and  that  the  other  was  paralyzed  with  dread  at 
his  approaching  ruin : 

Mf.tz,  September  1,  1870. 

To  the  Emperor  : — It  is  altogether  necessary  that  the  army  should 
know  what  is  going  on  in  Paris,  and  generally  in  France.  We  are  with¬ 
out  communication  with  the  interior.  The  strangest  reports  have  been 
spread  by  French  prisoners  who  have  been  sent  back  by  the  enemy. 
These  reports  are,  indeed,  of  an  alarming  nature.  It  is  of  the  greatest 
importance  that  you  should  supply  us  with  instruction  and  information. 
We  are  surrounded  by  strong  forces.  I  tried,  but  in  vain,  to  break 
through  the  Prussian  line  yesterday. 


422 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Metz,  September  1. 

To  the  Minister  of  War,  Paris: — After  a  sortie,  executed  with  all 
my  strength,  and  which  brought  on  an  obstinate  fight  of  two  days’ 
duration  round  Ste.  Barbe,  we  are  again  intrenched  in  our  camp  before 
Metz,  with  little  amunition  for  our  field  artillery,  and  lacking  meat  and 
biscuits.  The  town  is  full  of  wounded.  The  sanitary  condition  is  rathei 
bad.  Notwithstanding  our  severe  struggle  the  army  preserves  its  firm 
spirit.  I  continue  my  effort  to  extricate  ourselves.  General  De  Caen 
is  dead.  The  wounded  and  sick  amount  to  about  18,000. 

In  order  that  these  dispatches  might  not  fail  to  reach  their 
destination,  the  Marshal  sent  four  different  copies  by  as  many 
messengers,  who  were  charged  to  bring  back  the  answers  if 
possible  in  return  to  Metz.  But,  he  says,  “  my  dispatches  re¬ 
mained  unanswered,  and  not  one  of  my  messengers  (all  mili¬ 
tary)  returned.  We  had  no  news  except  that  given  by  the 
prisoners  and  the  German  papers  which  the  parliamentaries 
left  with  us.  It  is  remarkable  that  hardly  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  offered  during  the  whole  of  the  siege  to  be  of  use  to 
us,  and  very  few,  indeed,  consented  to  join  the  mobilization.” 

The  Germans  profited  by  their  hard-earned  victory,  and 
increased  the  strength  of  their  investing  line.  Frequent  out¬ 
post  encounters  occurred,  the  country  around  Metz  became 
almost  a  desert,  devastated  first  bj1-  one  army  and  then  by  the 
other,  and  many  of  the  pretty  villages  which  had  adorned  it 
before  the  war,  disappeared  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  These 
were  the  inevitable  consequences  of  war,  for  the  testimony  is 
ample  that  both  sides  refrained  from  inflicting  needless  suffer¬ 
ing  upon  the  people  of  this  region. 

Many  of  the  regiments  comprising  the  besieging  force  were 
composed  of  the  Landwehr,  who  had  been  brought  from 
Germany  to  replace  the  thousands  lost  at  the  opening  of  the 
campaign.  These  proved  themselves  good  and  reliable  troops 
— very  different  from  the  French  Mobiles — and  gave  by  their 
conduct  emphatic  proof  of  the  excellence  of  the  German  mili¬ 
tary  system.  * 

*  The  correspondent  of  the  London  Daily  News  thus  speaks  of  the  Land¬ 
wehr  in  describing  the  battle  of  October  7th:  “To  the  Landwehr  must  be 
conceded  the  honor  of  the  day.  They  it  was  who  checked  the  rush  of  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


423 


Early  in  the  siege,  General  Von  Steinmetz  was  relieved  of 
the  command  of  the  1st  army,  and  the  entire  force  of  the 
Germans  before  Metz  was  placed  under  Prince  Frederick 
Charles.  This  able  commander  did  not  allow  his  men  to  be 
injured  by  the  siege.  The  discipline  of  the  army  was  main¬ 
tained  at  the  highest  point,  and  the  troops  were  drilled  daily 
in  military  manoeuvres,  many  of  these  drills  taking  place  in 
full  sight  of  the  French.  The  heavy  loss  in  officers  from 
Forbach  to  Gravelotte  made  numerous  promotions  necessary. 
Many  of  the  new  appointees  were  but  imperfectly  instructed 
in  their  duties,  and  their  seniors  were  required  to  give  them 
daily  instructions.  These  instructions  took  the  shape  of 
informal  lectures,  which  are  said  to  have  been  models  of  their 
kind. 

The  care  of  the  German  commanders  for  the  comfort  of 
their  men  was  marked.  It  extended  even  to  the  merest 
trifles.  Says  a  writer  whom  we  have  often  quoted  :  “  I  was 
much  amused  by  an  item  in  last  night’s  orders  from  Prince 
Frederick  Charles’s  headquarters.  It  was  to  the  effect  that 


French  advance,  by  holding  the  villages  till  they  had  not  a  man  who  could  stand 
upright  and  fire  the  needle-gun.  To  them  also  was  entrusted  the  grand  final 
advance  which  swept  the  French  out  of  the  villages.  I  have  seen  the  Prus¬ 
sian  line  soldiers  fight  before  to-day.  I  saw  them  clamber  up  the  face  of  the 
Spicheren  on  their  hands  and  knees  ;  I  saw  them  deploy  in  front  of  Colombey 
and  Montoy  in  the  battle  of  the  14th  of  August;  I  saw  them  stand  up  against 
the  mitrailleuses  on  the  slopes  of  Gravelotte ;  and  I  saw  them  dash  the 
Frenchmen  back  inside  Sedan  on  the  1st  of  September.  I  have  learned  to 
believe  that  the  Prussian  line  men  can  do  aught  that  any  soldiers  in  the 
world  can  do.  But  it  was  not  till  yesterday  that  I  gauged  the  calibre  of  the 
Landwehr.  Were  I  a  general,  I  should  never  wish  to  command  better  men. 
Cool  in  the  intrenchments,  when  they  lay  calmly  in  position,  picking  up  the 
bullets  that  fell  among  them — resolute  and  indomitable  in  their  steady  quick 
march  forward,  and  then  irresistible  in  the  final  bayonet  rush  with  which 
they  carried  the  villages — they  are  troops  to  delight  the  heart  of  a  man  with 
a  soldierly  instinct.  Nothing  was  more  observable  than  the  cool  manner  in 
which  the  wounded  went  to  the  rear  in  the  general  advance — every  man  de¬ 
pending  on  himself  if  he  could  walk  at  all,  declining  the  services  of  assistants 
to  help  him  out  of  the  fray.  Nor  were  they  slight  wounds  with  which  these 
gallant  fellows  struggled  unaided  to  the  rear.  One,  for  instance,  to  whom  I 
spoke,  was  shot  right  through  the  lungs,  and  at  every  step  his  breath  came 


424 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


whereas  an  unprincipled  rascal  of  a  Hamburg  cigar  merchant 
had  been  selling  boxes  of  cigars  to  the  troops,  the  upper  tier 
of  which  consisted  of  good  weeds,  while  the  lower  ones  were 
unmitigated  trash,  the  military  authorities  of  any  place  where 
this  astute  gentleman  should  present  himself,  were  enjoined 
to  lay  hold  of  him  and  transmit  him  to  Prince  Frederick 
Charles’s  headquarters  at  Corny.  At  such  an  entry  one  may 
smile,  but  I  defy  him  to  refrain  from  respecting  the  all  per¬ 
vading  care  and  watchfulness  which  takes  cognizance  of  such 
a  matter  as  this.  In  such  care  and  watchfulness  lies  the  root 
of  much  of  the  Prussian  success.  A  campaign  is  not  made 
victorious  by  dint  of  fighting  alone — how  much  success  de¬ 
pends  on  efficient  organization,  even  as  regards  seeming 
trifles.  Another  quaint  entry  in  general  orders  some  time 
ago  occurs  to  me  as  I  write:  ‘Whereas  a  gold  watch  has 

been  found  by  - -,  in  the  vicinity  of  Ars-sur-Moselle,  the 

owner  may  have  it,  on  giving  a  description,  by  application  to 
the  Etappen  Command.’  ” 

As  the  fall  came  on,  there  was  much  sickness  in  the  Ger¬ 
man  army  in  consequence  of  the  malarial  character  of  the 

panting  through  the  bullet-hole.  It  might  be  that  he  struggled  on  till  he 
reached  the  straw  in  the  courtyard  of  the  Chateau  of  Amelange,  where  the 
doctors  were  toiling  up  to  their  elbows  in  blood  ;  but  I  fear  his  was  one  of  the 
many  bodies  that  checquered  the  green  fields  behind  the  advance.  Gallant 
fellows  as  they  are,  it  goes  to  one’s  heart  to  see  the  Landwehr  fight  and  die. 
Not  like  a  Linesman  can  they  take  their  life  in  their  hand  and  go  down  into 
the  fray  conscious  that  nobody  will  hunger  because  they  fall.  For  every 
second  Landwehr  man  that  fell  yesterday  there  is  a  widow  in  the  Fatherland 
now,  and,  with  children  of  my  own  around  my  hearth,  my  heart  swells  to 
think  of  the  number  of  unconscious  orphans  made  yesterday  in  the  pleasant 
villages  and  the  quiet  plains  of  Deutschland.  Pray  God  that,  fight  who  may, 
there  may  be  no  more  deadly  battles  in  which  the  Landwehr  shall  have  to 
take  part.  Not  that,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  they  dwelt  upon  the  thought  of 
frau  and  kinder.  The  hairy  kerl,  with  the  grey  in  his  beard — and  who  knows 
how  many  young  birds  in  his  nest? — went  straight  to  the  front  as  boldly  as 
the  sprightly  young  volunteer  who  had  only  a  girl  to  weep  for  him  if  he 
should  fall.  But  they  are  a  prayerful  people  these  Germans,  and  I  fancied 
when  the  word  ‘  Vorwarts’  came  sounding  through  the  ranks,  that  many  a 
man  bent  his  head  for  a  moment  into  his  hand,  as  if  he  were  entering  a 
church.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


425 


country  about  Metz.  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  himself,  was 
an  invalid  for  some  time,  though  he  continued  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  his  command  ;  and  in  the  camps  there  was  con¬ 
siderable  sickness.  A  letter  from  the  camp  of  the  4th 
infantry,  2d  division,  First  Corps,  on  the  23d  of  October,  thus 
refers  to  the  sickness  of  the  army  :  “  Exclusive  of  wounded, 
there  are  nine  per  cent,  of  the  investing  force  in  this  section 
of  the  environment  off  duty  from  sickness.  The  ordinary 
percentage  in  war  time  is  five  per  cent. ;  the  other  four  per 
cent,  is  the  result  of  the  hardships ;  the  inevitable  conse¬ 
quence  of  arduous  duty  and  foul  weather,  which  the  troops 
before  Metz  are  now  undergoing.  It  must,  however,  be 
remembered,  that  of  this  percentage  of  sick  a  considera¬ 
ble  proportion  consists  of  men  suffering  from  comparatively 
slight  and  temporary  illness,  and  who  recover  in  the  field 
Lazarettes  without  it  being  necessary  to  send  them  back  into 
Germany.  From  three  to  four  per  cent,  of  the  gross  total  of 
cases  are  of  this  character;  the  absence  from  duty  of  the  men 
averaging  from  a  week  to  ten  days.  Here  we  are  on  high 
ground,  and  comparatively  out  of  the  reach  of  the  dank  fogs 
which  chill  and  soften  the  bones  of  the  men  in  the  valley  by 
the  Moselle.  In  that  low-lying  district,  I  am  sorry  to  have 
to  report  that  the  percentage  of  sickness  is  greater,  reaching 
as  high  in  some  places  as  fifteen  per  cent.  About  the  middle 
of  the  month,  with  the  change  of  the  weather,  there  was,  as 
was  natural,  a  sudden  increase  of  sickness  ;  but  since  then  the 
diminution  has  been  considerable  and  continuous.  Dysen¬ 
tery  and  rheumatism  are  the  chief  diseases.  Both  have  a 
tendency  toward  aggravation  into  fever.  The  former  is  prone 
to  assume  a  typhoid  form,  the  latter  becomes  aggravated  into 
that  terrible  infliction,  rheumatic  fever.  In  the  low-lying 
district  there  is  also  a  good  deal  of  that  disorder  which  the 
German  language  so  expressively  designates  as  wechsel-jieber  ; 
corresponding  to  our  ague,  with  its  hot  and  cold  fits.  This 
in  its  turn  degenerates  into  intermittent  fever  with  a  pro¬ 
pensity  to  typhus,  but  quinine  profusely  administered  is 
potent  enough  in  most  cases  to  ward  off  this  aggravation.  I 


426 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR 


enter  into  these  details  the  more  readily  because  I  have  reason 
to  believe  that  reports  have  gone  forth  to  the  effect  that  the 
Prussian  troops  around  Metz  '  are  dying  like  rotten  sheep.’ 
Such  a  statement  contains  its  own  refutation  to  one  with  eyes 
in  his  head.  Whether  a  man  dies  ‘like  a  rotten  sheep,’  or 
like  the  soldier  of  a  civilized  country,  he  equally  demands 
interment.  Burials  are  very  rare  in  the  field  Lazarettes, 
and  recent  graves  in  their  vicinity  equally  so.  I  have  had 
statistics  placed  at  my  disposal  from  which  to  derive  authentic 
materials  for  the  facts  and  figures  which  I  have  stated  ;  and  on 
the  part  of  the  Prussian  authorities  there  is  as  little  disposi¬ 
tion  to  conceal  the  truth  as  to  digest  the  erroneous  and  hap¬ 
hazard  statements,  with  ‘  rotten  sheep  ’  as  their  watchword, 
to  which  I  have  alluded.” 

In  Metz  matters  grew  to  be  very  bad  after  the  failure  of 
the  sorties  of  August  31st  and  September  1st.  On  the  23d 
and  24th  of!  September  Bazafine  made  energetic  attacks  upon 
the  German  lines  with  the  intention  of  cutting  his  way  out 
with  at  least  a  portion  of  his  forces,  but  on  both  days  he  was 
beaten  back  within  his  original  lines,  losing  heavily  in  killed 
and  wounded.  It  was  noticed  by  the  Germans  that  he  made 
but  little  use  of  his  field  guns,  the  principal  artillery  fire  being- 
delivered  by  the  guns  of  the  forts.  He  was  very  deficient  in 
ammunition  for  his  field  batteries,  and  found  it  necessary  to 
economize  his  stock  as  much  as  possible. 

On  the  7th  of  October  he  made  his  most  determined  effort 
to  escape  from  Metz.  The  supplies  of  the  French  army  had 
run  so  low  that  it  was  very  plain  to  the  Marshal  that  unless 
he  could  break  through  the  lines  of  investment,  or  at  least 
send  off  a  portion  of  his  army  successfully,  he  must  yield  to 
starvation  at  no  distant  day.  Therefore,  the  order  was  given 
to  make  another  attempt  to  force  the  German  lines.  This 
time  the  movement  was  to  be  made  to  the  northward,  along 
the  direct  road  to  Thionville,  and  if  he  were  successful  in 
escaping  from  Metz,  Bazaine  was  hopeful  that  if  he  could  not 
succeed  in  reaching  Thionville  or  a  position  in  the  open  field, 
he  could  at  least  retire  into  Belgium,  and  surrender  to  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


427 


forces  of  that  kingdom,  which  was  preferable  to  a  capitula¬ 
tion  to  the  Prussians. 

Collecting  a  column  of  40,000  of  his  best  troops,  he  massed 
them  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  St.  Eloy,  on  the  west  of  the  Mo¬ 
selle,  and  to  the  north  of  Metz.  With  this  force,  he  designed 
making  an  effort  to  break  through  the  position  held  by  the 
Landwehr  of  the  German  army,  who  occupied  the  villages  of 
Maxe,  Grandes  Tapes,  Petites  Tapes,  Ladonchamps,  and  St. 
Retny.  These  villages  lie  in  a  valley,  or  more  properly  a 
ravine,  extending  from  Metz  to  Maizi&res,  through  which  runs 
the  post  road  and  railway  to  Thionville,  and  the  river  Mo¬ 
selle.  This  valley  is  about  four  English  miles  in  width,  and 
is  bounded  on  each  side  by  heights  which  were  held  by  the 
Germans  on  the  7th.  In  order  to  divert  attention  from  this, 
his  main  effort,  Bazaine  directed  sharp  attacks  to  be  made  on 
Vany,  L’Orme,  Chieulles,  Noisseville,  Servigny,  Petre,  Mercy 
le-IIaut,  and  Ars-Laquenexy,  covering  almost  the  entire  Ger¬ 
man  position  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Moselle.  These  attacks, 
he  believed,  would  sufficiently  engross  the  German  regulars 
to  prevent  them  from  sending  assistance  to  the  Landwehr. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  October,  a  dense  fog  hung 
over  the  valley  of  the  Moselle,  completely  hiding  every  ob¬ 
ject  from  view.  Under  the  cover  of  this  friendly  mist,  Ba¬ 
zaine  made  his  dispositions  with  skill  and  promptness,  and 
when  the  fog  lifted  at  one  o’clock,  he  opened  the  battle  with 
a  sharp  cannonade  from  Forts  St.  Eloy  and  St.  Julien.  Under 
the  cover  of  this  cannonade  he  made  a  well  executed  attack 
upon  the  village  of  Ladonchamps,  which  was  held  by  an 
outpost  of  100  Landwehrmen.  Had  these  Landwehrmen  been 
simpl}’-  militia,  like  the  Garde  Mobile,  as  Marshal  Bazaine  is 
said  to  have  believed  them,  the  whole  movement  would  have 
been  successful,  for  there  was  wanting  neither  valor  nor  skill 
on  the  part  of  the  French ;  but  the  100  men  posted  in  Ladon¬ 
champs  refused  to  yield  their  ground,  and  held  it  with  a  hero¬ 
ism  worthy  of  all  admiration  until  they  were  literally  crowded 
out  by  the  overwhelming  masses  of  the  French.  By  this 
time  the  German  heavy  batteries  at  Sennecourt  and  Frene- 


428 


HISTORY  OK  THE  LATE  WAR 


court,  directly  to  the  left  of  the  French,  and  two  other  heavy 
batteries  at  Amelange,  on  the  French  right,  had  opened  on 
the  advancing  columns,  and  from  the  bluffs  across  the  Mo¬ 
selle,  between  Olgy  and  Malroy,  the  German  field  guns  were 
pouring  a  heavy  fire  into  them. 

The  attack  on  Ladonchamps  was  merely  a  feint,  and  de¬ 
signed  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  Germans  from  Bazaine’s 
real  effort,  which  was  to  march  up  the  valley,  close  to  the 
river,  which  would  protect  his  right  flank  from  infantry  and 
cavalry.  As  soon  as  the  village  of  Ladonchamps  was  taken, 
he  threw  a  column  of  40,000  veteran  troops  upon  the  villages 
of  Grandes  and  Petites  Tapes,  St.  Remy,  and  Maxe,  and  car¬ 
ried  them  with  a  rush,  in  spite  of  the  stubborn  resistance  of 
the  Landwehr  holding  St.  Remy,  who  permitted  themselves  to 
be  annihilated  rather  than  giveway. 

Having  carried  the  chain  of  villages  across  the  valley,  and 
having  thus  secured  a  footing  from  which  to  make  his  final 
dash  forward,  Bazaine  threw  out  heavy  lines  of  skirmishers 
from  Grandes  Tapes,  to  keep  the  Germans  occupied,  while  he 
massed  a  column  of  30,000  men  on  the  shore  of  the  river, 
under  cover  of  the  houses  of  Maxe,  with  orders  to  break 
through  the  German  line  close  to  the  Moselle,  where  it  was 
weakest,  the  Landwehrmen  having  been  drawn  off  to  meet 
the  attack  upon  the  villages,  leaving  only  one  brigade  to  hold 
this  part  of  the  line.  The  attempt  was  well  made,  and  for  a 
moment  it  seemed  that  the  Marshal  would  be  successful. 

Fortunately  for  the  Germans,  however,  Prince  Frederick 
Charles,  as  soon  as  satisfied  of  the  importance  of  the  French 
attack,  had  ordered  the  Tenth  Corps  to  march  to  the  assistance 
of  the  Landwehr,  and  this  corps  had  been  crossing  the  Moselle 
on  the  pontoon  bridge  at  Amelange,  and  was  now  moving  to 
the  assistance  of  its  comrades.  Its  commander,  General  Yon 
Voights-Rhetz,  at  once  assumed  the  command  of  all  the  forces 
engaged,  being  the  senior  officer  present.  As  soon  as  he  saw 
the  effort  of  the  French  to  break  through  by  the  river,  he 
hurried  forward  such  of  his  troops  as  had  croosed  the  bridge 
to  meet  them.  “  It  was  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten.  First 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


429 


came  the  Fusiliers,  extending  at  a  rapid  run  into  skirmishing 
order,  and  covering  the  whole  plain  with  their  long  thin  lines. 
Then  the  dense  columns  of  campanies  of  the  Grenadiers,  the 
bands  playing,  and  the  colors  unfurled— unwonted  sight. 
But  all  the  work  was  not  left  for  the  infantry  to  do.  The 
artillery  left  the  villages  alone,  and  concentrated  their  fire  on 
the  advancing  columns  of  the  French  by  the  Moselle.  Ba- 
zaine  is  singularly  weak  in  field  artillery,  and  the  only  reply 
was  from  the  sullen  sides  of  St.  Julien  or  from  the  ramparts 
of  St.  Eloy.  But  the  mitrailleuse  venomously  sounded  its 
angry  whirr,  making  the  skirmishers  recoil  as  they  crossed 
the  line  of  fire,  and  tearing  chasms  in  the  front  of  the  solid 
masses  of  which  they  were  the  forerunners.  The  artillery  and 
the  skirmishers  were  enough  for  the  French.  The  dense 
columns  staggered  and  then  broke.  They  ran  belter  skelter 
into  the  village  of  Maxe.  But  when  they  had  once  got  stone 
and  lime  between  them  and  the  Prussians,  the  French  were 
obstinate,  and  would  go  no  further.  In  vain  the  Prussian 
artillery  fired  on  the  villages,  advancing  closer  and  closer  in 
alternate  order  of  batteries  with  a  precision  and  rapidity  that 
could  not  have  been  exceeded  on  parade.  That  obstinate 
battery  in  front  of  Grandes  Tapes  would  not  cease,  and  the 
French  Tirailleurs  still  lined  the  chaussee  in  its  front.  By  this 
time  it  was  nearly  four  onlock.” 

The  German  Commander  now  determined  to  retake  the 
villages  held  by  the  French  at  all  hazards,  and  four  brigades 
of  Landwehr,  supported  by  two  brigades  of  the  Tenth  Army 
Corps,  were  ordered  to  regain  them  with  the  bayonet.  These 
troops  advanced,  silently  and  rapidly,  in  the  face  of  a  fire 
which  was  simply  appaling,  until  they  reached  the  line  from 
which  their  comrades  had  been  driven  at  the  opening  of  the 
battle.  Then  with  a  loud  shout  of  “ Hurrah ,  Preussen!  Vor- 
warts — immer  vorwarts  !  ”  they  dashed  at  the  French  at  a  hard 
run.  The  French  battery  in  front  of  Grandes  Tapes,  which 
had  poured  such  a  severe  fire  into  the  German  ranks,  was 
abandoned  by  its  gunners,  and  the  whole  French  line  fell 
back  into  the  villages,  where  a  last  stand  was  made.  Into 


430 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


the  villages  the  Germans  poured  in  heavy  masses,  bayoneting 
their  enemies,  who  were  beaten  back,  stubbornly  contesting 
every  street  and  alley -way,  and  using  the  mitrailleuse  with 
terrible  effect.  It  was  all  in  vain,  however;  and  when  the  sun 
went  down  on  that  memorable  day,  its  last  rays  revealed  the 
broken  columns  of  the  French  staggering  back  to  their  in¬ 
trenched  camps,  under  the  protection  of  a  rapid  fire  from  the 
forts.  The  attacks  on  the  other  portions  of  the  German  line, 
being  intended  merely  to  cover  the  main  effort,  were  not 
pressed  when  the  latter  had  failed. 

The  battle  was  won  mainly  by  the  excellent  fire  of  the 
German  artillery.  On  the  west  side  of  the  Moselle,  the  heavy 
batteries  were  posted  on  high  and  commanding  ground,  and 
were  so  located  as  to  sweep  with  terrible  effect  the  valley 
through  which  the  French  hoped  to  escape ;  and  the  field 
batteries  of  the  Tenth  German  Corps,  from  their  position  on 
the  heights  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  were  enabled  to  en¬ 
filade  the  French  line  from  one  end  to  the  other.  No  troops 
in  the  world  could  have  faced  such  a  fire  with  such  inade¬ 
quate  means  of  responding  to  it  as  the  French  possessed ;  and 
Bazaine  deserves  no  small  credit  for  making  even  as  good  a 
fight  as  that  which  we  have  described — a  praise  which  the 
German  officers  readily  accorded  him.  The  losses  on  both 
sides  were  severe ;  but  were  heavier  on  the  French  than  on 
the  German  side. 

The  failure  of  this  sortie  convinced  Marshal  Bazaine  of  the 
impossibility  of  breaking  through  the  German  lines.  The 
condition  of  his  army  was  becoming  very  bad,  the  men  suffer¬ 
ing  greatly  from  malarial  diseases  and  from  the  scurvy.  The 
stock  of  provisions  was  running  low.  On  the  11th  of  Octo¬ 
ber,  a  deserter  entered  the  German  lines,  and  reported  the 
condition  of  the  army  as  critical.  Subsequent  discoveries 
established  the  truth  of  his  statement.  He  said  the  men  were 
becoming  dissatisfied,  that  they  were  so  much  troubled  with 
skin  diseases  that  they  could  not  sleep  in  their  tents  with 
comfort,  the  odor  being  so  unpleasant.  The  weather  being 
unfavorable,  this  exposure  to  the  elements  resulted  in  con- 


Deserters  from  liazaine’s  Army  at  the  German  Headquarters. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


432 


siderable  sickness  in  the  camps.  The  skin  disease  complained 
of  was  chiefly  of  a  scorbutic  nature,  caused  by  the  absence  of 
salt  and  vegetables  and  the  almost  exclusive  living  on  horse¬ 
flesh.  His  own  mouth  and  face  were  frightfully  disfigured  by 
scurvy.  He  reported  that  the  stock  of  bread  was  very  low, 
such  as  was  issued  being  bad  in  quality ;  a  teacupful  of  rice 
to  two  men  was  served  out  every  day;  and  the  meat  ration 
consisted  of  a  small  allowance  of  horseflesh.  He  said  the 
troops  had  eaten  the  horses  of  several  cavalry  regiments,  and 
were  then  eating  the  artillery  horses.  This  was  strictly  true 
as  regarded  the  privates  and  non-commissioned  officers ;  but 
the  commissioned  officers,  especially  the  higher  ones,  were 
not  so  badly  off.  They  had  an  abundance  of  food,  and  of  a 
good  quality,  while  some  of  the  privates  starved  to  death. 
There  were  stores  of  food  in  the  outlying  forts  for  the  garri¬ 
son,  and  an  abundance  of  provisions  in  the  town;  but  the 
citizens  of  Metz  seem  to  have  done  their  best  to  keep  back 
their  supplies,  and  as  he  hoped  until  the  last  to  save  the 
fortress  as  apart  from  the  army,  Bazaine,  it  seems,  did  not  feel 
warranted  in  taking  stores  of  the  forts  to  feed  the  army,  es¬ 
pecially  since  he  knew  these  could  prolong  the  resistance  of 
his  command  but  a  few  days  at  the  best.*  The  wretched 

*  “  Bazaine  was  under  such  difficulties  at  last  that  he  could  not  help  sur¬ 
rendering.  The  tale  of  famine  was  true.  Partly,  no  doubt,  the  starvation 
was  owing  to  mismanagement.  The  officers  were  abundantly  supplied  with 
food,  and  even  with  luxuries,  while  the  soldiers  were  starving.  Impartial 
eye-witnesses  have  described  the  condition  of  many  of  the  private  soldiers 
after  the  capitulation,  and  they  saw  soldiers  too  weak,  from  want  of  food,  to 
be  fit  for  a  serious  struggle  with  the  German  troops.  The  provisions  in  the 
town,  if  shared  equally  between  the  civilians,  the  garrison,  and  the  army  out¬ 
side,  might  have  enabled  Metz  to  hold  out  a  little  longer.  The  defenders  of 
Metz  had  by  no  means  arrived  at  their  last  crust.  They  never  got  near  eat¬ 
ing  their  boots,  as  plenty  of  determined  men  when  besieged  have  done  before 
them.  But  there  had  been  some  deaths  from  sheer  starvation,  and  a  com¬ 
mander  has  always  a  frightful  responsibility  to  assume  when  he  really  drives 
a  large  body  of  civilians  as  well  as  soldiers  to  their  last  crust.” — Saturday  Re¬ 
view,  Nov.  5,  1 8 T 0,  p.  576. 

“The  editor  of  L’  Indipendant  (a  journal  published  at  Metz)  asserts  that 
there  was  food  enough  in  Metz  to  support  the  population  for  a  considerable 
time  longer,  and  that  as  a  proof  that  the  troops  need  not  have  been  at  star- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


433 


mismanagement  of  the  French  Commissariat  was  undoubtedly 
a  cause  of  a  great  part  of  the  suffering  of  the  troops ;  but  a 
certain  degree  of  responsibility  must  attach  to  Marshal  Baz- 
aine  for  his  neglect  to  inaugurate  a  more  equitable  division 
of  the  supplies,  and  to  divide  the  stores  of  the  forts  among  the 
whole  force  under  his  command. 

Matters  having  come  to  such  a  pass,  Marshal  Bazaine  sum¬ 
moned  a  Council  of  War  at  his  headquarters  on  the  10th  of 
October,  for  the  pupose  of  deciding  upon  the  proper  course  to 
be  pursued.  The  following  is  the  official  record  of  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Council,  as  published  by  Marshal  Bazaine : 

After  Marshal  Bazaine  had  reviewed  all  the  culminating  points  of  the 
situation,  he  added  that  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  communicate  with 
the  capital,  no  official  news  from  the  government  has  reached  him,  and 
nothing  has  been  done  to  cause  a  presumption  that  a  diversion  by  a 
French  army  to  rescue  the  army  of  Metz  was  on  foot.  The  amount  of 
provisions  has  decreased  to  such  an  extent  that  by  reducing  the  daily 


vation  point,  the  forts  were  full  of  provisions.  Of  this  latter  fact  there  can 
be  no  doubt.  I  have  myself  inspected  the  provision  stores  in  Fort  St.  Quen¬ 
tin,  and  found  them  capable  of  maintaining  a  garrison  adequate  for  the  de¬ 
fence  of  the  fort  for  months  at  least.  But  I  don’t  see  that  any  deduction  is 
to  be  drawn  from  this  that  Bazaine  has  played  false  to  his  trust.  His  policy 
is  explicable  enough,  viewed  in  a  military  light.  His  cue  evidently  from  the 
first  has  been  to  keep  the  fortress  so  as  to  be  able  to  maintain  its  resistance. 
He  has  made  effort  after  effort  to  get  his  army  out,  and  his  penultimate  prof¬ 
fer  to  Prince  Frederick  Charles  was  to  surrender  the  army  and  allow  the 
fortress  to  stand.  When  this  was  rejected,  cui  bono  was  it  to  deplete  the  forts 
to  enable  the  army  to  hold  out  longer  to  no  purpose?  Thus  far  on  military 
grounds  no  one  can  blame  him ;  but  that  he  has  let  men  starve  while  he  had 
food  anywhere  that  he  could  give  them,  constitutes  a  very  grave  moral  re¬ 
sponsibility.  One  of  the  chief  of  the  Prussian  medical  staff  has  just  told  me 
that,  do  what  he  will,  he  cannot  break  the  French  convalescents  of  their 
craving  for  horseflesh.  They  will  eat  it,  notwithstanding  that  they  are  re¬ 
ceiving  abundant  rations  of  mutton.  It  is  curious  that  the  taste  should  have 
so  grown  upon  them.  The  doctors  oppose  their  eating  horseflesh  because 
they  think  that  the  entire  change  of  diet  will  operate  as  much  as  anything  in 
effecting  a  cure. 

“From  what  I  can  learn,  there  has  been  a  good  deal  more  of  huckstering 
than  patriotism  among  the  civilian  population  of  Metz.  There  was  a  reason 
for  the  tmeute  on  the  evening  of  the  28th.  The  wily  burghers  had  been  keep- 
28 


434 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


rations  to  300  grammes  a  day  they  could  last  till  the  20th  of  October,; 
including  two  days  of  biscuit  reserved  for  the  soldiers.  The  ration  of 
horseflesh  might  be  increased  to  GOO  and  later  to  750  grammes,  horses 
being  considered  as  lost,  seeing  the  impossibility  to  feed  them.  More¬ 
over,  the  sanitary  condition,  with  19,000  si c'.t  and  wounded,  and  the  want 
of  medicaments,  beds,  lotions,  and.  above  all,  medicines,  was  most 
dangerous.  Every  kind  of  epidemic  have  manifested  themselves  in  the 
hospitals,  and  have  already  tainted  the  town.  The  weakness  caused  by 
insufficient  nourishment  would  only  augment  the  illness.  Already  alii 
the  lazarettes  were  filled,  and  2000  sick  had  to  be  taken  in  by  the  inhabi¬ 
tants,  and  it  was  evident  that  if  a  greater  number  of  wounded  was  sent 
1 1  the  town  there  would  be  nowhere  to  put  them,  and  they  would 
threaten  the  public  health.  Passing  on  to  the  examination  of  the  mili¬ 
tary  situation,  they  are  reviewed  in  the  following  questions  : 

1.  Shall  the  army  of  Metz  hold  out  until  the  provisions  are  exhausted  ? 

2.  Shall  expeditions  into  the  neighborhood  be  made  in  order  to  get 
provisions  and  forage  ? 

3.  Can  we  treat  with  the  enemy  in  a  military  convention  ? 

4.  Shall  the  fortune  of  arms  be  put  to  the  test  to  force  the  enemy’s 
lines  ? 

The  first  question  was  resolved  affirmatively  :  the  army  under  Metz 


ing  back  their  stores  for  a  market,  while  their  poorer  fellows  hungered 
because  of  the  high  prices,  and  the  army  starved.  Horses  were  dying  daily 
for  the  want  of  forage ;  yet  the  Prussians  have  found  stores  of  hay  and  corn 
stowed  away  in  unlikely  places.  It  is  the  same  with  other  articles  of  con¬ 
sumption,  and  the  administration  does  not  seem  to  have  been  either  strong 
enough  or  cunning  enough  to  make  everything  forthcoming  for  the  common 
good.  Napoleon  called  us  a  nation  of  shopkeepers,  but  I  take  leave  to  doubt 
whether  our  shopkeeping  idiosyncrasy  would  have  developed  itself  in  such  a 
manner.  I  cannot  help  having  a  quiet  chuckle  at  the  doux  burghers,  whose 
market  Bazaine  has  spoiled.  Ye  gods,  how  they  hate  him  for  it!  From  the 
newspapers  I  have  already  sent  you,  and  the  one  I  now  enclose,  you  may  be 
able  to  judge  how  venomously  this  feeling  manifests  itself.  If  you  listen  to 
all  you  hear,  you  must  accept  the  conclusion  that  Bazaine  is  a  renegade  and 
traitor  of  the  largest  possible  calibre.  It  seems,  according  to  the  gossip  of 
the  natives,  savage  that  their  canny  little  scheme  for  putting  money  in  their 
purses  has  failed,  that  Bazaine  nourished  the  design  of  having  himself  de¬ 
clared  Regent  of  France,  and  that  he  only  relinquished  this  ambitious  project 
for  the  consideration  of  a  fabulous  subsidy,  contributed  I  cannot  exactly  learn 
by  whom.  It  is  useless  to  point  out  to  the  angry  and  disappointed  cits  that 
on  the  face  of  it  this  is  rubbish,  and  that  Bazaine  kept  his  upper  lip  straight 
and  his  face  to  the  foe  so  long  as,  and  indeed  longer  than,  he  had  an  army 
capable  of  fighting,  marching,  or  standing  up  to  be  shot  down.” — Corres¬ 
pondence  of  the  London  Daily  Nexus. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


435 


occupying  290,000  of  the  enemy,  and  the  greatest  service  it  could  render 
would  be  to  give  the  country  time  to  organize  a  resistance. 

The  second  was  resolved  negatively,  in  consequence  of  the  little  hope 
of  finding  large  resources,  and  the  bad  effects  which  these  expeditions,  if 
unsuccessful,  would  exercise  on  the  soldiers. 

The  third  question  was  affirmatively  resolved,  under  condition  of 
commencing  negotiations  within  forty-eight  hours,  so  that  the  enemy 
could  not  put  them  off  till  the  provisions  were  exhausted.  The  condi¬ 
tions  besides  must  be  honorable.  It  was  therefore  decided  :  First,  to 
hold  out  under  the  walls  of  Metz  as  long  as  possible ;  second,  not  to 
undertake  operations,  the  result  of  which  appeared  to  be  nothing;  third, 
to  negotiate  within  the  space  of  forty-eight  hours  with  the  enemy,  at  the 
conclusion  of  an  honorable  convention ;  fourth,  in  case  the  enemy 
offered  conditions  incompatible  with  the  military  honor,  a  passage  by 
means  of  arms  should  be  attempted. 

(Signed)  Oanrobert,  Frossard, 


Leb<euf, 

Desvaux, 


Admirault, 

Sor.EII.LE, 

Lebrun. 


CoFFINIERES, 

Bazaine, 


In  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Council,  Marshal 
Bazaine,  with  the  consent  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  des¬ 
patched  General  Napoleon  Boyer  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
King  of  Prussia,  at  Versailles,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
the  terms  upon  which  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  the  Rhine 
would  be  accepted.  He  left  Metz  at  once,  and  proceeding  to 
Versailles  endeavored  to  effect  an  arrangement  which  would 
save  either  the  army  or  the  fortress  to  France,  but  was  in¬ 
formed  that  the  surrender  must  be  unconditional.  With  this 
answer  he  returned  to  Metz. 

Previous  to  this,  Marshal  Bazaine  had  begun  secret  negotia¬ 
tions  with  the  Prussian  Prime  Minister  for  the  termination 
of  the  war.  Sincerely  attached  to  the  Emperor,  and  refusing 
to  recognize  the  Republic  as  the  legitimate  Government  of 
France,  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  effect  an  arrangement  which 
would  not  only  terminate  the  war,  but  restore  the  Emperor 
to  his  throne,  or  at  least  reestablish  the  Empire  with  the 
Empress  as  Regent.  The  facts  of  his  transactions  with  Count 
Bismarck  and  with  the  Empress  Eugenie,  are  still  but  im¬ 
perfectly  known.  They  were  purposely  enshrouded  in  myster 


436  HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 

by  all  the  parties  concerned,  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence, 
and  are  still  so  uncertain  that  we  enter  upon  the  subject  with 
hesitation. 

From  what  has  been  made  known,  it  seems  that  about  the 
middle  of  September,  a  personage  whose  name  is  still  in 
doubt,  presented  himself  at  the  headquarters  of  King  Wil¬ 
liam,  with  a  scheme  for  bringing  about  an  understanding 
between  Marshal  Bazaine  and  the  Empress  Eugenie,  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  King  of  Prussia,  on  the  other.  The  pro¬ 
position  was  that  the  King  should  enter  into  a  treaty  of  peace 
with  the  Government  of  the  Regency,  or  that  which  existed 
in  Paris  previous  to  the  4th  of  September,  the  proposed  treaty 
to  be  negotiated  upon  the  basis  of  a  cession  of  Alsace  and 
Lorraine  to  Germany.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  prelimi¬ 
naries,  the  Empress  was  to  return  to  France,  and,  under  the 
protection  of  the  army  of  Marshal  Bazaine,  which,  after 
surrendering  Metz  to  the  Germans,  was  to  be  allowed  to  re¬ 
tain  its  arms  and  baggage,  was  to  proceed  to  restore  the 
Imperial  authority  in  France.  King  William  and  Count 
Bismarck  had,  before  this,  proclaimed  their  readiness  to  treat 
for  peace  with  any  Government  possessing  the  power  to  make 
a  treaty  binding,  and  the  King  had  openly  declared  that  he 
regarded  the  Regency  as  the  only  Government  de  jure  pos¬ 
sessed  by  France.  Therefore,  when  the  proposition  we  have 
stated  was  laid  before  them,  both  the  King  and  his  Minister 
approved  it,  upon  the  single  condition  that  the  part  taken  by 
Count  Bismarck  in  bringing  about  the  arrangement  would  be 
kept  secret  in  order  to  avoid  giving  offence  to  the  French 
people.  Whether  this  proposal  originated  with  Marshal 
Bazaine,  with  Count  Bismarck,  or  with  the  mysterious  gentle¬ 
man  referred  to,  is  uncertain  ;  *  but  it  appears  that  Monsieur 
N.,  as  the  mysterious  individual  was  termed  at  the  time,  was 
given  by  Count  Bismarck  permission  to  enter  Metz  and  leave 


*  The  reader  is  reminded  that  the  whole  transaction  is  still  so  shrouded  in 
mystery,  that  nothing  is  related  here  as  positively  certain.  We  simply  pre¬ 
sent  the  most  probable  version  of  the  story,  leaving  the  future  to  make  all 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


437 


it  again  “  with  one  companion.”  This  companion,  it  was 
understood,  was  to  be  an  officer  in  the  confidence  of  Marshal 
Bazaine,  who  should  at  once  proceed  to  England  and  obtain 
the  consent  of  the  Empress  to  the  scheme,  of  which  she  was 
yet  ignorant. 

Monsieur  N.,  armed  with  the  consent  of  the  Prussian  Chan¬ 
cellor,  was  allowed  to  enter  Metz.  Whether  Marshal  Bazaine 
was  previously  informed  of  the  plan  is  uncertain,  but  it 
appears  that  upon  learning  the  result  of  Monsieur  N.’s  inter¬ 
view  with  the  Prussian  authorities,  he  decided  to  send  General 
Bourbaki,  the  Commander  of  the  Imperial  Guard,  an  officer 
thoroughly  devoted  to  and  highly  esteemed  by  the  Imperial 
family,  to  the  retreat  of  the  Empress  at  Chiselhurst,  in  Eng¬ 
land,  to  win  her  consent  to  the  scheme.  In  order  to  give  a 
valid  excuse  for  Bourbaki's  absence,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
give  the  General  a  justification  for  his  journey,  if  unsuccess¬ 
ful,  he  issued  the  following  order,  upon  the  receipt  of  which 
Bourbaki  left  Metz  with  Monsieur  N. : 

“  The  Empress  Regent,  having  manifested  a  desire  to  have 
an  interview  with  General  Bourbaki,  this  officer  is  com¬ 
manded  to  make  his  way  to  the  side  of  her  Majesty.” 

From  Metz,  Bourbaki  proceeded  to  England  with  all  speed, 
and  presented  himself  before  the  astonished  Empress.  Upon 
hearing  the  message  with  which  he  was  charged,  the  Empress 
informed  General  Bourbaki  of  her  disapprobation  of  the  en¬ 
tire  plan.  The  General  was  commanded  to  return  with  this 
answer,  which  he  was  to  communicate  to  Marshal  Bazaine. 
In  order  to  quiet  suspicion,  Bourbaki  sought  the  intervention 
of  the  English  Government,  and  at  the  request  of  the  Queen 
of  Great  Britain,  permission  was  granted  him  by  the  Prus¬ 
sians  to  reenter  Metz.  He  was  obliged,  however,  to  send  his 
report  to  Bazaine  from  the  Prussian  headquarters,  permission 
to  reenter  the  city  being  denied  him.  He  then  withdrew 
to  Belgium,  whence  he  repaired  to  Tours,  and  was  given  a 
command  by  the  Provisional  Government. 

Meanwhile,  Bazaine,  fearing  the  failure  of  the  scheme,  had 
spared  no  effort  to  break  through  the  German  line,  as  the 


438 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


sortie  of  October  7th  proves.  It  is  said  that  when  General 
Boyer  was  sent  to  Versailles,  he  went  secretly  charged  with 
the  task  of  gaining  King  William’s  consent  to  a  renewal  of 
the  effort  to  win  over  the  Empress,  his  ostensible  mission 
being  to  endeavor  to  procure  favorable  terms  for  the  army. 
Upon  his  return  to  Metz,  Bazaine  states  that  it  was  resolved 
"  by  seven  voices  against  two  that  the  General  should  return 
to  Versailles,  and  from  thence  go  to  England  in  the  hope  of 
obtaining  through  the  intervention  of  the  Government  of  the 
Regency  less  hard  conditions.”  The  real  object  of  Boyer’s 
journey  it  is  alleged  was  to  urge  the  Empress  to  accept  the 
plan  proposed  to  her  through  Bourbaki. 

Proceeding  to  the  headquarters  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles, 
under  flag  of  truce,  General  Boyer  was  forwarded  by  that 
commander  to  Versailles.  Here  he  was  received  by  Count 
Bismarck,  and  it  is  asserted  that  after  the  interview  which 
followed,  General  Boyer  sent  a  letter  into  Paris,  under  flag 
of  truce,  to  General  Trochu.  At  the  end  of  two  days,  it  is 
further  asserted,  two  officers  arrived  at  Versailles  from  Paris, 
under  flag  of  truce.  These  officers,  it  is  said,  bore  the  answer 
of  General  Trochu.  A  consultation  between  themselves,  Bis¬ 
marck  and  Boyer,  followed.  It  is  intimated  that  Boyer  com¬ 
municated  the  scheme  to  Trochu,  who  gave  his  adhesion  to 
it  upon  certain  conditions. 

General  Boyer  at  once  departed  for  England,  arriving  in 
London  on  the  21st  of  October.  Here,  it  is  said,  he  had  an 
interview  with  the  English  Premier,  Lord  Granville,  to  whom 
he  revealed  the  scheme.  On  the  22d,  it  is  said,  he  went  to 
Cliiselhurst,  where  he  used  every  argument  he  was  master 
of,  to  induce  the  Empress  to  consent  to  the  scheme  proposed 
to  her.  On  the  23d,  her  Majesty  went  to  London,  where  she 
saw  General  Boyer  again,  and  was  visited  by  Earl  Granville, 
who,  having  been  in  communication  with  the  Ministers  from 
Prussia,  Austria,  and  Russia,  urged  her  to  accept  the  proposals 
of  Bazaine  and  Bismarck.  The  Empress  was  firm,  however. 
She  declared  that  she  loved  France  more  than  she  loved  power, 
and  that  she  would  never  consent  to  regain  her  throne  at  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


439 


cost  of  one  inch  of  French  territory,  and  she  intimated  that 
the  Emperor  was  in  thorough  sympathy  with  her  in  this  deci¬ 
sion.  Neither  would  consent  to  humiliate  their  country  in 
order  to  regain  their  crowns. 

This  answer  made  further  negotiations  impossible.  Boyer 
at  once  left  England,  and  reported  his  failure  to  Count  Bis¬ 
marck.  Marshal  Bazaine  was  apprised  of  it  by  a  message 
from  Prince  Frederick  Charles. 

Time  will  doubtless  show  how  much  of  the  above  story  is 
true,  and  how  much  false;  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  of  the 
fact  that  negotiations  similar  to  those  mentioned  above,  were 
carried  on  with  the  Empress  by  Bazaine,  with  the  knowledge 
and  approval  of  Count  Bismarck,  but  it  seems  hardly  probable 
that  General  Trochu  was  privy  to  the  arrangement* 


*  The  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  to  the  following  articles  : 

“  We  are  in  a  position  fully  to  confirm  the  information  that  certain  nego¬ 
tiations  were  on  foot  between  the  German  headquarters  at  Versailles  and  the 
ex-Empress  of  the  French  at  Chiselhurst.  Those  negotiations  took  their  ori¬ 
gin  in  certain  proposals  exchanged  between  Marshal  Bazaine  at  Metz  and  the 
Prussian  camp — proposals  which,  since  they  bore  an  important  reference  to 
political  as  distinct  from  military  affairs,  were  naturally  sent  on,  along  with 
their  bearer,  General  Boyer,  to  the  King’s  headquarters.  The  proposals,  and, 
if  we  are  not  misinformed,  also  the  discussions  upon  them  which  took  place 
between  Count  Bismarck  and  Bazaine’s  envoy,  involved  the  plan  of  bringing 
about  the  return  of  the  ex-Empress  Eugenie  to  France  to  resume  the  functions 
of  the  Regency;  at  least  to  such  an  extent  that  she  might,  in  the  name  of  the 
de  jure  Government  of  the  country,  conduct  or  sanction  the  arrangements  for 
peace  that  might  be  made  with  the  Germans.  But  it  is  only  just  to  state 
that,  as  we  understand,  the  propositions  which  General  Boyer  bore  to  Ver¬ 
sailles,  and  which  were  there  the  subject  of  deliberation,  were  made  without 
prejudice  to  any  ulterior  arrangements  that  might  be  contemplated  as  to  the 
future  regulation  of  the  internal  government  of  France.  As  we  have  already 
announced,  the  envoy  who  came  to  England  was  charged  to  lay  before  Iler 
Majesty  the  proposals  put  forward  at  Metz,  and  discussed — if  not  even  so  far 
approved — at  the  Royal  headquarters ;  and  not  only  so,  but  he  was  author¬ 
ized  to  suggest  the  immediate  departure  of  the  ex-Empress  for  Versailles, 
where  the  scheme  for  the  bringing  about  of  peace  might  secure  more  full  and 
more  instantly  effective  execution.  It  is  not  improbable  that  even  when  we 
write  the  august  lady  may  have  already  quitted  England  ;  but  it  is  of  course 
impossible  to  state  exactly  what  influence  the  armistice  proposals  of  Lord 
Granville,  abruptly  intervening  while  another  method  for  settlement  was  ac¬ 
tually  in  the  stage  of  discussion,  may  have  upon  the  plans  propounded  origi- 


440 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Be  this  as  it  may,  Bazaine,  on  the  25th  of  October,  informed 
the  Council  of  War  that  all  negotiations  looking  to  the  sav¬ 
ing  of  the  army  had  failed.  It  was  resolved  to  send  General 
Changarnier  to  the  Prussian  headquarters  before  Metz,  to  ask 
either  an  armstice,  with  the  privilege  of  revictualling  the  city, 
or  for  permission  for  the  army  to  leave  Metz  and  depart  im¬ 
mediately  for  Algeria,  leaving  the  fortress  and  garrison  intact. 

General  Changarnier  was  received  by  Prince  Frederick 
Charles,  at  his  headquarters  at  Frascati,  with  the  respect  due 
to  his  rank  and  character,  but  his  request  that  the  army  of 
the  Rhine  and  the  fortress  of  Metz  should  be  regarded  as 
separate  was  denied,  the  German  Commander  declining  to 

nally  from  Metz.  One  thing,  at  least,  may  be  confidently  expected — that  the 
action  on  which  the  English  Government  has  entered  will  be  limited  to  im¬ 
pressing  on  the  belligerents  the  wisdom  of  terminating  the  war  at  its  present 
stage.  It  is  not  our  business — nor  might  it  be  welcome  to  either  power — if 
we  went  into  any  discussion  either  of  the  terms  on  which  armistice  or  peace 
should  be  concluded,  or  of  the  political  arrangements  in  France  which  are  to 
precede  or  flow  from  the  negotiations  for  peace.  If,  yielding  to  the  counsel 
of  the  neutrals  and  the  urgent  pressure  of  cruel  facts,  the  belligerent  nations 
only  consent  to  consider  in  common  whether,  and  on  what  conditions,  it  is 
possible  to  make  peace,  the  object  of  our  intervention  will  have  been  gained. 
And,  looking  at  matters  from  that  point,  much  has  been  already  won  in  the 
mere  fact  that  M.  Thiers — as  representing  France,  rather  than  any  of  her  ex¬ 
treme  parties  or  her  governments  of  exigency — will  forthwith  have  interviews 
with  Count  Bismarck,  in  order,  by  a  frank  interchange  of  views,  to  ascertain 
whether  a  more  formal  negotiation  would  have  any  prospect  of  good  results.” 
— From  the  London  Telegraph ,  October  25,  1870. 

“Our  special  correspondent,  writing  from  Frankfort,  confirms  intelligence 
received  from  other  quarters,  that  1  from  one  end  of  Germany  to  the  other  a 
cry  of  discontent  is  arising’  at  the  unexpected  and  trying  prolongation  of  the 
war.  These  facts  seem  to  explain  the  extraordinary  negotiations  attempted 
with  Marshal  Bazaine.  It  has  always  been  said  that  Marshal  Bazaine  con¬ 
tinued  to  hold  Metz  as  an  officer  of  the  Empire,  without  recognizing  the 
revolution,  which  has  been  accepted  by  France.  Marshal  Bazaine  has  ac¬ 
cordingly  negotiated  with  Germany  independently  of,  and  even  in  opposition 
to,  the  Republican  Government.  It  may  be  remembered  that  it  was  declared 
immediately  after  the  capitulation  of  Sedan,  that  Germany  wouid  recognize 
any  government  which  would  accede  to  her  terms.  The  Chancellor  has 
never  formally  abandoned  this  position.  Hence  a  wonderful  scheme  has 
been  devised.  Let  the  Empress  return  to  Versailles,  or  some  part  of  France 
in  possession  of  the  German  armies,  and,  in  the  assumed  discharge  of  her 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


441 


treat  with  him  in  any  way,  as  he  was  not  a  regular  member 
of  the  army. 

Nothing  now  remained  to  Bazaine  but  a  formal  offer  to 
surrender.  This  he  made  through  his  chief  of  staff,  General 
Jarras.  A  conference  was  appointed  at  the  German  head¬ 
quarters.  The  German  forces  were  represented  by  General 
Stiehle  and  General  Count  Watersleben,  the  first  chief  of 
staff  to  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  and  the  latter  chief  of  staff 
of  the  1st  army.  The  French  were  represented  by  Gene¬ 
ral  Jarras,  chief  of  staff  to  Marshal  Bazaine,  and  Major 
Samuel,  on  the  part  of  General  Coffinitires,  commanding  the 
fortress  of  Metz.  These  commissioners  met,  for  the  first 
time,  on  the  27th  of  October.  The  meeting  was  a  stormy 
one  at  first  on  the  part  of  the  French  officers,  but  they  gradu- 


functions  as  Regent,  sign  a  treaty  of  peace  ceding  Alsace  and  Lorraine  sim¬ 
ultaneously  with  the  surrender  of  Metz  by  Bazaine.  The  Germans  having 
taken  Strasbourg  and  Metz,  and  obtained  a  nominal  cession  of  Alsace  and 
Lorraine,  might  then  proceed  to  tighten  their  hold  on  the  provinces,  while 
Marshal  Bazaine  and  his  forces,  under  parole  not  to  fight  against  Germany, 
would  pass  over  to  the  Empress  and  assist  in  re-establishing  the  Empire,  all 
that  portion  of  the  country  occupied  by  German  forces  being  delivered  to 
them,  and  some  limited  assistance  perhaps  promised  to  the  reduction  of  the 
rest.  Nothing  could  be  neater  than  this  scheme  on  paper.  But  two  circum¬ 
stances  were  fatal  to  the  success  of  the  plan.  The  army  at  Metz  was  willing 
enough  to  fight  under  the  Marshal  against  Germany  without  caring  what 
regime  he  professed  to  serve — the  constitution  of  France  could  be  discussed 
and  settled  after  the  enemy  were  driven  out — but  it  was  by  no  means  willing 
to  fight  against  Frenchmen  for  the  restoration  of  the  Empire.  Nor  could  the 
co-operation  of  the  Empress  be  secured.  It  would  have  been  degrading  to 
accept  a  throne  under  such  circumstances,  and  it  would  not,  after  all,  have 
been  regained.  The  hope  that  France  will  ever  again  take  back  the  Napoleon 
dynasty  is  slender  indeed,  but  Prussian  patronage  would  have  utterly  de¬ 
stroyed  it.  The  plan  was  as  clear  as  a  problem  of  chess,  only  it  forgot  that 
men,  and  not  pawns,  were  to  be  moved  about  at  the  fancy  of  the  player. 

“  This  remarkable  scheme,  which,  revealed  in  parts,  seems  now  as  a  whole 
to  be  tolerably  well  ascertained,  is  practically  important  only  as  showing  how 
clearly  Count  Bismarck  sees  the  growing  difficulties  of  the  contest.  The 
military  obstacles  are  considerable ;  winter  is  a  grievous  drawback  ;  disease 
is  active  ;  but  the  worst  part  of  the  prospect  consists  in  the  danger  of  having 
to  fight  with  a  Jacquerie  throughout  France.” — From  the  London  Times,  Oc¬ 
tober  26,  1870. 


442 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


ally  accepted  the  German  view  of  the  situation.  The  first 
difficulty  was  concerning  the  retention  of  their  side-arms  by 
the  officers,  on  which  Marshal  Bazaine  insisted,  and  to  which 
Prince  Frederick  Charles  objected.  This  was  referred  to  the 
King,  and  conceded  by  his  Majesty,  in  a  dispatch  received  at 
3  a.  M.  on  Thursday  morning,  the  28th.  The  Conference  was 
suspended  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  to  await  the  King’s 
reply,  and,  at  the  meeting  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the 
following  terms  of  capitulation  were  definitely  agreed  upon, 
and  were  signed  by  Generals  Stiehle  and  Jarras : 

First.  The  French  army  under  General  Bazaine,  including  3  mar¬ 
shals  of  France,  66  generals,  6000  officers,  and  173,000  men,  are  declared 
prisoners  of  war. 

Second.  The  fortress  and  town  of  Metz,  with  the  forts  and  munitions 
of  war,  provisions,  and  everything  else  found  in  the  place  which  may  be 
the  property  of  the  State  of  France,  shall  be  given  up  to  the  German 
army,  and  delivered  in  the  condition  in  which  it  was  found  the  first  day 
of  the  capitulation. 

Third.  On  the  Saturday  next  following,  at  midday,  the  forts  at  St. 
Quentin,  Plappeville,  and  the  remaining  forts  and  fort  Moselle,  shall  be 
surrendered  to  the  German  troops. 

Fourth.  At  the  hour  of  ten  o’clock,  the  same  day,  Prussian  officers 
of  the  artillery  and  engineer  corps  shall  be  admittted  into  all  the  forts, 
in  order  that  they  may  take  possession  of,  and  occupy  the  magazines, 
and  draw  all  charges  from  the  mines. 

Fifth.  The  French  arms,  all  army  material,  flags,  eagles,  canons,  mi¬ 
trailleuses,  fourgon.  and  ammunition  and  artillery  equipages  left  at  Metz 
and  in  the  forts  under  military  commission  of  France,  to  be  given  im¬ 
mediately  to  the  German  commissioners. 

Sixth.  The  French  troops  in  Metz,  after  surrender,  to  be  conducted, 
without  arms,  by  regiments  or  regimental  corps,  in  military  order,  to 
some  fixed  place,  to  be  indicated  by  the  Prussians. 

Seventh.  The  French  officers  in  command  of  the  men,  after  their  arri¬ 
val  at  this  fixed  place,  to  be  at  liberty  to  return  to  the  intrenched  camps, 
oi-  to  Metz,  on  giving  their  word  of  honor  not  to  quit  either  place  with¬ 
out  an  order  of  permission  from  the  German  commandant. 

Eighth.  The  troops  after  surrender  to  be  marched  to  bivouac,  the 
French  soldiers  retaining  their  personal  effects,  cooking  utensils,  and  so 
forth. 

Ninth.  All  the  French  generals  and  other  officers,  with  military  em¬ 
ployes  who  rank  as  commissioned  officers,  and  who  engage  by  written 
promise  not  to  bear  arms  against  Germany,  and  not  to  agitate  against 


!'  Metz — The  Army  of  Bazaine  Marching  out  of  the  1'  ications 


444 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Prussian  interests  during  the  war,  not  to  be  made  prisoners  of  war,  but 
be  permitted  to  retain  their  arms  and  to  have  their  personal  property 
in  recognition  of  the  courage  displayed  by  them  during  the  campaign. 

Tenth.  The  French  military  surgeons  will  remain  in  the  fortress  to 
take  charge  of  the  wounded.  They  will  be  treated  according  to  the  rules 
of  the  Convention  of  Geneva,  and  considered  as  being  attached  to  the 
hospitals  of  Prussia. 

Eleventh.  All  questions  of  detail,  such  as  concern  the  commercial 
rights  of  the  town  of  Metz,  and  the  interests  and  rights  of  civilians  and 
non-combatants,  will  be  considered  and  treated  subsequently  in  an  ap¬ 
pendix  to  the  military  paper  of  capitulation. 

Twelfth.  Any  clause,  sentence,  or  word  used  in  the  present  draft  of 
arrangement,  the  reading  of  which  may  present  a  doubt  as  to  its  exact 
meaning,  shall  be  interpreted  hereafter  in  favor  of  the  people  of  France. 

The  strength  of  the  French  army  at  the  time  of  the  surren¬ 
der  being  given  in  the  above  capitulation,  it  only  remains  to 
add  that  there  were  surrendered  with  it,  together  with  the 
fortress  of  Metz,  800  siege  guns,  541  field  guns,  66  mitraill¬ 
euses,  800,000  rifles  and  sabres,  2000  military  carriages,  and 
53  eagles.  Large  stores  of  ammunition  were  also  given  up  to 
the  Germans. 

At  noon,  on  the  29th  of  October,  each  of  the  outlying  forts 
of  Metz  was  occupied  by  two  battalions  of  German  infantry, 
a  squadron  of  cavalry,  one  heavy  battery  without  tumbrils, 
100  artillerymen  with  the  complement  of  officers,  and  an  en¬ 
gineer  detachment.  At  the  same  hour  two  of  the  city  gates, 
the  Portes  Serpenoise  and  Moselle,  were  occupied  each  by  a 
battalion  from  the  Seventh  German  Corps. 

A  little  later  the  French  army  marched  -out  to  the  localities 
designated  by  the  Germans,  and  yielded  themselves  prisoners 
of  war.  All  the  troops,  except  the  Imperial  Guard,  laid  down 
their  arms  in  the  intrenched  camp,  before  entering  the  Prus¬ 
sian  lines.  The  Imperial  Guard  were  accorded  the  honor  of 
marching  in  review  past  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  and  laying 
down  their  arms  at  Frascati. 

A  writer,  who  witnessed  the  surrender,  thus  describes  the 
French  troops  as  they  marched  out  to  the  bivouacs  assigned 
them  : 

“  The  men  were  in  a  very  miserable  state,  covered  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


445 


mud,  wet — sodden  seemingly,  indeed,  through  and  through 
with  wet — many  of  their  faces  blotched  and  scabbed  with 
scurvy,  and  quite  one-third  in  a  state  of  drunkenness.  Not 
a  few  were  in  a  state  of  bestial  drunkenness,  their  clothes 
disarranged,  and  decency  utterly  disregarded.  A  little  fur¬ 
ther  on,  and  right  and  left,  lay  the  great  bivouac  before  fort 
Belle  Croix.  The  troops  were  being  collected  by  their  offi¬ 
cers  in  peloton  previously  to  being  marched  out,  and  several 
columns  were  already  converging  on  the  great  chaussee.  As 
each  body  got  the  order  to  go  forward,  a  cheer  came  from  the 
slovenly  and  dislocated  ranks,  and  from  the  columns  on  the 
march  there  broke  out  at  intervals  a  fitful  chorus  of  some 
lively  marching  song.  Most  of  the  officers  were  grave,  taci¬ 
turn,  and  downcast.  Surely  they  must  have  despised  the 
reckless  throng  which  they  nominally  commanded.  The  de¬ 
moralization  of  the  Metz  army  is  not  so  great  as  was  that  of 
the  Sedan  army,  but  it  is  very  great.  The  men  obey  their 
officers  and  regard  the  sound  of  the  bugle  after  a  fashion,  but 
it  is  evident  that  they  are  utterly  unaffected  by  the  catas¬ 
trophe  which  has  befallen  the  arms  of  their  country,  and  are 
eager  only  to  get  somewhere  where  a  full  meal  of  victuals 
awaits  them.  Poor  wretches !  after  all,  it  is  not  fair  to  be 
too  severe  on  their  disorganization.  How  near  actual  starva¬ 
tion  they  had  come  to  before  their  leader  would  give  up  the 
game  I  shall  narrate  before  I  conclude  this  letter.” 

At  four  o’clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  29th,  the  city  of 
Metz  was  occupied  by  the  Germans.  General  Von  Rum¬ 
mer,  the  commander  of  the  Landwehr  troops,  was  appointed 
Military  Governor  of  Metz,  and  General  Von  Zastrow  was 
charged  with  the  arrangements  for  the  removal  of  the  prison¬ 
ers  to  Germany.  These  were  sent  off  by  railway  as  rapidly 
as  possible.  The  officers  were  sent  to  Germany,  but  allowed 
to  chose  their  place  of  residence,  if  able  to  provide  for  them¬ 
selves. 

The  citizens  of  Metz  were  violently  excited  when  the  news 
of  Bazaine’s  intention  to  surrender  was  made  known  to  them, 
for  in  all  its  history  Metz  had  never  been  occupied  by  a  hos- 


44G 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TTAR 


tile  foe.  It  was  its  boast  that  it  was  a  “  virgin  fortress.” 
Crowds  of  citizens  thronged  the  streets,  demanding  vengeance 
upon  Bazaine  and  Coffinieres.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  28th, 
the  National  Guard  of  Metz  declared  they  would  not  surren¬ 
der' their  arms.  The  Republic  was  proclaimed  by  them,  a 
crowd  collected  on  the  Place  d' Armes,  the  tocsin  was  sounded 
from  the  Cathedral  bell,  and  several  shots  were  fired.  An 
officer  of  the  Imperial  Guard  chanced  to  be  passing,  and 
he  was  seized  and  forced  to  carry  the  Republican  flag  by  two 
men  who  held  pistols  to  his  head.  There  was  serious  danger 
of  a  troublesome  riot,  but,  fortunately,  the  Mayor  of  the  city 
informed  the  mob  that  if  there  was  any  further  disturbance, 
he  would  call  on  the  Prussians  to  restore  order.  The  threat 
acted  like  magic.  The  valorous  Republicans,  who  had  taken 
such  good  care  to  do  nothing  for  the  defence  of  their  city, 
calmed  down  wonderfully,  and  confined  themselves  to  shout¬ 
ing  “  Yive  la  Republique,”  and  demanding  “  Bazaiue’s  life 
blood,”  till  they  were  hoarse.  Then  they  dispersed. 

Marshal  Bazaine  left  Metz  on  the  29th  for  Cassel,  in  Ger¬ 
many,  all  the  French  generals  being  sent  to  that  place.  As 
he  passed  by  Metz,  his  carriage  was  surrounded  by  crowds  of 
women  and  men,  with  cries  of  “  Traitor  !  ”  “  Coward  1  ”  “  Bri¬ 
gand  1  ”  They  broke  the  windows  of  the  carriage,  and  would 
have  laid  violent  hands  on  the  Marshal  had  not  the  Prussian 
escort  prevented  them. 

Bazaine  was  no  coward,  however,  neither  was  he  a  traitor. 
We  shall  in  another  place  discuss  the  effect  of  the  fall  of 
Metz  upon  the  state  of  affairs  in  France,  and  here  must  con¬ 
tent  ourselves  with  a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  which  justify 
his  surrender  of  his  army  and  the  “  virgin  fortress.”* 


*  General  Changarnier  expressed  himself  thus  respecting  the  surrender: 

“  There  was  no  treachery.  Bazaine  did  not  sell  himself  to  the  enemy.  He 
had  no  need  of  money.  His  work  was  far  from  being  an  act  of  treason  to 
France.  Mon  Dieu!  There  was  no  treachery;  it  was  absolute  necessity. 
Bazaine  was  driven  into  Metz  on  the  19th  of  August.  He  could  have  escaped 
soon  after  had  he  marched  boldly  out  with  his  entire  army  during  the  thir¬ 
teen  remaining  days  of  the  month  of  thirty  days  to  September  1st,  and  for 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


447 


There  was  a  time,  as  we  have  shown,  when  Bazaine  coaid 
have  saved  his  army  by  a  retreat  from  Metz  ;  but  that  time 
was  before  the  concentration  of  the  German  forces  west  of  the 
Moselle.  The  first  error  of  the  Marshal  consisted  in  his  fall¬ 
ing  into  the  trap  set  for  him  by  Yon  Moltke  at  Courcelles  on 
the  14th  of  August.  The  French  commander  should  have 


fifteen  days  of  October.  This  is  an  absolute  certainty.  Any  man  possessing 
a  sound  knowledge  of  military  affairs  will  tell  you  the  same  thing.  Look  at 
the  facts.  There  were  fifty-eight  days  elapsed  with  Bazaine  shut  up  in  the 
strongest  fortress  of  France,  where  her  150,000  of  the  bravest  and  most  ex¬ 
perienced  soldiers  could  merely  exist.  Once  in  the  field  with  such  an  army, 
there  would  be  no  more  Sedan.  Sedan  was  made  notorious  for  this — that 
the  troops  insulted  their  officers;  were  insubordinate,  as  well  as  inefficient. 
What  sort  of  an  army  is  that?  Look,  however,  sir,  in  Metz  ;  the  soldiers  re¬ 
mained  entirely  obedient  to  orders.  Every  order  was  executed  on  delivery. 
They  did  not  have  in  Metz  another  army — an  army  of  ‘  Reds  ’  and  radical 
republicans. 

“  But,”  continued  the  General,  “  Bazaine  was  selfish.  He  wanted  to  be  a 
hero.  Imagining  that  peace  would  be  concluded,  he  thought  that  the  world 
at  large  would  say,  ‘Bazaine  held  Metz  after  France  had  dropped  stronghold 
after  stronghold  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.’  During  the  last  ten  days  of 
the  investment  of  Metz,  French  sorties  had  been  rendered  impossible.  No 
attack  on  the  Prussians,  no  attempt  at  escape,  could  be  made.  Bazaine  had 
really  no  artillery,  no  cavalry  mounted,  and  only,  in  fact,  60,000  infantry. 
He  could  do  nothing  against  these  three  branches  of  the  Prussian  service  in 
force  and  well  equipped. 

“  Bazaine  at  the  surrender  had  135,000  men.  Of  these  there  were  25,000 
disabled  by  wounds,  and  10,000  laid  up  with  sickness  of  different  forms.  The 
cavalry  and  artillery  were  useless — there  were  no  horses  to  render  them 
available.  Bazaine  was  thus  reduced  to  60,000  infantry.  There  you  have 
it,  sir.  Were  we  not  in  a  bad  state  at  the  moment  of  the  capitulation?  Mon 
Dieu!  All  our  fine  horses  had  been  eaten  up.  Our  bread  and  breadstuffs 
were  gone.  We  had  no  salt.  Horseflesh,  monsieur,  is  not  bad  as  an  article 
of  food  when  it  is  eaten  with  bread  and  salt,  and  when  the  animal  had  been 
in  good  condition  and  fat  before  slaughter;  but  our  horses  in  Metz  were  not 
fat,  and  we  had  neither  bread  nor  salt.  The  taste  of  the  horse  meat  was 
horrible.  Could  troops  thus  fed  stand  well  in  any  great  battle?  The  world 
must  have  reason,  sir.  You  must  understand,  do  not  forget,  that  during  the 
last  ten  days  of  the  Prussian  investment,  the  soldiers  of  France  walked  in 
mud  deep  enough  to  reach  almost  to  their  knees.  The  heavy  rains  and  sheer 
starvation  forced  us  to  surrender.  But,  as  I  have  told  you,  there  were  fifty- 
eight  days  when  Bazaine  could  have  taken  this  fine  army  out  and  saved 
France.  How  unhappy!” 


448 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


declined  the  challenge  thrown  down  to  him  by  Steinmetz, 
and,  so  far  from  sending  back  Ladmirault’s  corps  to  assist 
Decaen,  should  have  retired  within  the  defences  of  Metz, 
crossed  the  Moselle  under  their  protection,  and  have  made 
for  Chalons  with  all  speed.  Even  after  fighting  at  Cour- 
celles,  the  retreat  should  have  been  pressed  vigorously  that 
night ;  but,  as  we  have  seen,  the  tardiness  of  the  French  allowed 
Yon  Moltke  to  concentrate  his  forces  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Moselle.  A  struggle  for  possession  of  the  roads  to  Yerdun 
then  became  inevitable,  and  in  this  the  superior  discipline 
and  efficiency  of  the  German  troops  told  fatally  against  the 
French.  Brilliant  and  masterly  though  the  German  move¬ 
ments  were,  there  can  be  no  question  that  Bazaine’s  failure  to 
profit  by  his  opportunity  to  escape,  greatly  simplified  Yon 
Moltke’s  task.  Bazaine  seems  to  have  attached  an  undue 
importance  to  the  fortress  of  Metz.  That  fortress  would  have 
required  a  strong  force  to  blockade  it,  and  would  have  been 
of  more  service  to  France  if  defended  simply  by  its  garrison 
than  if  held  by  the  army  of  the  Rhine.  Bazaine  should 
have  retreated  upon  Chalons  before  the  16th  at  any  cost. 
Had  he  reached  that  camp  with  half  of  his  army,  with  the 
loss  of  his  artillery  and  trains,  it  would  have  been  better  than 
the  actual  events  proved.  He  would  have  added  neary  100,000 
veteran  troops  (supposing  half  of  his  force  to  have  been  cut 
off,  or  destroyed,  which  was  not  likely)  to  MacMahon’s  army  ; 
the  march  of  MacMahon  to  the  northward,  and  the  disaster  at 
Sedan  would  have  been  avoided;  and  a  strong  resistance  could 
have  been  offered  the  Germans  between  Chalons  and  Paris. 

The  fighting  of  the  French  at  Yionville  and  Gravelotte  was 
such  as  to  command  the  admiration  of  their  enemies,  but  it 
accomplished  nothing.  Yon  Moltke  succeeded  in  his  design 
of  compelling  Bazaine  to  remain  at  Metz.  After  the  invest¬ 
ment  began,  on  the  22d  of  August,  it  was  not  possible  for  the 
French  to  break  out  at  any  point  of  the  German  line.  We 
have  endeavored  to  do  full  justice  to  the  gallantry  of  the 
French  troops,  but  we  cannot  accord  them  more  than  is  their 
due.  Although  the  French  force  was  very  nearly  equal  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


449 


the  investing  army,  it  was  no  match  for  it.  It  does  seem 
astounding  that  173,000  veteran  French  troops  should  be 
unable  to  break  up  an  investment  maintained  by  a  force  but 
very  little  superior  to  them  ;  but  such  is  the  fact.  It  was  not 
in  the  power  of  Bazaine  to  break  Frederick  Charles’  line. 
He  tried  it  manfully  on  the  31st  of  August,  the  1st  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  and  the  7th  of  October,  and  had  success  been  possible, 
it  would  have  been  his.  It  was  not  possible,  however,  and  the 
reason  is  that,  man  for  man,  the  Germans  were  more  than  a 
match  for  the  French.  Nowhere  was  this  more  evident  than 
at  Metz. 

Escape  being  impossible,  the  surrender  of  the  place  was 
merely  a  question  of  time;  but  time,  it  is  true,  was  precious 
to  the  cause  of  France.  We  are  not  among  those  who  believe 
that  a  prolongation  of  the  siege  would ‘have  changed  the 
course  of  affairs  on  the  Seine  and  on  the  Loire,  but  the  moral 
effect  of  the  surrender  was  unquestionably  great.  Bazaine’s 
first  duty  was  to  his  army.  He  was  but  imperfectly  informed 
as  to  the  course  of  affairs  in  other  parts  of  France,  and  such 
news  as  was  furnished  him  by  the  German  Commander  was 
not  of  a  character  to  cheer  him.  The  Republican  Govern¬ 
ment  had  left  him  entirely  to  his  own  resources.  It  had  made 
no  effort  to  send  one  man  to  his  relief.  All  its  efforts  was 
towards  another  quarter.  The  sufferings  of  the  army  were 
growing  greater  every  day,  famine  was  setting  in,  sickness 
was  becoming  more  general,  the  troops  were  gradually  grow¬ 
ing  demoralized,  and  the  winter  was  at  band.  The  small 
stock  of  stores  in  the  forts  and  the  city  would  have  prolonged 
the  defence  but  a  few  days  longer.  Left  to  himself,  satisfied 
that  the  Republic  could  not  do  anything  for  his  assistance, 
and  having  failed  in  all  his  efforts  to  save  the  army,  there 
was  nothing  left  to  Bazaine  but  a  capitulation  on  the  most 
favorable  terms  he  could  secure.  Had  there  been  the  slightest 
hope  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to  relieve  him,  or  had  he 
been  properly  informed  of  the  attempt  that  was  so  soon  to  be 
made  to  raise  the  siege  of  Paris,  we  are  fully  warranted  in 
believing  that  Marshal  Bazaine  would  have  held  out  at  Metz 
29 


450 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


until  absolutely  starved  into  a  surrender.  He  was  left  to 
himself,  without  advices  and  without  hope ;  and  being  satis¬ 
fied  that  further  resistance  would  be  simply  further  misery 
for  the  brave  men  who  had  followed  him,  he  yielded  to  the 
inevitable  necessity,  and  surrendered  his  army ;  and  in  doing 
so  he  acted  wisely.* 

Throughout  France,  Bazaine  was  branded  as  a  traitor.  The 
Provisional  Government  fiercely  denounced  him.  During 
the  whole  war,  the  French  seemed  utterly  incapable  of  under¬ 
standing  that  the  disasters  which  befel  them  were  attributable 
to  the  defects  of  their  military  system,  and  absurdly  attributed 
every  reverse  to  treachery  on  the  part  of  the  officer  in  com¬ 
mand.  Thus,  at  Sedan,  they  said,  the  Emperor  betrayed  the 
army,  and  at  Metz  they  said  Bazaine  did  likewise.  The 

*  Bazaine  issued  the  following  order  announcing  the  surrender  to  the 
army : 

GENERAL  ORDER  NO.  12. 

“ To  the  Army  of  the  Rhine: 

“  Conquered  bjr  famine,  we  are  compelled  to  submit  to  the  laws  of  war  by 
constituting  ourselves  prisoners.  At  various  epochs  in  our  military  history 
brave  troops,  commanded  by  Massena,  Kleber,  Gouvin  St.  Cyr,  have  experi¬ 
enced  the  same  fate  which  does  not  in  any  way  tarnish  military  honor,  when, 
like  you,  their  duty  has  been  so  gloriously  accomplished  to  the  extremity  of 
human  limits. 

“All  that  was  loyally  possible  to  be  done  in  order  to  avoid  this  end  has 
been  attempted  and  could  not  succeed. 

“As  to  renewing  a  supreme  attempt  to  break  through  the  fortified  lines  of 
the  enemy,  in  spite  of  your  gallantry  and  the  sacrifice  of  thousands  of  lives, 
which  may  still  be  useful  to  the  country,  it  would  have  been  unavailing,  on 
account  of  the  armament  and  of  the  overwhelming  forces  which  guard  and 
support  those  lines  ;  a  disaster  would  have  been  the  consequence. 

“Let  us  be  dignified  in  adversity;  let  us  respect  the  honorable  conventions 
that  have  been  stipulated,  if  we  wish  to  be  respected  as  we  deserve  to  be. 
Let  us,  above  all,  for  the  reputation  of  our  army,  shun  acts  of  indiscipline, 
such  as  destruction  of  arms  and  material,  since,  according  to  military  usages, 
places  and  armament  will  be  restored  to  France  when  peace  is  signed. 

“  In  leaving  the  command  I  make  it  a  duty  to  express  to  generals,  officers, 
and  soldiers  all  my  gratitude  for  their  loyal  co-operation,  their  brilliant  valor 
on  the  battle-field,  their  resignation  in  privations,  and  it  is  with  broken  heart 
that  I  separate  from  you. 

“  The  Marshal  of  France,  Commander-in-Chief. 

(Signed)  “Bazaine." 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


451 


Provisional  Government  charged  that  Bazaine  had  “  made 
himself  the  agent  of  the  Man  of  Sedan  and  the  accomplice  of 
the  invader.”*  History  will  do  justice  to  Marshal  Bazaine, 
however,  and  its  verdict  will  outlive  the  passionate  denuncia¬ 
tions  of  the  Provisional  Government.  It  will  record  the  facts 
that  while  Favre,  Gambetta,  and  their  colleagues  were  refus- 


*  The  following  is  the  proclamation  of  the  moveable  Government  at  Tours, 
announcing  the  surrender  to  the  people  : 

“  Liberty — Equality — Fraternity. 

“  Proclamation  to  the  French  People. 

Frenchmen  : — Raise  jour  spirits  and  resolution  to  the  fearful  height  of  the 
perils  which  have  broken  upon  the  country.  It  still  depends  on  us  to  mount 
above  misfortune  and  show  the  world  how  great  a  people  may  be  who  are  re¬ 
solved  not  to  perish,  and  whose  courage  increases  in  the  midst  of  calamity. 

■‘Metz  has  capitulated.  A  General,  upon  whom  France  counted,  even  after 
Mexico,  has  just  taken  away  (vient  d'enlever )  from  the  country  in  its  danger 
more  than  100,000  of  its  defenders.  Marshal  Bazaine  has  betrayed  us.  He 
has  made  himself  the  agent  of  the  Man  of  Sedan  and  the  accomplice  of  the 
invader ;  and,  regardless  of  the  honor  of  the  army  of  which  he  had  charge, 
he  has  surrendered,  without  even  making  a  last  effort,  120,000  fighting  men, 
20,000  wounded,  guns,  cannon,  colors,  and  the  strongest  citadel  of  France — 1 
Metz-Virgen  ;  but  for  him,  to  the  contamination  of  the  foreigner,  such  a  crime 
is  above  even  the  punishments  of  Justice  1 

“  In  the  disasters  of  the  country  in  less  than  five  months  250,000  men  have 
been  delivered  over  to  the  enemy,  a  sinister  sequel  to  the  military  coup  de 
main  of  December. 

“  It  is  time  for  us  to  reassert  ourselves,  citizens,  and  under  the  mgis  of  the 
Republic,  which  we  have  determined  not  to  allow  to  capitulate,  within  or 
without,  to  seek,  in  the  extremity  even  of  our  misfortune,  the  renovation  of 
our  pol itical  and  social  morality  and  manhood. 

“  However  tried  by  disaster,  let  us  be  found  neither  panic-stricken  nor  hesi¬ 
tating.  No  illusion  is  now  left.  Let  us  no  longer  languish  or  grow  weak, 
and  let  us  prove  by  our  acts  that  we  can  ourselves  maintain  honor,  indepen¬ 
dence,  integrity — all  that  makes  a  country  proud  and  free. 

“  Long  live  the  Republic,  one  and  indivisible  !  “  Cremieux, 

“  Glais-Bazoin, 

“  Gambetta.” 

Gambetta  issued  the  following  proclamations  to  the  army  and  to  the  Pre¬ 
fects  of  Departments : 

“  Soldiers  : — You  have  betrayed  no  dishonor.  During  three  months,  for¬ 
tune  has  been  unfavorable  to  you,  owing  to  incapacity  and  treachery.  You 


452 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


ing  to  sustain  the  Government  of  the  Empress — the  only 
oue  which  France  possessed — but  harassed,  perplexed,  and 
weakened  it  at  every  step.  Marshal  Bazaine  was  in  the  field 
doing  his  duty  loyally,  and  trying  with  patriotic  bravery  to 
beat  back  the  invader  from  French  soil.  It  will  record  that 
while  these  men  were  seeking  place  and  power  for  them¬ 
selves,  and  doing  their  best  to  plunge  France  into  a  civil  war, 
Bazaine  and  his  brave  troops  were  trying  to  recover  from  the 
terrible  blows  which  had  been  dealt  them  on  the  31st  of 
August  and  1st  of  September.  It  will  record  that  while  the 
movements  of  these  men  were  always  such  as  would  extend 
their  power  and  benefit  themselves,  Bazaine  was  loyally 
seeking  to  do  his  full  dutv  as  a  Marshal  of  France.  It  will 
brand  as  false  the  charge  that  he  surrendered  without  making 
a  last  effort  to  escape,  and  it  will  make  plain  the  fact  that  he 


are  now  rid  of  unworthy  chiefs.  If  you  are  prepared  under  proper  guidance 
to  wipe  away  outrage,  forward!  You  no  longer  struggle  for  a  despot,  but 
for  a  country,  for  houses  burned,  for  families  outraged.  France  is  delivered 
up  to  the  fury  of  an  implacable  enemy.  You  have  a  sublime  mission,  requir¬ 
ing  every  sacrifice,  to  shame  the  calumniators  who  render  the  army  respon¬ 
sible  for  infamy.  Your  chiefs  having  justly  incurred  the  stigma  of  treason 
at  Sedan  and  crime  at  Metz,  I  tell  you  to  avenge  your  honor,  which  is  that 
of  France.  Your  brothers  in  the  Army  of  the  Rhine  already  protest  against 
the  cowardly  attentat ,  and  withdraw  from  the  accursed  capitulation.  It  is  for 
you  to  raise  the  standard  of  France,  soiled  by  the  last  Bonaparte  and  his  ac¬ 
complices,  and  recall  victory.  But  practise  republican  virtues — discipline, 
activity,  and  contempt  for  death.  Bear  in  mind  the  danger  of  the  country. 
The  time  of  treachery  and  weakness  is  past.  The  destiny  of  the  country  is 
confirmed,  you  having  restored  France  to  serenity.  Then  be  free  ana  peace¬ 
ful  citizens  of  the  Republic.  Gambetta.” 

“Tours,  October  28,  1870. 

“  To  the  Prefects  of  Departments :  _ 

“  I  have  received  from  all  sides  grave  reports,  the  veracity  of  which,  in 
spite  of  all  efforts,  I  cannot  establish  officially.  It  is  said  that  Metz  has 
capitulated.  If  so,  it  is  well  that  you  have  the  opinion  of  the  Government 
on  the  matter.  Such  an  event  could  but  be  the  result  of  a  crime,  the  authors 
of  which  should  be  outlawed.  Be  convinced  that,  whatever  may  arise,  nothing 
can  abate  our  courage  in  this  epoch  of  rascally  capitulations.  There  exists 
one  thing  which  neither  can  nor  will  capitulate ,  that  is  the  French  Republic. 

“  Gambetta,  Minister  of  the  Interior.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


453 


was  willing  to  sacrifice  himself  rather  than  needlessly  prolong 
the  sufferings  of  the  men  who  had  followed  him  so  gallantly, 
though  unsuccessfully. 

Throughout  Germany  the  rejoicings  over  the  fall  of  Metz 
were  very  great,  but  they  were  fully  warranted  by  the  mag¬ 
nitude  of  the  capture.  The  strongest  fortress  and  the  largest 
regular  army  of  France  were  prizes  such  as  had  never  been 
taken  before,  aud  Germany  might  well  be  proud  of  her  tri¬ 
umph. 

King  William  took  advantage  of  the  occasion  to  bestow 
upon  his  son,  Crown  Prince  Fritz,  and  his  nephew,  Frederick 
Charles,  a  suitable  reward  for  their  services  during  the  cam. 
paign.  On  the  28th  of  October  he  conferred  upon  both 
Princes  the  rank  of  Field-Marshal.*  lie  anounced  the  well  de¬ 
served  honor  to  the  army  in  the  following  address : 

Yeusailt.es,  October  28th.  1870. 

Soldiers  of  the  Confederate  Armies  :  When,  three  months  since. 
<ve  took  the  field,  I  said  God  would  be  with  our  just  cause.  That  this 
confidence  has  been  fully  realized — witness  Woerth,  Saarbriiek,  Metz, 

*  In  communicating  his  promotion  to  the  Crown  Prince,  the  King  addressed 
him  the  following  letter: 

“Versailles,  Oct.  28,  1870. 

“The  capitulation  of  the  army  of  Marshal  Bazaine  and  the  fortress  of  Metz 
forms  an  important  %poch  in  the  war,  as  both  the  armies  opposed  last  July  to 
the  united  forces  of  Prussia  and  Germany,  in  this  bloody  conflict  which  we 
most  assuredly  did  not  provoke,  have  now  fallen  into  our  hands,  and  I  am 
therefore  impelled  to  mark  the  whole  importance  of  the  event  by  an  act  of 
special  significance. 

“  You  have  played  a  most  important  part  in  the  execution  of  our  task,  as 
you  commenced  the  campaign  by  two  victories  which  followed  closely  on 
each  other;  by  your  strategical  advance,  you  then  covered  the  left  flank  of 
the  chief  army,  so  that  it  could  securely  advance  to  defeat  the  army  of  Baz¬ 
aine  ;  you  then  united  your  forces  to  those  of  the  great  army,  to  take  part  in 
the  operations  against  Sedan,  and  assist  iu  gaining  our  great  success  there ; 
and  you  have  now,  after  some  fighting,  completed  the  investment  of  Paris. 
All  this  shows  you  to  be  a  great  and  successful  general ;  you  have  merited 
the  highest  military  rank,  and  I  therefore  nominate  you  Field-Marshal  Gene¬ 
ral.  It  is  the  first  time  that  such  a  distinction  has  been  conferred  on  a 
prince  of  our  house,  and  I  have  also  granted  it  to  Prince  Frederick  Charles. 
But  the  successes  hitherto  gained  in  this  campaign  are  so  great  in  them¬ 
selves,  and  so  important  in  their  consequences,  as  to  be  unparalleled,  and  I 


454 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Sedan,  Beaumont,,  Strasbourg — each  a  victory  for  our  arms.  To  you 
belong  the  merit  and  the  glory.  You  have  maintained  all  the  vir¬ 
tues  which  especially  distinguish  soldiers.  With  Metz,  the  last  army 
of  the  enemy  is  destroyed.  I  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  you  all, 
from  the  general  to  the  soldier.  Whatever  the  future,  I  look  forward 
to  it  camly,  because  I  know  that  with  such  soldiers  victory  cannot  fail.  I 
honor  you  all  to-day,  by  appointing  as  Field-Marshals  my  son,  the  Crown 
Prince  of  Prussia,  and  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  who  have  repeatedly 
led  you  to  victory.  Wili.iam. 

The  fall  of  Metz  released  for  service  elsewhere  the  army 
which  had  been  engaged  in  investing  the  fortress.  As  soon 
as  its  fall  was  accomplished  Prince  Frederick  Charles  lost  no 
time  in  carrying  out  the  disposition  of  his  forces  ordered  by 
the  King.  The  Second  Corps  was  sent  direct  to  Paris  to  re¬ 
enforce  the  besieging  armies  ;  the  Seventh  Corps  was  detailed 
to  garrison  Metz,  and  to  assist  in  reducing  Longwy  andThion- 
ville.  Manteuffel,  with  the  First  and  Eighth,  was  ordered  to 
march  with  promptness  towards  Lille  ;  while  Prince  Frederick 
Charles  himself,  with  the  Third,  Ninth,  and  Tenth  Corps, 
marched  directly  towards  Orleans,  it  being  Von  Moltke’s  in- 


am  therefore  justified  in  departing  from  the  usage  of  our  house.  What  my 
paternal  heart  feels  in  being  able,  and,  indeed,  bound  to  express  my  own 
thanks  and  those  of  our  country  to  you  in  such  a  way,  need  not  be  expressed 
in  words.  Your  affectionate  and  grateful  father,  William.’’ 

At  the  same  time,  he  wrote  as  follows  to  his  nephew  : 

“Versailles,  Oct.  28 — 1.10  p.  m. 

“ To  Prince  Frederick  Charles: 

“  I  awaited  the  news,  which  was  received  during  the  night,  of  the  comple¬ 
tion  of  the  capitulation  of  Metz,  before  sending  you  my  heartfelt  congratula¬ 
tions  and  acknowledgments  for  your  circumspection  and  endurance  before 
the  victory  which  your  command  has  shown  during  the  long  and  tedious  en¬ 
vironment  of  Bazaine's  army.  The  same  acknowledgment  is  due  to  the 
brave  troops  who,  by  their  intrepidity  and  the  privations  they  have  endured, 
have  set  examples  without  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  occur¬ 
rences  before  Metz  constitute  an  imperishable  epoch  of  honor  and  glory  for 
our  army.  My  thanks  should  at  once  be  conveyed  to  the  troops.  To  honor 
you  and  your  command  for  such  signal  services,  1  have  appointed  you  Gene¬ 
ral  Field-Marshal,  a  distinction  which  I  have  also  conferred  upon  my  son,  the 
Crown  Prince.  Wilhelm.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


455 


tention  to  use  this  force  for  closing  the  gap  between  Yon  der 
Tann  near  Orleans,  and  Yon  Werder  at  Dijon,  preparatory 
to  a  general  and  systematic  advance  of  the  German  line  into 
the  south  of  France  for  the  conquest  of  that  region.  It  will 
be  seen  further  on  that  the  course  of  events  compelled  the 
abandonment  of  the  general  movement  to  the  southward. 


456 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  XII, 


THE  PEOPLE  OF  FRANCE  SUPPORT  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT— 
WEAKNESS  OF  THE  TOURS  DELEGATION — SAD  STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  IN 
FRANCE — LAWLESSNESS  OF  THE  FRANCB-TIREUR8— ARRIVAL  OF  GAM- 
BETTA  AT  TOURS— A  SUDDEN  CHANGE  IN  AFFAIRS — FRANCE  HOPEFUL 
AGAIN— M.  GAMBETTA’S  CAREER — HE  BECOMES  DICTATOR — FORMATION 
OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  LOIRE— THE  GERMANB  OVERRUN  THE  COUNTRY 
AROUND  PARIB — REYAN  BEATS  THE  GERMANS  NEAR  ORLEANS — VON  DER 
TANN  BENT  TO  THE  RESCUE  — CAPTURE  OF  ORLEANS  BY  THE  GERMANS— 
IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  CAPTURE— THE  GENERAL  AND  THE  BISHOP — RE¬ 
ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  LOIRE — DE  PALADINES  GIVEN  THE 
COMMAND— FORMATION  OF  NEW  ARMIES — DECISIVE  MEASURES  OF  GAM- 
BETTA— THE  NEW  FRENCH  LOAN  SUCCESSFUL—  PROGRESS  OF  THE  GER¬ 
MAN  ARMIES — VON  DER  TANN  ON  THE  DEFENSIVE— SURRENDER  OF 
METZ— ADVANCE  OF  THE  FRENCH  ON  THE  LOIRE — THE  BATTLE  OF 
BACCON — A  FRENCH  VICTORY — RECAPTURE  OF  ORLEANS  BY  THE  FRENCH 
— DE  PALADINES  THROWS  AWAY  HIS  OPPORTUNITY — APPROACH  OF 
FREDERICK  CHARLES — CONCENTRATION  OF  THE  GERMAN  FORCES — THE 
RED  PRINCE  ON  THE  LOIRE— POSITIONS  OF  THE  ARMIES  — THE  FRENCH 
ADVANCE — BATTLES  OF  BEAUNE  LA  ROLANDE  AND  PATAY — MECKLEN¬ 
BURG  JOINS  VON  DER  TANN — THE  RED  PRINCE  TAKES  THE  OFFENSIVE — 
BATTLES  BEFORE  ORLEANS — SUCCESS  OF  THE  GERMAN  TACTICS  -  THE 
FRENCH  ARMY  CUT  IN  HALF — RETREAT  OF  THE  FRENCH — THE  PURSUIT 
— GAMBETTA’S  ESCAPE — RECAPTURE  OF  ORLEANS  BY  THE  GERMANS  — 
BATTLE  OF  BEAUGENCY,  AND  PURSUIT  OF  CHANZY  TO  THE  LOIRE — FLIGHT 
OF  TIIE  FRENCH  GOVERNMENT  FROM  TOURS — CAPTURE  OF  THAT  CITY  BY 
THE  GERMANS— THE  GERMANS  RETIRE  TO  ORLEANS  — CHANZY  REORGAN¬ 
IZES  HIS  ARMY — THE  NEW  FRENCH  PLAN — BOURBAKI  MOVES  OFF — 
FREDERICK  CnARLES  MARCHES  WESTWARD — BATTLE  OF  LE  MANS  AND 
RETREAT  OF  CHANZY  TO  LAVAL — THE  WAR  IN  THE  NORTH  OF  FRANCE — 
EFFORTS  OF  THE  FRENCH  IN  THAT  QUARTER— MANTEUFFEL’S  MARCH 
FROM  METZ— HE  TAKES  AMIENS — CAPTURE  OF  ROUEN — HAVRE  THREAT¬ 
ENED — FAIDHERBE  MOVES  TOWARD  PARIS — MANTEUFFEL’S  FORCED 
MARCH — BATTLE  OF  PONT  NOYELLES — BATTLE  OF  BAPAUME — SUR¬ 
RENDER  OF  THE  FORTRESS  OF  PERONNE — FAIDHERBE  TOTALLY  DE¬ 
FEATED  AT  ST.  QUENTIN — GAMBETTA’S  COLD  RECEPTION  AT  LILLE— 
CAPTURE  OF  ENGLISH  SHIPS  IN  THE  SEINE — CLOSE  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN  IN 
THE  NORTn — THE  EASTERN  ARMY  OF  FRANCE — EFFORTS  OF  GENERAL 
CAMBRIELS— VON  WERDER  MOVES  SOUTHWARD — THE  RHINE  FORTRESSES 
INVESTED— EFFORTS  OF  THE  FRENCH  TO  RELIEVE  NEUF  BRISSACH — 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


457 


THEY  ARE  DEFEATED  NEAR  EPINAE — GARRIBALDI  ARRIVES  IN  FRANCE 
— IS  ASSIGNED  A  COMMAND  IN  THE  EAST— niS  DIFFICULTIES  AND  UN¬ 
POPULARITY — VON  WEP.DER  OCCUPIES  VESOUL — RETREAT  OF  THE 
FRENCH  TO  BESANCON  — DIJON  TAKEN  BY  TnE  GERMANS — GARRABALDI 
GOES  TO  AUTUN—RICCIOTTI  GARRIBALDI  SURPRISES  CHATILLON — THE 
GARRIBALDI  AN  ATTACK  ON  DIJON  REPULSED — THE  GERMANS  CAPTURE 
NUITS  — BOURBAKl’S  ADVANCE  FROM  THE  LOIRE  — WITHDRAWAL  OF  VON 
AVERDER— BOURBAKI  TAKES  A'ESOUL — VON  AVERDER  COVERS  THE  SIEGE 
OF  BELFORT — BOURBAKl’S  EFFORTS  TO  RAISE  THE  SIEGE— THE  FRENCH 
DEFEAT— THEY  RETREAT  AVESTAVARD — ARRIVAL  OF  MANTEUFFEL’S  ARMY 
NEAR  LANGRES — GARRIBALDI  KEPT  AT  DIJON — BOURBAKI  IS  CUT  OFF 
FROM  CHALONS  AND  ATTEMPTS  SUICIDE — TnE  FRENCH  ARMY  DRIVEN 
INTO  BAVITZERLAND — SCENES  ON  THE  FRONTIER — SURRENDER  OF  BEL¬ 
FORT. 

HE  state  of  France  after  the  reverses  of  September 
and  the  establishment  of  the  Republic  was  most  de¬ 
plorable,  and  instant  ruin  was  averted  only  by  the 
patriotism  of  the  people  of  the  provinces,  who,  find¬ 
ing  themselves  without  any  organized  Government, 
unhesitatingly  gave  their  support  to  the  Government  of  the 
National  Defence.  As  has  been  stated,  three  members  of  this 
self-constituted  Government  were  sent  from  Paris  to  Tours 
before  the  investment  of  the  former  city,  to  organize  the 
defence  of  the  provinces.  These  were  M.  Cremieux,  Minister 
of  Justice;  Admiral  Fourichon,  Minister  of  the  Marine,  and 
also  charged  with  the  Ministry  of  War  ;  and  M.  Glais-Bizoin. 
Neither  of  these  gentlemen  were  qualified  for  the  task  of 
directing  such  important  measures  as  the  defence  of  the 
country  involved,  and  not  one  of  them  commanded  the  confi¬ 
dence  of  the  people.  Their  measures  were  weak  and  hesita¬ 
ting,  and  the  country  Avas  entirely  without  a  directing  head. 
The  Prefects  had  been  entrusted  with  the  militarv  command 
of  the  Departments  over  which  they  were  placed,  and  this 
measure  was  naturally  producing  an  amount  of  trouble  which 
Admiral  Fourichon  found  it  impossible  to  overcome.  The 
Red  Republicans  of  Lyons  and  Marseilles  were  becoming 
more  and  more  dangerous,  and  open  violence  in  those  cities 
was  prevented  only  by  the  firmness  of  the  masses  in  support¬ 
ing  the  Provisional  Government.  The  Prefect  of  Lyons 


458 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


arbitrarily  arrested  General  Mazure,  the  Commander  of  the 
troops  in  that  city.  This  useless  and  dangerous  step  was 
promptty  approved  by  MM.  Crdmieux  and  Glais-Bizoin,  al¬ 
though  no  charge  was  sustained  against  the  General,  and 
Admiral  Fourichon,  in  sheer  disgust,  resigned  his  place  as 
Minister  of  War,  retaining  his  position  as  Minister  of  the 
Marine.  Thirteen  Departments  united  in  demanding  of  the 
Tours  Government  the  nomination  of  a  General,  indepen¬ 
dent  of  ministerial  authority,  to  organize  the  defence  of  the 
western  provinces,  and  this  command  was  complied  with. 

Numerous  bands  of  Francs- Tireurs,  or  Guerillas,  were 
organized  during  the  latter  part  of  September.  Their  mode 
of  making  war  was  to  attack  weak  bands  of  the  enemy,  or  to 
“  bushwhack  ”  them  from  behind  hedges  or  from  the  cover 
of  the  woods.  They  very  rarely  risked  an  encounter  in  the 
open  field,  and  soon  made  themselves  the  objects  of  the  special 
hatred  of  the  Germans  by  their  savage  method  of  conducting 
the  war.  Many  atrocities  were  laid  to  their  charge  by  the 
latter.  At  the  period  referred  to,  they  were  rapidly  becom¬ 
ing  objects  of  terror  to  their  own  people.  Wandering  in¬ 
dependently  over  the  country,  they  plundered  and  destroyed 
the  property  of  the  peasants,  even  committing  darker  outrages; 
and  in  the  city  of  Tours  itself,  under  the  very  eyes  of  the 
Government,  one  of  these  bands  mutinied  against  their  officers 
besieged  them  in  a  hotel,  and  threatened  them  with  death  if 
their  demands  were  not  complied  with. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  were  overruning  France.  Stras¬ 
bourg  and  Toul  fell  during  the  last  week  in  September,  and 
80,000  German  troops  were  thus  liberated  for  service  else¬ 
where.  Ten  thousand  of  these  were  sent  to  reenforce  the 
army  before  Paris,  and  the  remaining  70,000  were  formed 
into  an  army  under  the  command  of  General  Yon  Werder, 
for  the  purpose  of  marching  against  Lyons  and  the  southeast 
of  France.  The  French,  it  is  true,  were  endeavoring  to  raise 
new  armies  in  the  provinces,  but  no  one  seemed  capable  of 
assuming  the  general  direction  of  affairs.  Everywhere  con¬ 
fusion  reigned  supreme,  and  everywhere  the  people  were  be¬ 
ginning  to  despair. 


459 


Port  Marly,  on  the  Seine. 


460 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


In  the  midst  of  all  this  trouble  and  maladministration,  the 
Tours  Government  suddenly  received  a  reenforcement  from 
Paris,  in  the  person  of  their  colleague,  M.  Gambetta,  the  Min 
ister  of  the  Interior,  who  came,  as  it  were  from  the  clouds. 
He  left  Paris  in  a  balloon,  on  the  8th  of  October,  and  after  an 
exciting  voyage  landed  near  Amiens,  the  next  day.  Proceed¬ 
ing  to  that  city,  he  left  at  once  for  Tours  by  railway,  reaching 
there  on  the  same  day. 

The  news  of  his  arrival  and  of  the  manner  of  his  coming 
was  at  once  telegraphed  all  over  France ;  and  it  was  proclaimed 
that  the  man  who  was  to  save  France  was  now  at  his  post. 
The  people  were  delighted  with  the  boldness  of  the  Minister 
of  the  Interior,  in  braving  so  many  perils  to  come  to  their 
aid,  and  their  imaginations  were  captivated  by  the  pleasant 
fancy,  everywhere  repeated,  that  their  deliverer  had  come  at 
last  and  from  heaven. 

Gambetta’s  first  acts  increased  the  enthusiasm  which  greeted 
his  arrival  at  Tours.  Immediately  upon  reaching  that  city, 
he  issued  the  following  proclamation  to  the  nation  : 

By  order  of  the  Republican  Government,  I  have  left  Paris  to  convey 
to  you  the  hopes  of  the  Parisian  people,  and  the  instructions  and  orders  of 
those  who  accepted  the  mission  of  delivering  France  from  the  foreigner. 

For  seventeen  days  Paris  has  been  invested,  and  offers  the  spectacle 
of  2,000,000  of  men,  who,  forgetting  all  differences  to  range  them¬ 
selves  around  the  Republican  flag,  will  disappoint  the  expectations  of 
the  invader,  who  reckoned  upon  civil  discord.  The  Revolution  found 
Paris  without  cannon  and  without  arms.  Now  400,000  National  Guards 
are  armed,  100,000  Mobiles  have  been  summoned,  and  60,000 .regular 
troops  are  assembled. 

The  foundries  cast  cannon,  the  wTomen  make  1,000,000  cartridges 
daily.  The  National  Guard  have  two  mitrailleuses  for  each  battalion. 
Field  pieces  are  being  made  for  sorties  against  the  besiegers.  The  forts 
are  manned  by  marines,  and  are  furnished  with  marvellous  artillery, 
served  by  the  first  gunners  in  the  world.  Up  till  now  their  fire  has  pre¬ 
vented  the  enemy  from  establishing  the  smallest  work.  The  enceinte, 
which  on  September  4th  had  only  500  cannons,  has  now  3800,  with  400 
rounds  of  ammunition  for  each. 

The  casting  of  projectiles  continues  with  ardor.  Every  one  is  at  the 
post  assigned  to  him  for  fighting.  The  enceinte  is  uninterruptedly  cov¬ 
ered  by  the  National  Guard,  who  from  morning  until  night  drill  for  the 


461 


German  Foragers  at  Work. 


462 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


war  with  patriotism  and  steadiness.  The  experience  of  these  improvised 
soldiers  increases  daily. 

Behind  the  enceinte  there  is  a  third  line  of  defences,  formed  by  barri¬ 
cades,  behind  which  the  Parisians  are  found  to  defend  the  Republic — 
the  genius  of  street  fighting.  All  this  has  been  executed  with  calmness 
and  order  by  the  concurrence  and  enthusiasm  of  all.  It  is  not  a  vain 
illusion  that  Paris  is  impregnable.  It  cannot  be  captured  or  surprised. 
Two  other  means  remain  to  the  Prussians — sedition  and  famine.  But 
sedition  will  not  arise,  nor  famine  either. 

Paris  by  placing  herself  on  rations,  has  enough  to  defy  the  enemy  for 
long  months,  thanks  to  the  provisions  which  have  been  accumulated, 
and  will  bear  restraint  and  scarcity  with  manly  constancy  in  order  to 
afford  her  brothers  in  the  departments  time  to  gather. 

Such  is,  without  disguise,  the  state  of  Paris.  This  state  imposes  great 
duties  upon  you.  The  first  is  to  have  no  other  occupation  than  the 
war ;  the  second  is  to  accept  fraternally  the  supremacy  of  the  Republi¬ 
can  power,  emanating  from  necessity  and  right,  which  will  serve  no  am¬ 
bition.  It  has  no  other  passion  than  to  rescue  France  from  the  abyss 
into  which  monarchy  has  plunged  her. 

This  done,  the  Republic  will  be  founded,  sheltered  against  conspirators 
and  reactionists.  Therefore  I  have  the  order,  without  taking  into  account 
difficulties  or  opposition,  to  remedy  and,  although  time  fails,  to  make  up 
by  activity  the  shortcomings  caused  by  delay.  Men  are  not  wanting. 
"What  has  failed  us  has  been  a  decisive  resolution  and  the  consecutive 
execution  of  our  plans.  That  which  failed  us  after  the  shameful  capitu¬ 
lation  of  Sedan  was  arms.  All  supplies  of  that  nature  had  been  sent  on 
to  Sedan,  Metz,  and  Strasbourg,  as  if,  one  would  think,  the  authors  of 
our  disasters,  by  a  last  criminal  combination,  had  desired,  at  their  fall, 
to  deprive  us  of  all  means  of  repairing  our  ruin.  Steps  have  now  been 
taken  to  obtain  rifles  and  equipments  from  all  part3  of  the  world. 
Neither  workmen  nor  money  are  wanting.  We  must  bring  to  bear  all 
our  resources,  which  are  immense  ;  we  must  make  the  provinces  shake  off 
their  torpor,  react  against  foolish  panics,  multiply  our  partisans,  set 
traps  and  ambushes  to  harass  the  enemy  and  inaugurate  a  national 
war.  The  Republic  demands  the  cooperation  of  all ;  it  will  utilize  the 
courage  of  all  its  citizens,  employ  the  capabilities  of  each,  and  according 
to  its  traditional  policy,  will  make  young  men  its  chiefs.  Heaven  itself 
will  cease  to  favor  our  adversaries.  The  autumn  rains  will  come ;  and, 
detained  and  held  in  check  by  the  capital,  far  from  their  homes,  and 
troubled  and  anxious  for  the  future,  the  Prussians  will  be  decimated  one 
by  one  by  our  arms,  by  hunger,  and  by  nature.  No ;  it  is  not  possible 
that  the  genius  of  France  should  be  forevermore  obscured  ;  it  cannot  be 
that  a  great  nation  shall  let  its  place  in  the  world  be  taken  from  it  by 
an  invasion  of  500,000  men.  Up,  then,  in  a  mass  ;  and  let  us  die  rather 


A.  Battallion  of  Francs-Tireurs  passing  through  the  City  of  'Pours,  carrying  the 

Black  Flag. 


464 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


than  suffer  the  shame  of  dismemberment !  In  the  midst  of  our  disasters 
we  have  still  the  sentiment  left  of  French  unity  and  the  indivisibility  of 
the  Republic.  Paris,  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  affirms  more  loudly  and 
more  gloriously  than  ever  the  immortal  device  which  is  dictated  to  the 
whole  of  France  :  “  Long  live  the  Republic  1  ”  “  Long  live  France  !  ” 

“  Long  live  the  Republic,  one  and  indivisible.” 

Although  there  was  considerable  exaggeration  in  the  tone 
of  this  proclamation,  its  effect  upon  the  nation  was  admirable. 
M.  Gambetta  had  spoken  in  good  time,  and  his  were  the  first 
words  of  energy  and  hope  that  had  been  heard  in  France  since 
Sedan.  Here  was  a  man  who  meant  work,  and  did  not  in¬ 
tend  to  stop  with  empty  promises.  Here  was  a  leading  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Government,  fresh  from  Paris,  fully  informed  as  to 
the  actual  state  of  affairs  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  who 
had  nothing  but  bitive,  cheering  words,  and  a  bright,  un¬ 
daunted  smile  as  he  faced  the  crisis.  The  courage  and  hope¬ 
fulness  of  the  Minister  were  contagious.  All  France  became 
infected  with  them,  and,  for  a  while,  there  did  seem  a  pros¬ 
pect  that  the  young  Marseillaise  advocate  would  “  organize 
victory”  out  of  despair.  No  man  ever  had  a  better  chance 
of  rising  to  the  very  height  of  his  ambition  than  this  one 
possessed  at  this  time,  in  spite  of  the  difficulties  which  lay 
before  him  ;  but  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  M.  Gambetta  to 
become  the  Saviour  of  France.  He  was  deficient  in  the  ne¬ 
cessary  qualities.  He  was  excellent  in  speech,  full  of  fire  and 
enthusiasm,  and  a  man  of  energy,  but  he  had  neither  the 
firmness  of  character  necessary  to  his  task,  nor  the  wisdom 
nor  training,  without  which  all  his  good  qualities  were  use¬ 
less.  Of  him  it  must  be  said,  as  of  so  many  other  brilliant 
leaders  of  a  parliamentary  opposition,  that  when  he  came  to 
undertake  the  duties  of  the  position  which  he  had  wrested 
from  his  opponents,  he  found  that  the  qualities  which  had 
made  him  so  successful  a  critic  of  other  men’s  actions,  were 
precisely  those  which  unfitted  him  for  the  better  performance 
of  their  duties ;  and  he  disappointed  by  degrees  all  the  hopes 
of  his  friends  and  his  country,  and  fell  below  the  standard  he 
had  himself  set  up.  And  so  we  shall  have  to  write  of  every 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


4G5 


other  member  of  the  Provisional  Government — the  men  that 
boasted  so  loudly  that  they  would  succeed  where  the  Empire 
had  failed — that  none  of  them  were  capable  of  discharging 
successfully  the  tasks  they  so  rashly  assumed.  We  shall  find 
Trochu  unsuccessful  in  every  effort  to  raise  the  siege  of  Paris; 
we  shall  see  Jules  Eavre  a  mere  child  in  the  hands  of  the 
German  Chancellor  ;  we  shall  see  Keratry  a  failure  as  a  com¬ 
mander,  a  mere  disappointed  office  seeker ;  we  shall  find 
Rochefort  compelled  by  a  last  lingering  sense  of  self-respect 
to  resign  his  seat  in  the  Government ;  and  we  shall  find  none 
of  the  others  capable  of  originating  any  measure,  or  perform¬ 
ing  any  act  which  could  lift  for  one  moment  the  dark  cloud 
of  misfortune  which  was  settling  down  over  their  country. 
Well  might  M.  Thiers,  a  trained  satesman,  with  all  his  patriot¬ 
ism,  shrink  from  the  responsibility  of  forming  a  part  of  such 
a  Government — a  Government  which  did  nothing  but  pro¬ 
long  the  agony  of  the  country,  and  which  in  the  end  failed  to 
gain  for  it  terms,  one  particle  more  liberal  than  would  have 
been  accorded  to  the  Empire. 

M.  Gambetta  at  once  assumed  the  duties  of  Minister  of 
War,  and,  as  soon  as  he  found  how  utterly  incapable  his  col¬ 
leagues  were,  he  very  quietly  clothed  himself  with  the  whole 
power  of  the  Government.  He  lost  no  time  in  seeking  to 
make  good  his  promises.  Passing  rapidly  from  point  to  point 
throughout  the  country,  and  throwing  off  brilliant  proclama¬ 
tions,  he  raised  the  hopes  of  the  nation  to  a  point  higher  than 
they  had  stood  since  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  exerted 
himself,  with  an  energy  that  merited  all  praise,  to  hasten  the 
organization,  and  add  to  the  efficiency  of  the  armies  forming 
in  the  provinces. 

In  the  meantime,  a  French  army  had  been  forming  on  the 
Loire,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bourges,  a  city  about  fifty-five  miles 
south  of  Orleans.  Bourges  contained  an  important  cannon 
foundry,  and  was  a  place  of  considerable  strategical  value,  as 
it  lies  within  the  loop  formed  by  the  Loire,  and  at  the  junc¬ 
tion  of  the  different  roads  leading  to  Tours,  Blois,  Orleans, 
Gien,  and  Nevers,  all  commanding  passages  over  the  river. 

30 


46G 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


This  army  was  commanded  by  General  La  Motterouge,  and, 
by  the  1st  of  October,  was  between  50,000  and  60,000  strong. 

Daring  the  first  weeks  of  the  investment  of  Paris,  the  Ger¬ 
mans  obtained  their  supplies  from  the  country  lying  around 
the  city,  but  this  region  was  soon  exhausted,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  send  their  foraging  parties  farther  afield.  These 
were  thrown  out  by  every  road  radiating  from  Paris,  and,  as 
they  consisted  of  small  bodies  in  each  case,  they  were  in  consid¬ 
erable  danger  of  being  attacked  by  superior  forces  of  French 
troops.  This  happened  to  them  on  several  occasions.  On 
the  8th  of  October,  Ablis,  one  of  the  prettiest  villages  in 
France,  was  occupied  by  a  squadron  of  Prussian  hussars. 
That  night  the  Prussians  were  surprised  and  defeated  by  the 
Francs-Tireurs,  and  the  next  day  they  came  back  and  burned 
the  town  to  the  ground.  About  the  8th,  two  attacks  were 
made  by  these  foraging  parties  upon  the  town  of  St.  Quentin, 
100  miles  northeast  from  Paris.  They  were  successfully  re¬ 
sisted  in  both  instances  by  the  citizens  and  Mobiles.  About 
the  same  time,  a  couple  of  defeats  were  inflicted  upon  the 
German  foragers  near  Dreux,  fifty  miles  west  of  Paris.  They 
had  collected  a  considerable  quantity  of  provisions  at  that 
place,  which  they  were  compelled  to  give  up.  In  revenge 
for  these  attacks,  they  burned  the  village  of  Cherizy,  near 
Dreux,  and  all  the  farms  between  that  place  and  Houdan.* 

Early  in  October,  the  German  foragers  pushed  their  opera¬ 
tions  as  far  as  the  vicinity  of  Orleans,  which  was  then  held 


*  These  attacks  were  made  by  the  Mobiles  or  by  the  Francs-Tireurs,  but 
the  Germans  attributed  them  to  the  treachery  of  the  peasantry.  Up  to  Sedan, 
the  conduct  of  the  invaders  towards  the  French  civilians  was  marked  by  very 
great  forbearance,  if  not  by  actual  kindness,  in  almost  every  instance.  Sub¬ 
sequent  to  that  event,  however,  they  displayed  great  sternness  and  severity. 
Villages  in  which  resistance  was  offered  were  revisited  by  stronger  parties. 
Shells  were  thrown  remorselessly  into  the  streets,  and  in  several  instances 
the  villages  were  burned.  Isolated  instances  of  outrage  upon  the  German 
soldiers  were  visited  upon  whole  villages,  frequently  by  exorbitant  fines. 
Much  of  this  was  doubtless  inseparable  from  the  inevitable  horrors  of  war, 
but  much  was  also  the  deliberate  work  of  the  Germans,  who  showed  little 
forbearance  and  no  pity  in  their  enormous  levies  upon  French  property. 


467 


Chateau  de  Saint  Germain. 


468 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TVAR 


by  the  advanced  guard  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire,  under 
General  Reyan.  The  main  body  of  this  army  was  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear  of  Orleans,  but  it  was  sadly  deficient  in 
discipline  and  equipment,  and  especially  lacking  in  field 
artillery  of  any  kind.  Some  idea  of  the  condition  of  the 
Army  of  the  Loire  may  be  gained  from  the  following  descrip¬ 
tion  of  prisoners  taken  from  it  by  the  Germans  on  the  10th 
of  October.  This  extract  is  taken  from  the  German  official 
report  of  the  engagement.  The  troops  described  constituted 
the  bodyguard  of  the  Republican  Government : 

“  In  the  account  books  they  had  with  them  their  pay  and 
other  emoluments  from  the  Republican  authorities  were  accu¬ 
rately  stated.  They  were  mostly  men  above  forty,  or  young¬ 
sters  between  sixteen  and  eighteen ;  those  between  these  two 
extremes  having  been  previously  drafted  into  the  Mobiles. 
They  were,  indeed,  unable  to  defend  themselves,  being  totally 
ignorant  of  everything  military,  and,  moreover,  armed  with 
Minie  rifles,  which  cannot  compete  with  modern  weapons. 
In  reply  to  our  questions,  they  said  they  knew  nothing  of 
the  service,  and  altogether  represented  their  situation  as  pitia¬ 
ble.  The  peasants  would  not  give  them  anything  to  eat,  nor 
even  direct  them  how  to  find  their  way  across  the  country. 
The  fear  of  the  Germans  was  so  universal  in  those  parts,  that 
everybody  shunned  intercourse  with  the  indigenous  troops. 
The  costume  of  the  Partisans  consists  in  a  short  black  coat, 
black  trousers,  gaiters,  and  a  red  sash  round  the  waist.  They 
wear  hats  with  broad  brims,  those  of  the  captains  being  about 
four  times  as  large  as  those  worn  by  the  privates.  The  com¬ 
mander-in-chief  of  the  body  taken  prisoners  at  Angerville 
was  a  private  gentleman  from  Nantes.  Most  of  them  had  the 
words  Partisans  de  Gers  on  their  hats.  The  Departement  de 
Gers  being  400  miles  south  of  Paris,  and  only  150  miles  north 
of  the  Pyrenees,  their  presence  in  the  Orleannois  would  seem 
to  prove  that  the  central  Departments  are  already  drained  of 
most  of  the  people  that  can  be  induced  to  join.” 

General  Reyan  determined  to  compel  the  German  foragers 
to  keep  at  a  more  respectful  distance  from  Orleans,  and,  early 


Interior  of  the  Church  of  St.  Denis. 

3>a<!  3nnerc  fccr  fiird)c  eon  ®t.  ®cni4. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  469 

in  October,  be  attacked  them  and  drove  them  back  from 
Artenay  to  Etampes. 

This  sudden  show  of  vigor  on  the  part  of  the  French  drew 
General  Von  Moltke’s  attention  more  seriously  to  the  army 
of  the  Loire,  and  he  determined  to  crush  that  force  before  it 
should  become  more  formidable.  He  therefore  sent  General 
Von  der  Tann  with  the  First  Bavarian  Corps,  the  22d  Prus¬ 
sian  division,  and  Prince  Albrecht’s  cavalry  towards  the  Loire. 

Von  der  Tann  moved  promptly,  and  encountered  the  French 
on  the  8th  of  October  near  Etampes,  driving  them  back  to 
Artenay  on  the  road  to  Orleans.  On  the  10th,  he  made  a 
sharp  attack  on  the  Freneh  positions  at  Artenay.  Reyan  had 
with  him  about  15,000  men,  but  had  no  artillery.  The  bulk 
of  the  Army  of  the  Loire  was  within  supporting  distance  of 
him ;  but  for  some  reason,  which  has  never  been  explained, 
he  was  left  during  the  entire  day  to  resist  the  German  attack 
as  best  he  could.  The  Germans,  on  the  other  hand,  not  only 
outnumbered  the  Freneh,  but  were  so  well  supplied  with  ar¬ 
tillery  that  they  were  under  no  actual  necessity  of  using  their 
infantry  at  all.  Von  der  Tann  made  a  good  use  of  his  advan¬ 
tage,  and  poured  such  a  terrible  artillery  fire  into  the  French 
lines  that  Reyan’s  men  were  forced  to  take  refuge  in  the  forest 
behind  Cercottes,  in  front  of  Orleans,  which  they  reached  in 
great  disorganization,  or  little  better  than  a  mob. 

The  Army  of  the  Loire  was  now  in  Orleans,  and  a  reenforce¬ 
ment  of  12,000  men  was  sent  to  Reyan.  General  Motterouge 
had  with  him  40,000  men,  but  they  were  more  of  a  mob  than 
an  army,  and  of  field  artillery  there  was  scarcely  any.  “  Mot¬ 
terouge,  himself,  sent  couriers  to  Tours  pleading  for  arms, 
went  himself  to  Blois,  and  his  aides  galloped  to  every  township 
and  rummaged  in  every  military  store  where  it  was  thought 
the  muzzle  of  a  field  piece  might  be  hid  A  trophy  gun  or 
two  was  found  in  some  of  the  out-of-the-way  places.  Re¬ 
wards  were  offered  to  any  one  who  could  discover  the  where¬ 
abouts  of  a  field-piece.  There  were  no  more  to  be  found. 
....  Guns,  guns,  guns,  was  the  cry  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
ranks  and  the  tacticians  in  the  cafds.  As  each  train  was  sig 


470 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  "WAR 


nailed,  they  ran  to  the  edge  of  the  platform  and  peered  into 
the  darkness  in  the  hope  of  catching  a  sight  of  a  black  muz¬ 
zle,  and  when  instead  of  that  they  saw  but  countless  white 
faces  of  men,  their  welcome  almost  took  the  form  of  a  male¬ 
diction.  And  whenever  they  turned  away  with  this  disap¬ 
pointment  at  their  hearts,  there  would  be  sure  to  be  some  be¬ 
draggled  wretch  from  Reyan’s  quarters  at  the  door  of  the 
railway  station,  to  ask  the  ordnance  officers  for  the  love  of 
God  to  tell  him  if  they  had  come.” 

Following  up  his  victory  of  the  10th  Von  der  Tann  attacked 
the  French  in  the  forest  of  Orleans  at  seven  o’clock  on  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  the  11th,  and  drove  them  into  the  city  and  its  suburbs, 
sweeping  the  woods  with  an  artillery  fire  against  which  it  was 
impossible  for  the  French  to  stand,  and  to  which  they  were 
powerless  to  make  reply.  Hurrying  forward  in  pursuit,  the 
Germans  seized  the  plateau  of  Mont  Joie,  which  commanded 
the  suburbs  of  the  city.  They  promptly  posted  about  eighty 
field  guns  on  these  heights,  and  opened  fire  upon  the  French 
who  were  crowding  into  the  town.  It  was  impossible  for 
Motterouge  to  hold  the  place  against  such  an  attack,  and  he 
gave  the  order  for  the  retreat  of  the  arm}’'  from  Orleans,  leav¬ 
ing  a  rear  guard  of  3000  of  his  best  troops  under  General 
Arago  to  cover  the  movement.  At  this  moment  a  train  loaded 
with  artillery  and  ammunition  arrived  from  Tours  and  Blois, 
but  too  late  to  do  any  good,  as  it  was  impossible  to  disem¬ 
bark  and  distribute  the  guns  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  The 
retreat  was  therefore  pressed  with  vigor. 

It  had  scarcely  begun  when  the  Germans  let  loose  a  terri¬ 
ble  fire  from  their  artillery  upon  the  rear  guard  posted  in  the 
suburbs.  For  eight  hours  their  fire  was  maintained,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  the  German  infantry  occupied  the  sub¬ 
urbs,  finding  that  the  rear  guard  had  been  almost  totally  de¬ 
stroyed  by  their  fire,  but  that  the  French  army  had  gotten 
clear  of  the  town.  They  had  several  times  attempted  to  carry 
the  position  of  the  rear  guard  by  assault,  but  had  been  driven 
back  by  the  fire  of  the  chassepot,  but  their  last  advance,  about 
seven  o’clock  in  the  evening,  encountered  no  resistance.  The 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


471 


city  was  immediately  occupied  by  the  Germans.  The  losses  on 
the  part  of  the  French  were  heavy,  including  8000  prisoners, 
taken  on  the  10th  and  11th.  The  German  loss  was  slight 
The  importance  of  the  capture  of  Orleans  will  be  seen  by 
the  following  extract  from  the  German  official  report : 

Orleans  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  cities  in  France.  The  region  north  of 
it,  the  so-called  Beauce,  is  certainly  the  most  fertile  district  we  have  as 
yet  entered.  It  provides  Paris  with  enormous  quantities  of  excellent 
wheat,  ground  by  the  steam  and  water  mills  in  the  province.  It  also 
abounds  in  oats  (which  will  be  a  great  acquisition  for  our  cavalry),  and 
produces  grapes  and  every  variety  of  fruit  in  such  plenty,  that,  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  supplying  Paris,  its  choice  articles  are  exported  to  foreign  coun¬ 
tries.  The  possession  of  the  Beauce  will  sensible  diminish  the  number 
of  our  provision  trains  from  Germany. 

The  occupation  of  Orleans  is  also  important  from  a  strategical  point 
of  view.  Situate  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Loire,  and  being  the  point  of 
junction  for  the  Central  railway,  and  the  lines  from  Nantes,  Bordeaux, 
and  Toulouse,  it  protects  our  army  from  attack  from  the  south,  and  all 
but  prevents  our  enemies  in  the  north  holding  communications  with  the 
south.  By  blowing  up  a  single  arch  of  the  two  magnificent  bridges  over 
the  Loire,  each  of  which  has  cost  2,000,000  francs,  we  render  it  difficult 
for  a  southern  enemy  to  penetrate  north,  the  next  two  bridges  at  Jar- 
geau  and  Beaugency  not  being  strong  enough  for  artillery  to  pass  over. 
Gien,  higher  up  the  river,  is  already  ours,  and  the  Sologne,  which  is  the 
name  of  the  country  lower  down,  beyond  Blois,  is  so  barren  and  desti¬ 
tute  of  roads,  that  it  serves  as  a  natural  safeguard  from  that  side.  Or¬ 
leans  is  known  for  the  pacific  disposition  of  its  inhabitants,  and  has  large 
barracks  and  other  buildings,  which  will  be  useful  should  the  campaign 
be  prolonged.* 


*  The  following  incidents  of  the  German  occupation  of  Orleans  are  inte¬ 
resting  : 

“  Here  there  has  occurred  a  touching  episode  which  will  always  have  a 
place  in  the  annals  of  the  city  as  well  as  in  the  ineffaceable  history  of  the 
war.  At  the  moment  when  the  Prussians  were  passing  through  a  village 
near  the  gates  of  Orleans,  some  of  their  soldiers  were  struck  by  shots  fired 
in  the  dark.  As  soon  as  possible  the  village  was  surrounded,  and  the  gene¬ 
ral,  summoning  the  curfi  before  him,  inquired  of  him,  as  being  the  man  whose 
statement  would  inspire  most  confidence,  whether  the  inhabitants  of  the 
commune  had  rifles  in  their  possession.  The  priest  replied  that  his  parish¬ 
ioners  had  had  arms,  but  that  they  no  longer  possessed'  them.  The  Prussians, 
however,  wished  to  make  sure  on  this  point.  They  rummaged  the  houses, 
and  even  the  church,  and  discovered  sixty  rifles  which  were  hidden  under  the 


472 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LAT^E  WAR 

The  Army  of  the  Loire  fell  back  from  Orleans  towards 
Bourges,  where  it  began  the  work  of  reorganization.  Gene¬ 
ral  La  Motterouge  was  relieved  of  his  command  by  M.  Gam- 
betta,  and  General  Bourbaki,  who  had  reached  Tours  after 
the  failure  of  his  mission  from  Metz  to  the  Empress  Eugenie, 
was  appointed  his  successor.  Bourbaki  held  the  command 
for  a  few  days  only,  during  which  time  he  worked  hard  to 
get  the  troops  in  readiness  for  the  field,  but  he  soon  resigned 
his  position,  and  was  succeeded  by  General  Aurelles  de  Pala- 
dines.  Bourbalci’s  nominal  reason  for  resigning  was  his  un¬ 
willingness  “  to  supersede  so  excellent  an  officer  as  General 
De  Paladines  but  the  real  cause  of  his  action  is  said  to  have 
been  his  inability  to  agree  with  the  Tours  Government  upon 
any  definite  plan  of  action. 

While  the  Germans  employed  themselves  in  collecting  the 
supplies  which  the  capture  of  Orleans  had  opened  to  them, 
General  De  Paladines  went  to  work  with  energy  to  make  an 
army  out  of  the  mob  placed  under  his  orders.  There  was 

altar,  probably  without  the  knowledge  of  the  cure.  As  soon  as  possible,  by 
order  of  the  general,  sixty  inhabitants  of  the  village  were  arrested  and  con¬ 
veyed  to  Orleans,  in  order  to  be  shot  the  next  morning.  They  also  arrested 
in  a  neighboring  hamlet  an  old  man  and  his  son,  sixteen  years  of  age,  who 
were  accused  of  having  fired  upon  the  Prussians,  and  who  were  also  destined 
to  expiate  that  act  by  their  lives.  The  next  morning,  a  short  time  before  the 
execution,  the  Bishop  of  Orleans  was  informed  of  the  frightful  immolation 
which  was  being  prepared.  This  generous  soul  was  indignant,  and,  without 
losing  an  instant,  he  wrote  to  the  Prussian  general,  imploring  him  in  the 
name  of  heaven  and  of  humanity  not  to  dishonor  his  cause  by  so  barbarous 
an  act.  1  Can  you,’  said  the  prelate,  with  emotion,  ‘  strike  an  old  man  and  a 
child?’  After  having  read  the  impassioned  letter  of  the  holy  bishop,  the 
general  proceeded  to  the  barrack  of  Saint  Charles,  where  the  prisoners  were 
confined.  He  ordered  them  to  go  down  into  the  court-yard,  and  when  they 
were  marshalled  before  him,  pale  and  disheartened,  he  said:  ‘You  have  de¬ 
served  death,  and  military  justice  has  condemned  you,  but  I  grant  you  a  par¬ 
don!  Only,’  added  he,  solemnly,  ‘do  not  forget  that  you  owe  your  lives  to 
your  bishop!’  The  tears  started  from  the  eyes  of  these  poor  people,  who, 
being  at  once  set  at  liberty,  went  to  kiss  with  gratitude  the  paternal  hand 
which  had  just  saved  them.  M.  Dupanloup,  moreover,  is  treated  with  the 
greatest  respect  by  the  Bavarian  officers,  who  fill  the  town.  All  of  them  are 
aware  of  his  European  reputation,  his  prestige,  and  his  great  contests,  and 
they  seek  opportunities  to  lavish  upon  him  tokens  of  deference  and  admira- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


473 


absolutely  no  discipline  among  either  officials  or  men,  and 
the  new  commaflder  promptly  inaugurated  a  rigid,  but  whole¬ 
some  severity,  which  resulted  in  a  number  of  executions,  but 
which  also  gave  something  like  order  and  efficiency  to  the 
Army  of  the  Loire. 

Meanwhile,  M.  Gambetta  flew  rapidly  about  the  country, 
organizing  the  defence.  New  armies  were  commenced,  and 
their  organization  pushed  forward  with  vigor.  By  the  mid¬ 
dle  of  October,  the  country  was  divided  into  the  following 
military  divisions : 

Division  of  the  North. — General  Bourbaki  commanding; 
headquarters  at  Lille. 

Division  of  the  West. — General  Fierck  commanding;  head¬ 
quarters  at  Le  Mans. 

Division  of  the  Centre  (Army  of  the  Loire). — General  Au- 
relles  de  Paladines  commanding;  headquarters  at  Bourges. 

Division  of  the  East. — General  Cambriels  commanding ; 
headquarters  at  Besangon. 

The  Army  of  the  Loire,  being  the  chief  hope  of  the  Bepub- 

tion.  Most  of  them  are  very  religious,  and  on  the  Sunday  following  the  oc¬ 
cupation  they  asked  for  employment  in  the  different  churches — at  the  cathe¬ 
dral,  at  St.  Paterne,  at  St.  Paul’s — in  order  that  they  might  be  able  to  assist 
at  mass  with  their  soldiers.  Every  day  of  the  week  many  of  them,  and  a 
very  large  number  of  soldiers,  go  into  the  churches,  where  they  kneel  down 
and  take  prayer-books  out  of  their  knapsacks.  Is  not  this  a  circumstance  re¬ 
markable  in  itself,  and  also  on  account  of  its  contrast  with  the  habits  of  gar¬ 
rison  life  in  France?  We  might  add  a  good  many  other  details,  but  two  will 
suffice  to  complete  the  picture  of  this  Prussian  occupation,  which  still  con¬ 
tinues.  One  morning  the  city  believed  itself  to  be  threatened  with  destruc¬ 
tion  in  consequence  of  the  wrath  of  the  Commander-in-Chief.  A  non-com¬ 
missioned  Bavarian  officer  had  been  found  stabbed  in  his  bed.  Who  was  the 
author  of  the  murder?  Was  it  attributable  to  the  irritated  patriotism  of 
some  inhabitant?  General  Von  der  Tann  announced,  by  a  proclamation, 
that  the  culprit  would  be  sought  out  and  the  house  destroyed;  but  that  if 
such  a  thing  occurred  again,  the  whole  city  would  be  pitilessly  burnt.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  municipal  council  wished  to  express,  at  a  solemn  meet¬ 
ing,  the  gratitude  of  the  public  with  regard  to  M.  Dupanloup,  ‘  whose  great 
soul  has  been,  under  grave  circumstances,  the  safeguard  and  the  providence 
of  the  city;’  and  the  council  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  the  illustrious 
bishop,  in  order  to  lay  before  him  this  eloquent  and  imperishable  testimony 
of  the  patriotism  of  the  faith.” 


474 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


lie,  received  the  principal  attention  of  M.  Gambetta.  Vigor 
ous  efforts  were  made  to  provide  it  with  arms  and  artillery, 
which  were  purchased  in  the  United  States  and  other  coun¬ 
tries,  and  were  manufactured  in  France  as  far  as  was  possible. 
Stores  of  all  kinds  were  accumulated,  and,  under  the  rigorous 
measures  of  General  De  Paladines,  the  army  began  to  give 
promise  of  accomplishing  something  really  beneficial  to  the 
country.  General  De  Paladines  announced  his  intention  of 
causing  the  first  man  who  gave  the  signal  to  retreat  before  the 
enemy  to  be  shot,  and  invited  his  men  to  deal  likewise  with 
him.  M.  Gambetta,  with  the  hope  of  stimulating  the  troops  to 
greater  efforts,  decreed  that  a  private  or  officer,  in  cases  of  great 
bravery  or  services,  might  be  promoted  as  far  over  his  supe¬ 
rior’s  head  as  his  gallantry  merited.  This  promotion  was  to 
be  provisional,  however,  and  seniority  was  to  assert  its  rights 
after  the  war. 

Count  Kdratry,  about  the  middle  of  October,  was  sent  by 
Gambetta  to  Madrid,  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  Spanish 
Government  to  the  exportation  of  arms  and  material  of  war 
into  France,  but  he  was  unsuccessful.  He  was  then  given 
the  task  of  raising  an  army  in  Brittany,  which  he  successfully 
accomplished,  and,  by  the  last  of  October,  he  had  collected  a 
force  of  25,000  well  armed  Bretons  about  Le  Mans.  This 
force  was  designed  to  be  used  as  a  reserve  army,  but  the  ne¬ 
cessities  of  the  campaign  soon  required  its  active  presence  in 
the  field. 

The  other  armies  received  a  full  share  of  Gambetta’s  atten¬ 
tion.  Quarrels  occurring  between  the  commanders  in  the 
Eastern  Departments,  he  hastened  thither,  and  succeeded  in 
restoring  harmony.  Early  in  November,  he  issued  a  decree, 
ordering  a  levy  en  masse  of  all  Frenchmen  between  the  ages 
of  twenty  and  forty  years.  The  Prefects  were  directed  to 
mobilize  and  organize  the  citizens  of  their  departments,  sub¬ 
ject  to  military  duty,  and  to  have  them  in  readiness  for  ser¬ 
vice  in  the  field  by  the  19th  of  November.  M.  Gambetta 
declared  that  the  Republic  would  take  upon  itself  the  main¬ 
tenance  of  all  children  or  others  left  without  support  in  con- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


475 


sequence  of  the  levy,  and  that  it  would  adopt  the  children 
of  all  citizens,  who  might  fall  in  the  defence  of  the  country. 
By  this  same  decree  he  declared  that  the  Minister  of  War  was 
authorized  to  take  possession  of  all  the  workshops  and  facto¬ 
ries  in  France,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  arms  and 
military  stores ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the  scarcity  of  field 
artillery,  he  ordered  that  each  department  should  furnish, 
within  the  space  of  two  months,  “  as  many  field  batteries  as 
its  population  contains  of  times  100,000  souls.”  Each  battery 
was  to  be  mounted,  equipped,  manned,  and  officered,  and  a 
chef  d’escadron  must  be  provided  for  every  three  batteries. 
The  first  of  these  batteries  was  to  be  in  readiness  within  thirty 
days.  He  ordered  that  a  telegraphic  service  should  be  at¬ 
tached  to  each  corps  d’armde,  to  establish  rapid  communica¬ 
tion  between  headquarters  and  the  nearest  permanent  line, 
and  between  headquarters  and  the  different  divisions  of  the 
army.  Other  energetic  measures  were  inaugurated,  and  were 
carried  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

M.  Gambetta’s  great  mistake  lay  in  endeavoring  to  arouse 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  of  France  by  exaggerated,  pro¬ 
clamations.  He  often  claimed  substantial  successes  where  the 
events  did  not  justify  his  assertions,  and  where  but  a  few  days 
were  needed  to  prove  them  untrue.  Decisive  German  victo¬ 
ries  were  claimed  by  him  as  highly  favorable  to  the  French 
cause,  and  when  the  truth  became  known,  the  people  began 
to  lose  confidence  in  him.  His  very  sanguineness  of  disposi¬ 
tion  led  him  into  blunders,  by  inducing  him  to  underestimate 
the  difficulties  he  had  to  encounter,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  the  country  was  thoroughly  exhausted  and  dis¬ 
heartened,  we  find  him  sincerely  convinced  that  the  struggle 
could  be  successfully  continued.  His  interference  with  the 
military  commanders  was  another  error,  and  the  political  com¬ 
plexion  which  he  gave  to  all  his  acts  lowered  him  in  the 
popular  estimation.  He  had  proclaimed  that  his  mission  was 
to  save  France  and  to  drive  out  the  enemy;  and  the  people 
viewed  with  distrust  his  efforts  to  perpetuate  the  authority  of 
himself  and  his  colleagues. 


476 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Yet  be  did  much  for  his  country,  though  he  failed  to  accom¬ 
plish  that  which  he  declared  certain  in  his  hands.  He  was 
the  cause  of  the  enthusiasm  which  lifted  up  France  from  her 
first  reverses,  and  inspired  the  whole  people  with  a  determi¬ 
nation  to  continue  the  war.  He  made  unity,  organization,  and 
courage  not  only  possible  to  the  French  people,  but  gave  to 
them  a  real  existence.  He  made  the  Army  of  the  Loire,  and 
armed  France.*  He  was  the  most  capable,  the  most  energetic, 
and  the  most  determined  of  all  the  members  of  the  Provisional 
Government,  but,  after  all,  he  was  not  the  deliverer  France 
needed.  Much  though  he  accomplished,  he  gave  his  country 
the  right  to  expect  more  of  him,  and  he  disappointed  that  ex¬ 
pectation. 

The  efforts  of  the  Provisional  Government  to  borrow  money 

*  In  justice  to  M.  Gambetta,  we  quote  here  a  portion  of  a  conversation  be¬ 
tween  the  ex-Dictator  and  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald ,  at 
Bordeaux,  on  the  28th  of  February,  in  which  the  former  seeks  to  explain  the 
causes  of  his  failure  : 

“  Correspondent.  Do  you  think  France  in  a  condition  to  continue  the 
struggle  ? 

“  Gambetta.  I  do.  If  the  people  would  show  only  ordinary  courage  and 
energy,  they  would  yet  drive  the  invader  from  their  soil.  But  the  monarch¬ 
ists  don’t  want  the  Republic  to  save  France,  and  they  have,  therefore,  thrown 
every  possible  obstacle  in  the  way.  They  prefer  that  France  should  be  lost 
rath.er  than  saved  by  the  Republic.  They  have  not  only  discouraged  the 
soldiers  by  every  possible  means,  but  they  have  imposed  the  resistance  of 
inertia ,  which  is  something  immense,  to  every  effort  that  could  be  made,  and 
they  hope  by  signing  a  dishonorable  peace  to  turn  popular  feeling  against 
the  Republic.  And  you  will  see  within  a  very  short  time  that  these  very 
men  who  are  now  crying *  1  Peace,  peace,’  will  be  the  first  to  denounce  the  Re¬ 
public  for  having  concluded  a  dishonorable  bargain  with  Bismarck.  If  they 
had  let  me  go  on  two  months  longer,  I  am  sure  I  would  have  succeeded.  I 
would  have  had  two  millions  of  men  under  arms,  well  armed  and  equipped ; 
I  would  have  carried  on  pitiless  war  against  the  Prussians,  who  are  as  tired 
as  we  are,  and  who  would  have  been  glad  to  go  home  and  defend  themselves. 

I  am  satisfied  that  if  the  American  people  were  placed  in  exactly  the  same 
position  as  the  French,  they  would  drive  out  the  invader  in  thirty  days. 

“  Correspondent.  I  am  much  flattered  for  your  opinion  of  the  American 
people,  but  must  say  that  I  think  you  are  right. 

“  Gambetta.  I  am  sure  of  it.  The  whole  population  would  have  retired 
as  the  enemy  advanced,  carrying  off  as  much  of  their  property  as  possible 
and  destroying  the  rest.  Every  man,  married  or  single,  old  or  young, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


477 


were  successful — Frenchmen  of  all  shades  of  opinion  endorsing 
the  assertion  that,  whatever  Government  the  future  might 
bring  to  France,  every  franc  loaned  for  the  conduct  of  the 
war  would  be  scrupulously  repaid,  with  the  promised  interest. 
Towards  the  last  of  October,  the  new  loan  of  250,000,000 
francs,  bearing  six  per  cent,  interest,  was  introduced  into  the 
London  money  market,  and  was  favorably  received  at  the 
London  stock  exchange.  It  was  soon  taken  up. 

While  the  French  were  making  these  efforts,  the  German 

would  have  taken  his  gun  and  would  have  carried  on  a  war  of  extermination 
against  the  invader.  You  would  have  had  4,000,000  of  men  under  arms  in  a 
month,  shooting  them  down  from  every  bush  and  every  hillside.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  advance  far  into  a  country  under  such  circumstances. 

“  Correspondent.  Why  did  you  not  attempt  to  carry  out  this  plan? 

“  Gambetta.  I  did.  I  sent  decrees  ordering  the  evacuation  of  the  country 
before  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  but  the  prifets  found  it  impossible  to  exe¬ 
cute  them.  Not  a  man  would  budge  ;  and  not  only  that,  they  threatened  to 
shoot  any  pr(fet  that  would  attempt  to  execute  my  orders.  They  said,  1  If  we 
go  away  and  leave  our  houses,  the  Prussians  will  burn  them  ;  if  they  come 
they  will  take  half,  perhapp,  but  we  have  half  left,  which  is  better  than 
nothing.’ 

“  Correspondent.  What  do  you  think  of  the  Government  of  Paris  ? 

“  Gambetta.  Utterly  incapable.  If  Trochu  had  been  a  man  of  resolution, 
ho  would  have  cut  a  way  through  the  army  of  besiegers. 

“Correspondent.  In  what  particular  point  did  he  fail? 

“Gambetta.  Want  of  activity.  He  should  have  attacked  and  harassed  the 
enemy  continually — have  kept  them  in  a  perpetual  state  of  alarm — so  that 
they  would  never  know  on  what  point  an  assault  was  to  be  made.  He  Would 
have  inured  his  soldiers  to  fatigue,  he  would  have  accustomed  them  to  stand 
under  fire ;  he  had  the  time,  in  fact,  to  make  a  splendid  army,  ready  to  un¬ 
dertake,  at  the  call  of  its  leader,  any  desperate  attempt  for  the  salvation  of 
the  country.  As  it  was,  he  remained  quietly  within  the  walls,  gave  the 
enemy  time  to  fortify  himself  at  his  ease,  and  only  made  one  really  serious 
attempt  to  break  through.  The  old  story — want  of  perseverance.  Because 
he  failed  once,  he  thought  success  was  impossible,  and  lay  inactive  until  he 
was  starved  out. 

“Correspondent.  Well,  to  sum  up  all,  what  are  the  general  causes  which 
have  led  to  the  failure  in  this  war? 

“  Gambetta.  Want  of  capacity  in  the  officers  I  was  obliged  to  employ _ offi¬ 

cers  of  the  Empire  ;  I  had  no  others — and  want  of  energy  in  the  people  them¬ 
selves.  I  did  all  in  my  power  to  save  them.  I  gave  them  1,000,000  guns, 
with  uniforms,  munitions,  artillery,  horses,  provisions — everything  that  was 
necessary  to  defend  themselves — but  they  stood  still  and  expected  me  alone 


4TS 


HISTORY  OF  TI1E  LATE  WAR 


Porte  St.  Denis  :  Paris. 


forces  were  busy  also.  Soissons  having  fallen,  the  Dijke  of 
Mecklenburg  marched  upon  St.  Quentin,  which  surrendered 
to  him  on  the  21st  of  October.  On  the  same  day  Prince  Al¬ 
brecht’s  cavalry  occupied  the  city  of  Chartres,  one  of  the 
wealthiest  cities  and  largest  corn  markets  in  France.  On 
the  18th,  a  detachment  of  General  Von  der  Tann’s  army,  from 

to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  country.  Que  voulez-vous?  You  cannot  save  a 
people  in  spite  of  themselves.  I  have  done  m3'  duty,  et  salvavi  animam  meam. 

“  Correspondent.  Were  the  officers  generally  incapable  ? 

“  Gambetta.  Yes,  sir.  The  officers  of  the  Empire  generally,  ne  valaient  pas 
le  diable,  and  I  had  no  others.  Why,  at  Beaumont,  40,000  Prussians  marched 
right  into  the  French  camp  and  took  them  by  surprise;  and  it  has  been  since 
proven  that  they  did  not  have  out  a  single  picket.  The  officers  were  playing 
cards  somewhere,  I  suppose. 

“Correspondent.  Do  you  think  the  Republic  is  safe? 

“Gambetta.  It  is  doubtful.  If  it  falls,  it  will  be  by  a  dishonorable  peace. 
The  monarchists  are  active  and  powerful,  and  will  hesitate  at  no  means  to 
accomplish  their  ends.  Nevertheless,  they  cannot  succeed  long.  We  intend 
to  wage  them  a  bitter  and  implacable  war.  I  believe  that  the  Republican 
sentiment  is  now  too  strong  in  France  to  ever  be  crushed  out,  and  woe  to  the 
monarch  that  tries  it.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


479 


Orleans,  occupied  Chateaudun,  for  the  porpose  of  covering  his 
right  flank  and  watching  the  French  forces  collecting  in  the 
direction  of  Le  Mans.  On  the  23d,  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg 
evacuated  St.  Quentin,  and  marched  towards  Le  Mans,  with 
the  intention  of  attacking  the  Breton  army  at  that  place.  The 
force,  including  the  cavalry  of  Prince  Albrecht,  sent  by  Yon 
der  Tann  to  Chartres,  was  20,000  strong,  and,  not  counting 
the  detachment  at  Chateaudun,  the  rest  of  his  army  lay  around, 
or  to  the  south  of  Orleans.  The  22d  Prussian  division  was 
recalled  to  Paris  soon  after  the  capture  of  Orleans,  and,  thus 
weakened,  Yon  der  Tann  remained  inactive,  watching  the 
French,  of  whose  efforts  to  place  an  army  in  the  field  he  was 
but  imperfectly  informed.  Lest  the  French  should  succeed 
in  forming  this  army  sooner  than  he  expected,  and  slip  around 
Yon  der  Tann’s  position  and  fall  upon  the  rear  of  the  armies 
before  Paris,  General  Yon  Moltke  detached  columns  of  vari¬ 
ous  strength  from  the  investing  forces,  and  placed  them  in 
positions  to  command  the  various  roads  leading  to  the  capital, 
thus  forming  a  huge  semicircle  of  posts  extending  from  Or¬ 
leans  on  the  south,  through  Chateaudun,  Chartres,  Evreux, 
Beauvais,  Breteuil,  and  Montdidier,  to  Compiegne  on  the 
north. 

Meanwhile  the  hopes  of  the  French  received  a  severe  shock 
in  the  surrender  of  Metz,  on  the  27th  of  October,  and  on  the 
11th  of  November  the  fortress  of  Verdun  capitulated.  These 
two  surrenders  set  free  upwards  of  200,000  German  troops, 
and  added  these  to  the  forces  against  which  the  French  armies 
then  in  the  field  had  to  contend.  The  depression  produced  by 
the  fall  of  Metz  was  very  general  throughout  France,  but  had 
the  French  commanders  been  possessed  of  the  proper  decision 
and  energy,  it  need  not  have  hatha  very  damaging  effect  upon 
the  prospects  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire. 

That  army  had  been  increased  to  a  strength  of  120,000  men, 
of  which  a  goodly  number  were  old  soldiers,  Papal  Zouaves, 
Foreign  Legionaries,  &c.  It  had  been  to'erably  well  supplied 
with  field  artillery  by  the  energy  of  Gambelta,  and  the  severe 
measures  of  General  De  Paladines  had  succeeded  in  bringing 


480 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TEAR 


about  a  state  of  discipline  which  had  not  been  witnessed  in 
any  French  force  since  the  opening  of  the  war.  It  was  tolera¬ 
bly  well  clothed,  and  was  well  provided  with  small  arms, 
although  some  of  these  were  muzzle  loading  guns.  Provisions 
and  ammunition  were  abundant,  and  the  troops  were  once 
more  hopeful  of  success.  The  army  was  divided  into  four 
corps,  the  15th,  General  Palli^re,  the  16th,  General  Chanzy, 
the  17th,  General  Sonnis,  and  the  20th,  General  Crouzat. 

One  corps  of  this  army  had  been  stationed  at  Mer,  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Loire,  to  cover  the  city  of  Tours,  while  the 
rest  lay  south  of  the  river,  the  headquarters  of  the  army  being 
at  La  Ferte  St  Aubin,  twelve  miles  south  of  Orleans.  On  the 
6th  of  November,  General  De  Paladines  broke  up  his  camp, 
crossed  the  river  at  Beaugency,  and  took  position  on  the  north 
bank,  his  general  line,  including  the  corps  at  Mer,  extending 
from  the  Loire  on  the  right  to  Marchenoir  on  the  left,  with 
the  forest  of  Marchenoir  in  his  front.  This  disposition  seri¬ 
ously  threatened  Von  der  Tann’s  communications  with  Paris. 
The  German  commander  had  with  him  in  the  vicinity  of  Or¬ 
leans  about  25,000  men,  and  De  Paladines  had  formed  the  reso¬ 
lution  of  crushing  him  before  assistance  could  be  received  from 
the  army  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  which  was  known  to 
be  approaching. 

The  news  of- the  approach  of  the  French  army  filled  General 
Von  der  Tann  with  grave  misgivings,  but  he  manfully  collec¬ 
ted  his  whole  force,  and  leaving  only  a  regiment  in  Orleans 
marched  towards  the  French  position  to  develop  their  inten¬ 
tions.  He  was  not  able  to  withdraw  his  troops  from  either 
Chartres  or  Chateaudun  until  the  intentions  of  the  French 
were  fully  understood,  and  in  order  to  test  their  strength  he 
sent,  on  the  7th  of  November,  a  force  of  6000  men  to  drive 
them  out  of  the  wood  of  Marchenoir.  This  force  was  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss  by  the  French  advanced  guard. 

There  never  was  a  time  during  the  whole  war  when  a  more 
brilliant  success,  or  series  of  successes  offered  themselves  to 
the  French,  but  it  was  the  misfortune  of  that  country — whose 
boast  it  was  that  its  officers  were  trained  in  the  school  of  the 
great  Napoleon — never  to  have  a  commander  of  sufficient 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


481 


vigor  and  daring  to  profit  by  bis  chances.  It  is  true  that 
there  were  difficulties  in  the  way  of  De  Paladines.  His  army 
was  untried,  and  he  doubted  its  discipline,  but  the  sequel 
proved  that  it  could  fight  well,  and  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  with  a  daring  and  skilful  leader  it  would  have 
won  great  successes.  YonderTann  lay  at  Orleans,  with  more 
than  twenty  thousand  of  his  troops  thrown  out  to  Cbateaudun 
and  Chartres ;  the  Grand  Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  with  about 
20,000  men,  was  marching  by  Paris  towards  Le  Mans ;  and 
Prince  Frederick  Charles,  with  75,000  men,  was  approaching 
in  the  direction  of  the  upper  Yonne.  The  junction  of  these 
forces  was  certain  within  a  week,  if  nothing  unfavorable  to 
them  occurred,  and  this  concentration  would  oppose  about 
125,000  veteran  troops  to  the  army  of  the  Loire.  When  De 
Paladines  began  his  movement,  the  distance  between  these 
forces  was  sufficient  to  admit  of  their  being  attacked  in  detail ; 
and  he  should  have  risked  everything  to  crush  Von  der  Tann 
at  once,  and  then  have  thrown  his  command,  superior  to 
either  of  the  German  columns,  against  the  others  as  he  came 
up  with  them.  Von  der  Tann  and  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg 
could  have  been  crushed,  and  if  the  French  commander  had 
not  been  able  to  beat  Frederick  Charles’  three  corps,  he  could 
at  least  have  driven  the  Germans  to  such  extremities  that 
they  would  have  been  compelled  to  make  serious  changes  in 
their  plan  of  operations,  and  he  could  to  a  great  extent  have 
neutralized  the  advantages  which  the  release  of  the  Red 
Prince’s  army  from  Metz  had  placed  in  their  hands.  The 
army  investing  Paris  would  have  been  necessarily  weakened  to 
reenforce  the  troops  acting  against  Von  der  Tann,  and  Ducrot 
would  not  have  met  with  such  obstacles  in  his  effort  to  break 
out  of  Paris.  We  are  far  from  asserting  that  it  was  in  the 
power  of  the  French  either  to  raise  the  siege  of  Paris  or  to 
inflict  a  defeat  upon  the  combined  forces  which  the  Germans 
would  finally  have  brought  to  bear  upon  them;  but  they 
could  have  compelled  most  important  changes  in  the  German 
plan,  and  have  at  least  placed  the  defence  of  their  country 
upon  a  better  footing  than  it  had  held  up  to  that  time. 

31 


482 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


After  the  engagement  of  the  7th,  De  Paladines  continued 
to  approach  the  German  lines.  Moving  from  his  position  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Loire,  on  the  8th,  he  advanced  his  left 
and  held  back  his  right,  so  as  to  swing  his  force  around 
Orleans,  and  seize  the  roads  to  Chateaudun  and  Toury,  which 
the  Germans  had  been  using  for  their  communications  for 
several  weeks  previous.  He  also  sent  a  column  along  the 
left  bank  of  the  river  to  attack  Orleans  from  the  south,  and  a 
strong  cavalry  force,  under  General  Pallielres  was  directed  to 
cross  the  Loire  near  Chateauneuf,  and  endeavor  to  cut  off'  the 
German  retreat. 

Yon  der  Tann  had  taken  position  on  the  Chateaudun  road, 
to  the  northwest  of  Orleans,  with  his  main  body,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  9th  of  November  he  was  sharply  attacked  by 
the  right  wing  of  the  French  army,  moving  to  the  north  of 
Coulmiers.  The  attack  fell  upon  the  First  Bavarian  Corps, 
which  was  greatly  outnumbered  by  the  French  ;  and  which 
was  beaten  back  after  a  gallant  struggle,  covering  the  greater 
part  of  the  day.  Yon  der  Tann  now  resolved  to  abandon  the 
Chateaudun  road,  and  retreat  to  Toury  on  the  direct  line  to 
Paris,  where  he  hoped  to  be  reenforced,  as  he  had  promptly 
apprized  the  King  of  his  danger.  His  retreat  was  made  on 
the  night  of  the  9th,  in  good  order.  On  the  10th,  the  Ger¬ 
mans  made  a  stand  at  Baccon,  a  few  miles  north  of  Orleans, 
beyond  the  forest  of  Cercottes,  but  were  forced  to  continue 
their  retreat  to  Toury.*  The  French  took  two  guns,  a  num¬ 
ber  of  provision  and  ammunition  wagons  from  the  Germans, 
and  one  thousand  prisoners,  a  portion  of  whom  comprised  the 

*  General  De  Paladines  announced  his  victory  to  the  Tours  Government 
in  the  following  bulletin  : 

“We  have  taken  possession  of  the  city  of  Orleans  after  a  fight  which  has 
lasted  two  days.  Our  aggregate  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  do  not  reach 
2000,  while  those  of  the  enemy  are  much  larger. 

“We  have  made  more  than  1000  prisoners  thus  far,  and  are  continually 
adding  to  them  as  we  follow  up  the  fleeing  enemy.  Among  the  property 
captured  are  two  cannon  of  the  Prussian  model,  twenty  ammunition  wagons, 
and  a  great  number  of  vans  and  provision  wagons.  The  hottest  of  the  fight 
took  place  around  Coulmiers,  on  Wednesday,  the  9th.  Notwithstanding  the 


483 


Palace  of  Fontainebleau.  The  Fountain  Court. 


484 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


German  sick  and  wounded  left  in  Orleans.  Upon  reaching 
Toury,  General  Yon  der  Tann  was  reenforced  by  the  troops 
which  had  been  called  in  from  Chartres  and  Chateaudun,  and  on 
the  11th  the  arrival  of  the  Thirteenth  Corps,  under  the  Grand 
Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  the  direction  of  whose  march  had  been 
changed  after  the  advance  of  the  French,  increased  the  Ger¬ 
man  force  to  60,000  men.  The  command  of  the  whole  force 
was  assumed  by  the  Grand  Duke. 

The  French  occupied  Orleans  immediately  after  the  battle, 
and  were  greatly  elated  by  their  success.  “  Cowed  by  losing 
every  battle  since  Saarbriick,  they  had  lost  all  hopes.  Now, 
as  they  mounted  guard  around  the  captured  caissons  and 
guns,  they  looked  proud  and  cheerful,  and  a  new  ‘fire 
was  up  in  their  eye.’  ”  General  De  Paladines  issued  a  ring¬ 
ing  address,  thanking  the  troops  for  what  they  had  accom¬ 
plished,  and  M.  Gambetta  tendered  them  the  thanks  of  the 
nation  in  an  eloquent  proclamation.  All  over  France  the 
news  of  the  victory  of  Baccon  was  hailed  with  the  greatest 
enthusiasm,  an  enthusiasm  which  should  have  been  fostered 
by  further  efforts.  Reenforcements  were  sent  forward  with 
speed  to  De  Paladines,  and  M.  Gambetta  publicly  announced 
that  the  Army  of  the  Loire  had  taken  the  road  to  Paris. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  fall  of  Metz  prevented  De  Pala¬ 
dines  from  making  a  successful  effort  for  the  relief  of  Paris. 
To  a  certain  extent  this  is  true;  but  the  delay  exhibited  by 
that  General  after  his  victory  over  Yon  der  Tann  justifies  us 
in  believing  that  he  would  not  have  displayed  the  vigor  and 

bad  weather  and  other  unfavorable  circumstances,  the  ilan  displayed  by  the 
troops  was  remarkable.” 

King  William  sent  the  following  to  the  Queen  of  Prussia: 

“Versailles,  November  1HA. 

“To  Queen  Augusta : 

“  General  Von  der  Tann  yesterday  retired  from  Orleans  to  Toury  before  a 
superior  force  of  the  enemy.  He  fought  the  French,  however,  all  the  way. 
Me  has  already  been  reenforced  by  General  Wittich  and  Prince  Ollrich. 
The  latter  came  up  from  Chartres.  The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin 
will  also  ioin  his  forces  to  those  of  Von  der  Tann  to-day. 


“  Wilhelm.1 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


485 


decision  necessary  to  the  task  of  raising  the  siege  of  the  capi¬ 
tal,  even  had  Frederick  Charles  been  still  at  Metz.  The 
necessity  for  promptness  and  decision  was  very  great,  but 
General  De  Paladines  exhibited  neither  quality.  His  army 
was  vastly  superior  to  that  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  and 
was  flushed  with  its  success.  The  army  of  Frederick  Charles 
was  several  days  oft',  and  could  not  possibly  have  reached  the 
Grand  Duke  in  time  to  assist  him  if  the  French  had  followed 
up  their  advantages  as  they  should  have  done.  Neither  could 
the  Duke  have  received  reinforcements  from  Paris  before  his 
fate  would  have  been  decided.  The  Germans  fully  expected 
such  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  French,  and  there  was 
no  little  uneasiness  at  the  royal  headquarters  in  consequence 
of  that  anticipation. 

But  General  De  Paladines  was  not  the  man  for  the  occasion. 
He  never  put  forth  his  hand  to  seize  the  success  within  his 
grasp.  He  seemed  paralyzed  by  the  approaching  concentra¬ 
tion  of  the  Gennan  forces,  and  remained  idle  around  Orleans, 
exerting  himself  only  to  cover  his  position  with  a  series  of 
entrenchments  which  he  proceeded  to  arm  with  heavy  ship 
guns  brought  from  the  arsenal  at  Rochefort. 

Meanwhile  strong  columns  of  French  troops  had  made 
their  appearance  on  the  roads  leading  from  Dreux  (to  which 
place  the  Breton  army  had  advanced),  Evreux,  and  Rouen. 
Prince  Frederick  Charles,  who  was  marching  to  attack  De 
Paladines  in  the  rear,  was  ordered  to  move  towards  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
lflth,  and  took  command  of  all  the  German  forces  present. 
Manteuffel,  who  had  been  advancing  from  Metz  towards  Lille 
for  the  conquest  of  northern  France,  and  had  reached  Tergnier, 
the  junction  of  the  railways  branching  to  Lille  and  Amiens, 
was  ordered  to  make  a  forced  march  on  the  latter  place  ;  it 
being  Von  Moltke’s  intention  to  cover  the  armies  before 
Paris  with  a  strong  cordon  of  troops,  extending  from  Beau¬ 
vais  on  the  north,  by  Mantes,  Dreux  and  Chartres,  to  Etampes 
and  Fontainebleau,  on  the  south. 

The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  at  once  moved  with  his  own 


486 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


force  to  occupy  the  positions  assigned  him,  and  on  the  17th 
and  18th  of  November  drove  the  Breton  Army  under  Fierck 
and  Kbratry  out  of  Evreux  and  Dreux,  compelling  it  to  re¬ 
treat  towards  Le  Mans.  Prince  Frederick  Charles  immedi¬ 
ately  upon  his  arrival,  moved  his  forces  forward  toward  the 
French,  his  general  line  extended  from  Beaune-la-Rolande 
near  Montargis  on  the  left,  to  Dreux  on  the  right,  these  points 
being  distant  from  each  other  about  sixty  miles  in  an  air  line. 
The  headquarters  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles  were  at  Pithi- 
viers,  and  those  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  were  at  Chartres. 
Yon  der  Tann’s  Corps  was  between  Bonneval  (9  miles  north 
of  Chateaudun)  and  the  Paris  and  Orleans  Railway  ;  the  Ninth 
Prussian  Corps  was  across  that  road  in  front  of  Toury  ;  the 
Third  Corps  was  in  front  of  Pithiviers,  and  the  Tenth  Corps, 
which  held  the  extreme  left,  was  at  Beaune-la-Rolande. 

The  French  line  extended  from  Marchenoir  on  the  left  to 
the  Gien  and  Montargis  road  on  the  right.  The  left  was  held 
by  the  Sixteenth  Corps  under  General  Chanzy,  and  the  Seven¬ 
teenth  Corps  under  General  Sonnis  ;  the  Fifteenth  Corps  under 
General  Pallibres,  was  in  the  rear  of  Artenay ;  the  Twentieth 
Corps  under  General  Crouzat,  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Ladon, 
seven  miles  southeast  of  Beaune-la-Rolande,  and  nine  miles  due 
west  of  Montargis.  The  Eighteenth  (raised  at  Nevers)  under 
General  Bourbaki,  who  had  been  recalled  from  Lille,  arrived  a 
few  days  later,  and  was  posted  four  miles  south  of  Montargis. 
In  addition  to  his  force,  was  the  Army  of  the  West,  at  Le  Mans, 
consisting  of  the  Twenty-first  Corps  and  25,000  Bretons  under 
Keratry.  It  became  necessary  to  place  the  whole  force  under 
the  orders  of  General  Fierck,  commanding  the  Twenty-first 
Corps;  whereupon  the  “good  patriot”  Keratry  resigned  his 
position  in  an  insulting  letter  to  the  Minister  of  War,  and 
gave  convincing  proof  of  what  had  long  been  suspected — that 
he  was  more  mindful  of  the  ambition  and  interest  of  Count 
Keratry  than  of  the  good  of  France. 

The  French  commanders  now  determined  to  make  a  deci¬ 
sive  effort  to  raise  the  siege  of  Paris.  It  was  agreed  between 
Generals  Trochu  and  De  Paladines  that  the  latter  should  at 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


487 


tack  and  drive  back  the  army  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles, 
and  march  upon  Paris  by  way  of  Fontainebleau,  and  that  at 
the  same  time  the  former  should  break  through  the  investing 
line  of  the  Germans  on  the  Marne,  and  occupy  a  position  from 
which  he  could  cooperate  with  the  Army  of  the  Loire  in  its 
approach  from  Fontainebleau.  Both  movements  were  to  begin 
on  the  28th  of  November ;  and  it  was  expected  that  the  Army 
of  the  Loire,  if  successful  in  its  efforts,  would  reach  the  vicin¬ 
ity  of  Paris  about  the  1st  of  December.  We  shall  pass  for 
the  present  over  the  details  of  Trochu’s  part  of  the  movement, 
and  shall  refer  to  it  at  length  in  another  chapter.  Trochu 
collected  a  strong  column  under  the  immediate  command  of 
General  Ducrot,  and  was  in  readiness  to  begin  his  attack  on 
the  29th  of  November,  but  was  compelled  to  postpone  it  until 
the  next  day,  in  consequence  of  a  sudden  rise  in  the  Marne. 
On  the  30th,  he  commenced  his  effort  to  break  through  the 
German  line. 

De  Paladines  exerted  himself  with  energ}1-  to  carry  out  his 
part  of  the  arrangement.  On  the  28th  of  November,  he 
moved  the  Twentieth  Corps  from  Ladon  and  the  Eighteenth 
Corps  from  Montargis,  both  under  General  Bourbaki,  against 
the  Prussian  Tenth  Corps  under  Voights-Rhetz,  at  Beaune- 
la-Rolande.  Could  he  succeed  in  forcing  back  the  Germans 
from  this  position,  which  was  the  key  to  their  whole  line,  as 
well  as  of  the  great  plain  of  Beuce,  which  extends  from  Paris 
to  Orleans,  there  would  be  nothing  to  hinder  his  rapid  march 
to  Paris  to  the  assistance  of  Trochu.  Bourbaki  made  his  at¬ 
tack  with  the  Twentieth  Corps,  at  two  o’clock  in  the  after¬ 
noon,  and  for  six  hours  the  battle  raged  furiously.  The 
Tenth  Corps  made  a  gallant  resistance,  but  it  was  steadily 
beaten  back  by  the  superior  numbers  of  the  French,  who 
fought  with  a  resolution  which  surprised  the  Germans. 
Towards  nightfall  Prince  Frederick  Charles  arrived  from 
Pithiviers  with  a  part  of  the  Third  Prussian  Corps.  He  came 
in  good  time,  for  the  men  of  the  Tenth  Corps  had  exhausted 
their  ammunition  and  were  giving  way.  Had  his  arrival  been 
delayed  one  hour  he  would  have  found  Voights-Rhetz  in  full 


488 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


retreat  and  the  French  on  the  road  to  Paris.  The  Prince  at 
once  threw  his  fresh  troops  into  the  fight,  checked  the  advance 
of  the  French,  and  finally  compelled  them  to  withdraw  to 
wards  their  position  of  the  morning.  The  Germans  bivouacked 
on  the  battle-field  that  night,  having  lost  1000  men  and  a  few 
officers  in  the  operations  of  the  day.  The  French  left  1000 
dead  on  the  field,  1600  were  taken  prisoners,  and  their  wounded 
were  supposed  to  number  4000.* 

Prince  Frederick  Charles,  warned  by  his  narrow  escape  of 
the  danger  of  holding  so  extended  a  line,  now  ordered  the 
Duke  of  Mecklenburg  to  close  in  from  Chartres  on  the  centre, 
as  he  intended  to  concentrate  his  army  on  a  shorter  front. 
Mecklenburg’s  troops  had  been  engaged  in  hard  marching 
and  frequent  encounters  with  the  French  since  the  9th  of 
November,  and  the  men  were  in  many  instances  without 
shoes,  but  in  spite  of  this,  he  promptly  obeyed  the  order  to 
close  in  on  the  right  of  the  Bavarians. 

The  29  th  and  30th  of  November  were  passed  by  both  the 
German  and  French  commanders  in  manoeuvring  for  posi¬ 
tion,  the  movements  of  Frederick  Charles  being  hampered  to 
some  extent  by  the  necessity  to  await  news  of  the  result  of 
Ducrot’s  sortie  on  the  Marne.  On  the  evening  of  the  30th 
news  was  received  at  the  French  headquarters  that  Ducrot 
had  succeeded  in  securing  a  favorable  position  across  the 
Marne,  and  it  was  decided  to  resume  hostilities  the  next  day. 
This  time,  however,  the  effort  was  to  be  made  by  the  left 
wing,  under  General  Chanzy.  Accordingly,  on  the  1st  of 
December,  Chanzy,  with  the  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps, 
fell  upon  Yon  der  Tann  near  Patay,  driving  him  back,  and 
at  nightfall  occupied  all  the  positions  the  Bavarians  had  held 
in  the  morning.  The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  had  not  yet  com¬ 
pleted  his  closing  in  movement,  and  had  Chanzy  followed  up 
his  success  by  a  further  advance,  he  would  have  thrust  his 
two  corps  between  the  Duke  and  Yon  der  Tann,  and  have 
prevented  their  junction.  He  failed  to  do  this,  however,  and 


*  King  William’s  estimate. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


489 


Prince  Frederick  Charles  at  once  sent  word  to  Mecklenburg 
to  quicken  his  pace  and  close  in  upon  the  Bavarians,  and  di¬ 
rected  him  when  his  junction  with  Yon  der  Tann  was  fairly 
accomplished,  to  attack  the  French  with  his  combined  force 
and  drive  them  back  upon  Orleans.  Enough  had  been  learned 
of  Ducrot’s  effort  to  make  it  certain  that  the  Red  Prince  would 
not  be  needed  at  Paris,  and  he  was  determined  to  turn  with¬ 
out  delay  upon  De  Paladines  and  beat  him.  His  own  army 
was  in  the  neighborhood  of  125,000  strong,  while  the  French 
forces  before  him  numbered  nearly  200,000  men. 

Mecklenburg  succeeded  in  joining  Yon  der  Tann  on  the 
night  of  the  1st  of  December.  He  at  once  made  his  dispo¬ 
sitions  for  the  attack,  which  he  meant  to  deliver  the  next 
morning;  but  at  eight  o’clock,  on  the  2d  of  December,  Chanzy 
anticipated  him  by  opening  the  battle  with  a  sharp  assault  on 
the  Bavarians.  The  Germans  at  once  brought  their  troops 
into  action,  and  though  fortune  at  first  seemed  to  favor  the 
French,  the  latter  were  driven  back  with  severe  loss  towards 
their  original  position.  “  All  day  long  the  battle  raged. 
Hundreds  of  houses  were  in  flames  from  the  bursting  shells, 
and  villages  burned  all  along  the  line.  As  night  approached, 
on  one  side  the  moon  shown  brightly,  and  on  the  other  the 
whole  horizon  was  illumined  by  the  glare  of  burning  houses 
and  villages.  The  ground  was  very  well  adapted  for  cavalry 
charges,  and  opposite  Artenay  the  Fourth  (Prussian)  cavalry 
division  was  very  active.  At  one  time  was  to  be  seen  along 
the  road  a  herd  of  over  100  riderless  horses,  which  galloped 
along  in  great  terror,  most  of  them  being  very  badly  wounded, 
and  covered  with  blood.  A  whole  cavalry  regiment  had  been 
broken  by  a  deadly  mitrailleuse  fire.” 

The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  succeeded  not  only  in  driving 
back  Chanzy’s  two  corps,  but  also  in  thrusting  his  force  be¬ 
tween  them  and  Pallieres’  Fifteenth  Corps,  which  held  the 
position  near  Artenay.  The  left  flank  of  this  corps  being  ex¬ 
posed  by  this  movement,  it  fell  back  from  Artenay  to  Che- 
villy,  closely  followed  by  the  Prussian  Ninth  Corps. 

Frederick  Charles  saw  the  advantage  which  the  defeat  of 


490 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


the  French  left,  and  the  enforced  retreat  of  their  centre  placed 
in  his  bands,  and  he  was  brought  to  profit  by  it.  On  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  he  directed  the  Ninth  Prussian  Corps  to 
attack  the  French  Fifteenth  Corps  at  Chevilly,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  threw  the  Third  Prussian  Corps  against  the 
French  Twentieth  Corps  at  Cbilleure-au-Bois  (due  east  from 
Artenay  on  the  road  from  Orleans  to  Pithiviers) ;  and  in  order 
to  prevent  assistance  being  sent  to  the  French  right,  he  thurst 
the  Tenth  Prussian  Corps  between  the  Twentieth  and  the 
Eighteenth  French  Corps,  the  latter  of  which  was  posted  at 
Ladon.  At  the  same  time  Mecklenburg  was  ordered  to  con¬ 
tinue  to  press  Chanzy  back  towards  Orleans.  The  entire  Ger¬ 
man  plan  was  successful.  De  Paladines,  who  on  the  previous 
night  had  been  so  hopeful  of  success  as  to  assure  the  Bishop 
of  Orleans  that  he  would  have  the  pleasure  of  apprising  him 
of  a  victory  on  the  morrow,  was  astonished  to  find  hinself 
assailed  by  the  Germans  along  his  whole  line.  He  made  a 
gallant  resistance,  but  though  his  force  was  nearly  double  that 
of  the  Germans,  he  was  no  match  for  the  great  soldier  who 
was  directing  the  movements  against  him.  His  entire  army 
was  forced  back.  Chanzy,  with  the  Sixteenth  and  Seven¬ 
teenth  Corps,  withdrew  sullenly  towards  Meung,  being  una¬ 
ble  to  reach  Orleans,  and  the  Fifteenth  Corps  alone  succeeded 
in  occupying  the  defences  of  the  city.  The  Twentieth  French 
Corps  was  cut  off  from  Orleans  by  the  turning  of  its  left  flank, 
and  was  obliged  to  retire  across  the  Loire  at  Jargeau,  whence 
it  retreated  upon  Yierzon.  The  Eighteenth  Corps  was  thus 
entirely  isolated,  and  General  Bourbaki  retired  to  Sully  on 
the  Loire,  whence  he  marched  to  Gien,  where  he  crossed  the 
Loire,  and  continued  his  retreat  to  Bourges.  The  Twentieth 
Corps  subsequently  withdrew  to  the  same  place,  and  after  the 
evacuation  of  Orleans,  the  Fifteenth  Corps  also  retired  to 
Bourges,  where  all  three  were  united  under  the  command  of 
General  Bourbaki. 

The  morning  of  the  4th  of  December  found  the  Army  of 
the  Loire  broken  into  three  parts.  The  right  was  retreating 
in  two  portions  on  Bourges,  every  step  carrying  it  further 


491 


Burial  of  French  Soldiers  in  Trenches  at  Chevilly,  near  Orleans,  by  the  Sanitary  Corps. 


492 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


from  the  remainder  of  the  army ;  the  centre  was  holding 
Orleans;  and  the  left  was  withdrawing  westwardly  towards 
Blois  and  Tours.  The  army  was  hopelessly  ruined,*  and  on 
the  previous  night  General  De  Paladines  had  sorrowfully  in¬ 
formed  Gambetta  that  it  would  not  be  possible  to  hold  Orleans. 
Gambetta  had  at  first  urged  him  to  endeavor  to  hold  the  city 
at  all  hazards,  and  had  protested  against  the  proposed  evacua¬ 
tion,  but  had  finally  yielded  to  De  Paladines.  On  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  the  4th,  however,  the  Dictator  was  informed  by  the 
General  that  he  had  changed  his  mind,  and  would  endeavor 
to  retain  the  city.  Gambetta  was  at  Blois  when  he  received 
this  message,  and  he  instantly  started  for  Orleans.  “  The 
train  was  ordered  forward  at  lightning  speed.  At  La  Chapelle, 
a  few  miles  south-west  of  Orleans,  the  engineer  rang  his  bell 
in  terror,  and  came  to  a  sudden  halt,  while  Mecklenburg’s 
Fourth  Cavalry  fired  a  volley  of  bullets,  filling  the  War  Sec¬ 
retary  with  fear  and  consternation.  ‘  What  is  that  ?  ’  exclaimed 
Gambetta  ;  and  then  again  came  a  flash, — a  crash,  and  the 
Mecklenburg  bullets  tore  through  the  car,  while  down  to¬ 
wards  Gambetta’s  carriage  rushed  the  speechless  railroad 
official,  with  his  eyes  wide  open.  ‘  All  right,  Henri !  ’  said 
the  Minister,  in  affected  composure ;  1  back  to  Beaugency — 
quick!’  Like  lightning  buzzed  the  reversed  wheels  of  the 
locomotive  on  the  icy  track.  The  moment’s  delay  seemed  an 
age,  for  in  front  was  a  squadron  of  terrible  uhlans,  galloping 
at  breakneck  speed  after  the  flying  Minister.  At  first  the 
uhlans  gained  on  the  train,  and  Gambetta  fumbled  nervously 

*  Gambetta  announced  the  disaster  to  the  nation  in  the  following  procla¬ 
mation  : 

“Citizens: — The  Army  of  the  Loire  has  discontinued  its  foward  move¬ 
ment,  owing  to  the  resistance  of  the  enemy,  who  has  concentrated  large 
masses  of  troops  between  Pithiviers,  Artenay,  and  Angerville.  The  army  oc¬ 
cupies  strongly  intrenched  positions,  in  which  it  will  remain  for  the  present, 
postponing  its  advance  until  a  better  opportunity  is  offered.  In  the  mean¬ 
while  General  Ducrot,  with  the  army  which  he  led  out  of  Paris,  is  disengaged, 
and  will  be  able  to  act  more  freely,  not  finding  before  him  the  masses  of  the 
enemy  which  it  was  supposed  were  going  to  meet  him,  but  which  are  really 
retained  north  of  Orleans.  Gambetta.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


493 


for  his  pistols,  but  in  a  moment  more  the  light  train  sped 
away,  and  the  last  shots  of  the  Prussians  only  brought  a  de¬ 
risive  screech  from  the  locomotive.  At  Beaugency,  Gambetta 
found  himself  surrounded  by  an  excited  crowd.  ‘  What  news, 
— where  are  the  rascals  ?’  asked  a  dozen  voices.  ‘  All  is  well,’ 
said  the  ever-sanguine  Minister — ‘  it  is  all  v-e-r-y  well ; — my 
mind  is  relieved ;  my  doubts  are  at  rest.  Our  countrymen 
are  defending  Orleans  as  becomes  true  Frenchmen.  At  La 
Chapelle  I  heard  the  Orleans  cannons, — I  know  we  are  victo¬ 
rious.  I  must  now  get  a  carriage  for  the  south  road  to  Blois 
as  soon  as  possible ;  there  good  news  awaits  me.  Take  courage, 
my  friends, — Frauce  shall  yet  be  saved.’  So  saying,  he  darted 
into  a  carriage,  and  his  horses  were  soon  trotting  over  the 
frozen  ground  towards  Blois.  On  he  flew,  past  the  astonished 
villages.  The  night  was  now  dark,  and  the  roads  were  as 
slippery  as  when  Dickens  says : 

‘  There’s  frost  upon  the  pathway  and  there’s  mud  upon  the  track, 

And  the  ice  it  isn’t  water  and  the  water  isn’t  free, 

And  you  couldn’t  say  that  anything  is  what  it  ought  to  be.’ 

“No  news  !  On  sped  the  Minister.  Now  a  messenger  arrives 
on  a  panting  horse  with  a  dispatch.  In  a  moment  Gambetta 
caught  its  contents.  '■MonDinu!  it  is  all  lost.  Freycinet 
says  D’Aurelles  has  surrendered  Orleans!’  The  Minister’s 
eyes  gleamed  vengeance  for  a  moment,  and  then  hope  seemed 
to  come.  ‘  It  is  terrible,’  he  said,  ‘  but  the  Army  of  the  Loire 
is  still  there  ;  the  Republic  has  yet  200,000  soldiers,  well  pro¬ 
vided  with  the  material  of  war.  No  one  shall  doubt — we  will 
save  the  country  yet.’  Back  flew  Gambetta  to  Tours,  where, 
jaded  and  worn,  in  the  early  morning  he  found  a  dispatch 
from  Pallieres  announcing  that  Prince  Charles  had  demanded 
the  evacuation  of  Orleans  under  a  threat  that  he  would  bom¬ 
bard  the  place,  and  that  he  had  agreed,  in  the  name  of  Pala- 
dines  to  comply  with  the  demand.” 

Following  up  his  successes,  Frederick  Charles,  on  the  4th, 
pressed  Chanzy  back,  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Loire,  to¬ 
ward  Bloi,  pursuing  him  closely  with  the  army  of  the  Grand 


494 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Duke  of  Mecklenburg.  Late  iu  the  afternoon  the  Ninth  Prus¬ 
sian  Corps  stormed  the  suburb  of  St.  Jean  near  Orleans,  cap¬ 
turing  30  guns  and  1000  prisoners.  The  city  was  then  sum¬ 
moned  to  surrender,  and  the  demand  was  complied  with  by 
General  Pallibres,  who  held  it  with  the  Fifteenth  French 
Corps.  Pallieres  withdrew  from  the  city  at  midnight,  and 
crossing  the  Loire  retreated  upon  Bourges.  The  Germans 
entered  the  city  at  2  A.M.,  on  the  5th. 

Leaving  the  Tenth  Corps  to  garrison  Orleans,  Frederick 
Charles  divided  his  army,  and  sending  Mecklenburg  and  the 
Bavarians  to  pursue  Chanzy  along  the  north  branch  of  the 
Loire,  he  directed  the  Ninth  Corps  upon  Blois  by  the  south 
bank,  while  the  Third  Prussian  Corps  and  a  division  of 
cavalry  were  sent  to  follow  the  French  Corps  which  had 
retreated  upon  Bourges  and  prevent  them  from  seeking  to 
regain  their  comrades  on  the  northren  shore  of  the  Loire. 

The  losses  on  both  sides  were  very  heavy  during  the 
engagements  we  have  described.  The  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  is  not  yet  known  with  certainty,  but  14,000  pris¬ 
oners  and  seventy  pieces  of  artillery  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Germans. 

The  excitement  at  Tours  and  throughout  France,  when  the 
disasters  of  the  army  of  the  Loire  became  known,  was 
intense.  General  De  Paladines  was  severely  censured,  and 
was  relieved  of  his  command  and  ordered  to  duty  at 
Cherbourg.  He  declined  the  new  appointment,  however,  and 
retired  to  his  estate.  He  was  succeeded  on  the  8th  by  General 
Chanzy,  who  was  given  the  command  of  what  remained  of  the 
Army  of  the  Loire.  This  force  consisted  of  about  half  the 
number  of  men  with  which  De  Paladines  had  opened  the 
campaign. 

Chanzy’s  first  duty  was  to  secure  the  withdrawal  of  his 
army.  Mecklenburg  was  pressing  him  in  front,  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Loire ;  and  the  Ninth  Prussian  Corps,  advancing 
towards  Blois  along  the  south  bank,  was  threatening  to  gain 
his  rear  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  The  small  force  at  Cham- 
bord  was  captured  by  the  Ninth  Corps  on  the  9th  of  Decern- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  495 

ber.  Chanzy,  meanwhile,  continued  to  retire  before  the  bulk 
of  the  German  forces  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Loire.  His 
withdrawal  was  executed  deliberately  and  in  good  order. 
Each  day  was  marked  by  severe  lighting,  for  the  Germans 
hung  closely  upon  him,  and  endeavored,  by  repeated  attacks, 
to  throw  his  army  into  confusion.  On  the  7th,  there  was 
sharp  fighting  about  Meung  and  Beaugency,  the  Duke  of 
Mecklenburg  endeavoring  to  break  the  French  line.  General 
Chanzy  held  his  ground,  however;  and  the  next  day,  the  8th, 
the  battle  was  renewed  by  the  Germans,  and  was  continued 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  day.  The  result  was  indecisive, 
though  the  French  suffered  severely,  as  did  the  Germans  ; 
but  the  latter  captured  six  guns,  and  1000  prisoners. 

The  newly  organized  Twenty-first  Corps  had  now  reached 
Chanzy  from  Blois  and  Tours,  and  adding  this  to  his  force, 
he  determined  to  turn  the  tables  upon  Frederick  Charles  and 
put  a  stop  to  the  pursuit.  Sending  a  small  force  to  hold  the 
bridge  over  the  Loire  at  Blois  and  prevent  the  passage  of  the 
river  by  the  Ninth  Corps,  he  wheeled  suddenly  on  the  Duke 
of  Mecklenburg,  and  attacked  him  furiously  on  the  9th.  The 
battle  took  place  near  Beaugency,  and  was  sharply  contested 
on  both  sides.  Both  commanders  claimed  the  victory,*  but 
the  advantage  lay  mainly  with  the  French,  who  put  a  stop  to 


*  Cbanzy’s  report  was  as  follows  : 

‘‘We  were  attacked  all  along  the  lines,  from  Meung  to  St.  Laurent,  last 
night  (8th).  To-day  the  principal  effort  of  the  evening  was  at  Beaugency. 
The  Germans  were  very  strong  at  that  place,  having  no  less  than  eighty-six 
cannon.  Their  forces  consisted  of  two  divisions  of  Bavarians,  one  division 
of  Prussians,  2000  cavalry,  and  strong  reserves.  They  were  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles  and  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg.  We  sleep 
to-night  on  the  positions  we  had  this  morning.  The  prisoners  taken  ac¬ 
knowledge  that  the  Prussians  suffered  heavy  losses.  The  battle  lasted  till 
night.  I  have  not  yet  received  a  complete  list  of  our  losses.  We  may  be 
attacked  again  to-morrow,  but  we  are  prepared  to  resist  to  the  utmost.  Three 
French  corps  were  engaged.” 

The  Grand  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  telegraphed  to  his  wife,  after  the  battle  : 

“The  enemy  attacked  us  violently,  but  was  victoriously  repulsed  by  the 
advance  of  the  17th  and  22d  divisions.  God  was  with  us.  Our  losses  were 
smaller  than  yesterday.” 


496 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  pursuit  for  the  time,  and  threw  the  Germans  on  the 
defensive. 

The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  had  intended  resting  his  army  on 
the  10th  of  December,  for  his  men  were  literally  broken  down 
by  their  constant  marching  and  fighting ;  but  on  that  day  Chan¬ 
zy  compelled  him  to  defer  this  intention  by  assailing  him  furi¬ 
ously.  The  attack  fell  mainly  on  the  Bavarians,  who  were 
so  sorely  pressed  that  they  were  on  the  point  of  giving  way 
in  confusion,  when  Voights-Rhetz  arrived  from  Orleans  with 
the  Tenth  Corps  to  their  assistance.  By  seriously  threaten¬ 
ing  Chanzy’s  right,  Voights-Rhetz  compelled  the  French 
Commander  to  withdraw  towards  Blois.  On  the  11th  the 
Bavarian  Corps  of  Vonder  Tann  was  marched  back  to  Or¬ 
leans  to  garrison  the  city.  This  splendid  command  sadly 
needed  rest.  It  had  been  marching  and  fighting  incessantly 
for  thirty  days,  and  of  the  30,000  men  who  composed  it  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  war,  it  is  stated  that  but  5000  effective 
troops  remained ;  sickness  and  its  losses  in  battle  made  up 
the  difference. 

Two  courses  were  now  open  to  General  Chanzy :  either  to 
retire  at  once  towards  Le  Mans,  where  reenforcements  were 
gathering  for  him,  or  to  continue  to  move  down  the  Loire 
and  endeavor  to  cover  Tours,  bringing  his  reenforcements 
forward  from  Le  Mans.  He  chose  the  former,  and  as  this 
course  would  leave  Tours  open  to  the  enemy,  the  movea¬ 
ble  branch  of  the  French  Republican  Government  at  once 
left  Tours,  and  went  to  Bordeaux,  which  city  it  continued 
to  occupy  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Chanzy’s  decision  was 
hastened  by  the  information  which  reached  him  on  the  12th 
that  the  Prussian  Ninth  Corps  had  occupied  the  southern 
suburbs  of  Blois.  The  bridge  over  the  Loire  had  been 
broken  at  that  place,  and  the  Germans  had  opened  fire  on 
Blois,  and  as  there  was  no  adequate  force  at  that  place  to  re¬ 
sist  them,  there  was  danger  that  they  would  cross  the  river 
and  move  upon  the  rear  of  the  army  of  the  Loire.  Chanzy, 
therefore,  withdrew  from  his  position  near  Beaugency,  on  the 
night  of  the  12th,  and  wheeling  to  the  northward,  marched 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


497 


owards  the  Loir,  an  affluent  of  the  Loire.  He  crossed  that 
river  at  Vendome,  and  occupied  its  right  bank  from  Moree  to 
Vendome  in  front  of<the  forest  of  Freteval,  and  in  the  rear  of 
the  village  of  that  name.  Blois  being  evacuated  by  the 
French,  was  occupied  by  the  Germans  on  the  13th. 

Chanzy  effected  his  withdrawal  with  such  skill  that  not 
only  was  he  uninterrupted,  but  the  Germans  seemed  at  a  loss 
to  determine  in  which  direction  their  adversary  had  disap¬ 
peared.  Indeed  a  portion  of  his  force,  2000  strong,  which 
came  in  sight  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg’s  outposts,  were 
believed  by  the  Germans  to  be  merely  a  body  of  stragglers, 
and  were  reported  as  such.  As  soon  as  the  direction  of  the 
French  retreat  was  known,  however,  Frederick  Charles, 
leaving  the  Third  Corps  to  watch  Bourbaki  in  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  Bourges,  hastened  after  the  Army  of  the  Loire,  which 
was  found  in  its  strong  position  on  the  Loir.  The  Germans 
opened  the  attack  on  the  14th,  and  the  battle  was  continued 
through  the  15th.  The  French  stood  their  ground  manfully. 
Freteval  was  twice  taken  and  retaken,  and  was  finally  carried 
by  the  forces  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  on  the  night  of 
the  15th;  and  Vendome,  which  was  less  stubbornly  defended, 
was  captured  by  Prince  Frederick  Charles  on  the  morning  of 
the  16th.  Chanzy  then  continued  his  withdrawal  towards 
Le  Mans,  and  on  the  17th  heavy  skirmishing  took  place  be¬ 
tween  his  rear-guard  and  the  German  advance  between  Epui- 
say  and  St.  Calais.  Here  the  pursuit  ceased,  and  the  French 
continued  their  retreat  to  Le  Mans,  while  the  Germans  with¬ 
drew  towards  Orleans  and  Chartres ;  the  Tenth  Corps  was  the 
last  to  withdraw.  One  of  its  divisions  was  sent  to  break  the 
bridge  over  the  Loire  at  Tours.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of 
December,  this  division  encountered  a  division  of  the  Twenty- 
first  French  Corps  at  Monnaye,  a  few  miles  north  of  Tours, 
and  defeated  it.  Proceeding  to  the  Loire,  opposite  Tours,  fire 
was  immediately  opened  upon  the  town  by  the  artillery,  and 
in  a  short  time  a  flag  of  truce  arrived  from  the  Mayor,  sur¬ 
rendering  the  place,  which  had  no  defences  of  any  kind.  The 
bombardment  was  at  once  discontinued,  and  the  Germans, 


498 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


crossing  the  Loire,  marched  through  the  city,  destroying  the 
bridge  behind  them,  and  passed  on  to  Orleans. 

Although  unsuccessful  in  the  effort  to  relieve  Paris,  and 
beaten  back  from  Orleans,  the  French  were  by  no  means  dis¬ 
heartened.  The  campaign  had  proved  that  their  new  levies 
could  fight,  and  that  they  could  hold  their  ground  against  the 
German  veterans,  who  were  compelled  in  the  closing  engage¬ 
ments  to  put  forth  unusual  exertions  to  beat  them.  Within 
thirteen  days  ten  severe  battles  had  been  fought,  and  the  re¬ 
treat  from  the  upper  Loire  had  been  conducted  with  skill  and 
success  on  the  part  of  General  Chanzy.  The  Germans  had 
not  been  able  to  cut  off  a  single  brigade  of  the  force  under 
Chanzy,  nor  had  they  been  able  at  any  time  to  prevent  him 
from  withdrawing  along  the  route  he  had  selected.  Above 
all,  the  army  had  not  become  demoralized.  It  had  stood  by 
its  colors,  and  had  fought  its  way  to  Le  Mans  with  a  steadi¬ 
ness  and  gallantry  which  were  full  of  promise  for  the  future. 

We  shall  soon  be  called  upon  to  relate  the  fate  of  the  three 
corps  which  were  rallied  at  Bourges  under  Bourbaki.  For 
the  present,  we  must  content  ourselves  with  stating  that  they 
were  organized  into  an  independent  force  known  as  the  First 
Army,  which,  for  the  present,  continued  to  hold  its  position 
about  Bourges. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  supply  Chanzy  with  men  and 
arms  after  his  arrival  at  Le  Mans.  A  considerable  force  of 
recruits  had  been  gathered  in  an  intrenched  camp  at  Conlie 
for  the  defence  of  Brittany.  M.  Gambetta,  appreciating  the 
folly  of  leaving  such  a  force  to  be  captured  by  the  enemy, 
broke  up  the  camp,  and  after  distributing  the  best  armed  of 
the  recruits  through  Chanzy’s  army,  scattered  the  remainder 
in  small  camps  over  Brittany.  By  the  close  of  the  first  week 
in  January,  1871,  Chanzy  found  himself  at  the  head  of  an 
army  of  about  150,000  men,  well  armed  with  the  Remington 
and  chassepot  rifle,  and  provided  with  300  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  presence  of  Bourbaki,  with  his  three  corps  d’armee 
at  Bourges,  had  made  it  dangerous  for  Prince  Frederick 
Charles  to  continue  his  pursuit  of  Chanzy;  and  his  army  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


499 


so  greatly  weakened  by  losses  in  battle  and  sickness  as  to 
make  it  necessary  to  recruit  it  before  encountering  the  French 
a^ain.  Upon  returning  to  Orleans,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Meck¬ 
lenburg  was  stationed  to  hold  the  roads  leading  from  Chartres 
and  Dreux  to  Paris,  while  Prince  Frederick  Charles  posted 
his  own  forces  around  Orleans.  A  German  division  from 
Yon  Werder’s  army  was  sent  to  hold  Auxerre  on  the  Yonne, 
to  watch  the  French  in  that  direction.  Reenforcements  were 
brought  up  from  Germany,  the  depleted  regiments  were  filled 
up,  and  every  thing  was  gotten  in  readiness  to  take  the  field 
again  as  soon  as  the  French  should  reveal  their  intentions. 
For  the  present,  however,  the  Red  Prince  contented  himself 
with  watching  his  adversary  vigilantly,  and  lying  within  sup¬ 
porting  distance  of  the  armies  before  Paris. 

Meanwhile,  Chanzy  threw  out  a  column  toward  the  Loir 
to  observe  the  army  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg;  but  Bour- 
baki  maintained  a  profound  silence  in  his  position  to  the  north 
of  Bourges,  merely  keeping  his  outposts  well  out  towards  the 
upper  Loire  in  the  vicinity  of  Gien  and  Bonny.  Considerable 
doubt  existed  in  the  mind  of  the  German  Commander  as  to 
the  intentions  of  the  French,  but  it  was  believed  that  Chanzy 
would  occupy  the  attention  of  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg, 
while  Bourbaki,  pivoting  on  the  Loire  and  throwing  forward 
his  right,  would  endeavor  to  seize  the  communications  of 
Frederick  Charles  with  Paris.  The  French  were  considerably 
superior  to  the  Germans  in  numbers,  and  it  became  necessary 
for  the  Red  Prince  to  watch  them  cautiously.  lie  made 
several  efforts  to  push  his  reconnoissances  close  up  to  their 
main  lines.  On  the  1st  of  January  a  German  column,  con¬ 
sisting  of  a  regiment  of  cavalry  and  two  regiments  of  infantry, 
was  engaged  in  this  duty  between  Chateau  Renault  and  Yen- 
dome,  when  it  was  attacked  by  a  French  force,  and  pursued 
nearly  to  Vendome,  which  it  regained  only  after  suffering 
severe  losses.  On  the  31st  of  December,  a  column  of  2000 
men,  under  Prince  Louis  of  Hesse,  endeavoring  to  reconnoitre 
Bourbaki’s  lines,  was  attacked  at  Bonny  and  driven  back  with 
loss. 


500 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LA.TE  WAR 


The  true  policy  of  the  French,  who  were  seriously  intend¬ 
ing  another  effort  for  the  relief  of  Paris,  was  to  use  the  armies 
of  Clianzy  and  Bourbaki  in  concert  with  each  other,  and  to 
eudeavor  to  crush  the  army  of  Frederick  Charles  at  the  earli¬ 
est  possible  moment.  The  plan  resolved  upon  by  the  Bor¬ 
deaux  Government  was  very  different  from  this,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  the  work  of  M.  Gambetta.  By  this  plan,  Chanzy 
was  to  advance  by  forced  marches  upon  Paris,  by  way  of 
Alengon,  Dreux,  and  Versailles.  Bourbaki,  instead  of  sup¬ 
porting  Chanzy.  was  to  leave  the  Loire,  march  eastward,  and 
in  conjunction  with  Garibaldi  and  the  new  Army  of  Lyons, 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Belfort,  enter  the  Vosges  region,  and 
sever  the  communications  of  the  Germans  with  their  own 
country,  at  the  very  frontier.  While  these  movements  were 
in  progress,  General  Faidherbe,  with  the  Army  of  the  North, 
was  to  wheel  suddenly  on  Manteuffel,  turn  his  left  wing,  and 
seize  the  railways  by  which  the  Germans  at  Paris  drew  their 
supplies  from  Northern  France  and  from  Germany.  Such  a 
plan,  if  successful,  would  of  necessity  result  in  great  misfor¬ 
tunes  to  the  Germans,  whose  ranks  the  French  believed  to  be 
thinned  out  by  battle  and  disease.  But  the  German  ranks  had 
been  refilled  with  new  troops  brought  from  over  the  Rhine, 
and  their  army  was  once  more  prepared  to  take  the  field.  The 
French  plan  might  have  succeeded  had  its  execution  been  en¬ 
trusted  to  veteran  troops  led  by  commanders  of  great  energy 
and  daring  ;  but  the  most  important  portion  of  the  whole, 
the  movement  assigned  to  Bourbaki,  was  executed  with  a 
feebleness  and  hesitancy  which  were  simply  apalling,  and  the 
superior  promptness  and  daring  of  the  German  Commander 
prevented  the  rest  of  the  plan  from  being  put  into  execution 
at  all.  It  was  a  most  unfortunate  decision,  and  very  bad 
strategy,  under  the  circumstances,  that  sent  Bourbaki  to  the 
Jura  and  left  Chancy  to  be  overwhelmed  by  the  forces  of 
Frederick  Charles  and  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg. 

Bourbaki  moved  off  from  the  Loire  about  the  5th  of  Jan¬ 
uary,  and  his  march  was  promptly  reported  to  Prince  Frede¬ 
rick  Charles,  who,  divining  its  object,  resolved  to  leave  Bour- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


501 


baki,  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  forces  of  General  Yon  Werder, 
and  to  march  at  once  with  his  own  army  upon  the  French  at 
Le  Mans.  Not  a  moment  was  lost.  As  soon  as  he  was  fairly 
satisfied  of  Bourbaki’s  movement  to  the  eastward,  he  began 
his  march,  setting  out  on  the  6th  of  January.  The  Duke  of 
Mecklenburg  moved  forward  from  Chartres,  and  was  suffered 
to  proceed  more  rapidly  than  the  left  wing,  the  Prince’s  object 
being  to  get  his  army  fairly  between  Chanzy  and  Versailles, 
so  as  to  be  able  to  check  him  should  the  latter  attempt  to 
advance  in  that  direction. 

Chanzy,  however,  lay  with  his  main  army  near  Le  Mans. 
Keeping  advanced  forces  only  pushed  across  the  thirty  miles 
of  country  intervening  between  Vendorne  and  that  place. 
Moving  on  through  Vendome,  the  Tenth  Prussian  Corps  en¬ 
countered  these  forces  on  the  6th  at  Azay,  and  after  a  sharp 
fight  drove  them  back.  The  French  made  a  stand  at  Mon- 
toire,  five  miles  further  on,  but  were  again  driven  back.  On 
the  7th,  the  German  armies  were  at  Nogent-le-Botrou,  Sarge, 
Savigny,  and  La  Chartre,  skirmishing  nearly  all  the  way  with 
the  French.  On  the  8th,  Frederick  Charles  was  at  St  Calais, 
while  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  advancing  from  the  north, 
was  forcing  his  way  along  the  river  Huisne.  The  Duke  was 
opposed  in  his  march  by  a  strong  French  force,  and  on  the 
9th  he  struck  this  body  a  severe  blow  at  Ardenay,  and  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  forcing  it  to  retreat  to  the  northward,  thus  prevent¬ 
ing  it  from  being  of  any  assistance  to  Chanzy  in  the  subse¬ 
quent  battles.  On  the  night  of  the  9th,  the  combined  armies 
of  Frederick  Charles  and  Mecklenburg  were  united  before  the 
French  position. 

Chanzy  took  position  on  the  night  of  the  9th,  within  seven 
miles  of  Le  Mans,  near  Montfort  and  L’Eveque.  His  force, 
estimated  at  150,000  men,  well  supplied  with  artillery,  and 
well  armed,  was  divided  into  three  corps  d’armee — the  Six¬ 
teenth,  Seventeenth  and  Twenty-first — commanded  respec¬ 
tively  by  Generals  Juarezibery,  Colomb,  and  Jouffroy.  A 
large  part  of  the  French  troops  consisted  of  new  levies  who  had 
never  been  under  fire,  but  the  remainder  were  the  men  Avho 


502 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Boulevard  Richard  Lenoir :  Paris. 


had  given  the  Red  Prince  so  much  trouble  during  their  retreat 
from  the  Loire. 

The  Germans  were  about  equal  to  the  French  in  numbers, 
and  had  the  advantage  of  being  nearly  all  tried  veterans,  and 
their  artillery  was  not  only  numerous,  but  was  the  finest  in 
the  world.  Therefore,  in  spite  of  Chanzy’s  strong  position 
and  superior  numbers,  Frederick  Charles  had  good  reasons 
for  the  confidence  with  which  he  advanced  to  attack  his  ad¬ 
versary. 

The  Prince  Marshal  approached  the  French  position  from 
its  right  and  in  front  of  it,  and  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg, 
advancing  from  the  north,  threatened  its  left.  The  opposing 
forces  came  opposite  each  other  on  the  night  of  the  9th,  the 
ground  was  covered  with  a  foot  of  snow,  which  rendered  ma¬ 
noeuvring  difficult,  and  the  weather  was  intensely  cold.  The 
two  armies  occupied  each  a  line  of  heights  on  opposite  sides 
of  a  valley  which  curved  in  the  form  of  a  semicircle.  The 
artillery  of  each  army  was  posted  on  the  hills  overlooking 
the  valley,  and  at  dawn  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  Jan¬ 
uary,  the  German  guns  opened  fire.  The  French  promptly 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


503 


replied,  and  for  some  time  an  indecisive  artillery  duel  went 
on.  Towards  noon,  however,  Frederick  Charles  moved  his 
infantry  across  the  valley,  pressing  the  French  right  and  cen¬ 
tre  heavily,  while  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  made  a  sharp 
attack  on  their  left.  The  fighting  took  place  principally  in 
the  valley,  in  advance  of  the  French  defensive  line,  and  for 
awhile  the  army  of  General  Chanzy  maintained  its  position 
with  firmness.  The  fighting  was  at  close  quarters,  and  was 
exceedingly  determined  in  character.  An  overwhelming 
charge  of  the  Third  and  Ninth  Prussian  Corps  finally  shook 
the  Mobiles  stationed  in  the  centre^  and  they  gave  way. 
Chanzy,  seeing  his  line  broken,  now  ordered  a  withdrawal  to 
a  new  position  nearer  to  Le  Mans,  which  was  accomplished 
in  good  order.  The  Germans  made  no  effort  to  pursue  him 
with  vigor,  reserving  their  last  blow  for  the  next  day.  The 
losses  on  both  sides  were  severe,  and  the  snow  was  red  with  the 
blood  of  thousands  of  brave  men  as  the  French  slowly  with¬ 
drew,  and  the  darkness  coming  on  soon  gave  a  friendly  cover 
to  their  movements. 

Chanzy  was  not  disheartened,  however,  and  he  passed  the 
night  working  energetically  to  prepare  his  army  in  its  new 
line  for  the  attack  which  he  knew  he  would  have  to  meet  in 
the  morning.  He  occupied  now  abetter  position  than  he  had 
held  on  the  tenth.  His  right  wing,  under  Jouffroy,  covered 
the  village  of  Brette,  a  few  miles  to  the  northeast  of  Le 
Mans;  the  centre,  under  Colomb,  held  the  plateau  of  Au- 
vours ;  and  the  left,  under  Juarezibery,  held  the  right  bank 
of  the  Huisne,  towards  La  Ferte.  His  artillery  was  posted 
in  advance  of  the  infantry,  and  a  strong  cavalry  force  covered 
each  flank. 

At  daylight  on  the  11th  of  January,  the  Eed  Prince  put 
his  army  in  motion  again,  but  as  the  French  had  fallen  back, 
he  did  not  reach  their  position  till  about  ten  o'clock.  The 
Duke  of  Mecklenburg  moved  against  the  French  left  on  the 
Huisne,  and  covering  his  advance  with  a  terrible  artillery 
fire,  struck  boldly  at  the  right  of  Juarezibery’s  corps,  en¬ 
deavoring  to  separate  it  from  the  rest  of  Chanzy’s  line.  The 


504 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


French  met  the  attack  with  spirit,  and  poured  a  heavy  fire, 
in  which  the  mitrailleuse  played  a  prominent  part,  into  the 
German  ranks.  It  was  in  vain,  however,  and  the  Germans 
not  only  succeeded  in  taking  up  an  advantageous  position  on 
the  Huisne,  but  pressed  Juarezibery  so  hard  that  he  was 
obliged  to  ask  for  assistance.  The  reserves  were  promptly 
sent  to  reenforce  him,  and  with  the  aid  of  these  he  succeeded 
in  holding  Mecklenburg  in  check  along  the  river.  While 
this  movement  was  in  progress  Prince  Marshal  directed  a 
heavy  attack  upon  the  French  centre,  Colomb’s  corps.  This 
command  held  its  groufid  well  until  its  centre  was  broken  by 
a  determined  effort  of  the  Germans,  when  it  was  ordered  to 
fall  back.  Colomb  withdrew  to  a  position  where  the  rising 
ground  gave  his  artillery  a  commanding  range.  During  his 
withdrawal  the  German  field  batteries  posted  to  the  left  of 
the  Chartres  railway  did  great  execution  in  his  ranks,  and  he 
endeavored  several  times,  but  without  success,  to  dislodge 
them  from  their  position.  Upon  reaching  his  new  line,  he 
halted,  and  for  two  hours  held  it  stubbornly  against  the  re¬ 
peated  attacks  of  his  adversary. 

It  was  now  four  o’clock,  and  the  battle  was  still  doubtful. 
Frederick  Charles  relinquished  his  effort  against  the  centre, 
and  made  a  rapid  and  heavy  concentration  of  troops  in  the 
wood  which  lies  before  the  village  of  Brette,  which  village 
was  held  by  the  corps  of  Jouffroy,  constituting  the  French 
right  wing.  His  artillery  was  well  covered  by  the  wood,  and 
as  soon  as  the  positions  were  gained  a  sharp  cannonade  was 
opened  upon  Brette.  The  French  infantry  at  once  advanced 
to  clear  the  wood,  but  were  met  with  a  fire  before  which  they 
recoiled,  and  the  Germans  moving  forward  hotly  upon  the 
heels  of  this  success,  carried  the  village  of  Brette,  and  forced 
the  French  back  towards  Le  Mans. 

Chanzy  now  withdrew  his  right  to  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Le  Mans,  and,  as  darkness  had  fallen  over  the  field,  and  the 
Germans  did  not  seem  disposed  to  follow  up  their  success  on 
the  right  by  a  general  attack,  he  proceeded  to  take  up  a  new 
position  nearer  the  city,  intending  to  renew  the  fight  the  next 
morning. 


6Ua 


'lace  do  la  Concorde  :  Paris. 


506 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Frederick  Charles,  however,  was  quietly  preparing  for  a  bold 
venture  for  the  success  of  which  he  relied  upon  the  very  dark¬ 
ness  which  the  French  regarded  as  a  protection  to  them 
against  further  molestation.  The  French  right  had  been  with¬ 
drawn  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Le  Mans.  The  key-point 
of  the  position  was  the  hill  of  La  Tuilerie,  lying  at  the  point 
where  the  Huisne  flows  into  the  Sarthe,  and  between  the  two 
rivers.  Here  General  Chanzy  had  posted  a  strong  force  of 
Breton  Mobiles,  with  orders  to  hold  the  position  at  any  cost. 
The  Prince  moved  up  a  number  of  his  batteries  in  front  of 
this  hill,  and  at  midnight,  when  a  deep  silence  had  fallen  over 
both  armies,  opened  an  artillery  fire  upon  the  position  of  the 
Mobiles  which  shook  the  very  earth  under  them.  The  dis¬ 
charges  of  cannon  and  explosions  of  shells  were  incessant  and 
appalling.  The  Prince  had  not  expected  to  accomplish  much 
by  the  actual  damage  inflicted  by  this  fire,  but  he  shrewdly 
judged  that  such  a  terific  cannonade  would  be  apt  to  strike 
terror  to  the  Mobiles,  suddenly  aroused  from  their  slumbers 
and  worn  out  with  the  fatigues  of  a  hotly  contested  day. 

He  was  right.  The  bursting  shells  did  comparatively  little 
harm,  but  the  noise  was  fearful.  The  Mobiles,  aroused  from 
sleep,  and  utterly  disconcerted,  looked  in  vain  to  their  officers 
for  instructions.  They,  too,  were  confounded  by  the  feu 
d'enfer  directed  against  them,  and  were  incapable  of  giving 
orders.  The  cry  was  raised  that  all  was  lost,  and  a  confused 
and  disorderly  retreat  set  in.  The  Mobiles  fled  through  the 
streets  of  the  Le  Mans,  spreading  terror  and  confusion  where- 
ever  they  went.  The  Germans  gave  them  no  time  to  rally, 
and  as  soon  as  they  detected  the  signs  of  wavering,  threw 
forward  a  strong  column  and  seized  the  coveted  hill.  They 
had  now  turned  Chanzy’s  right,  and  had  gained  a  position 
which  would  enable  them  the  next  day  to  assail  his  rear. 
There  was  nothing  left  for  the  French  Commander  but  a  re¬ 
treat,  and  he  at  once  withdrew  through  Le  Mans  to  the  west¬ 
ward.  The  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  following  him  promptly, 
succeeded  in  cutting  off  his  left  wing,  which  retreated  towards 
Alengon,  while  the  main  body  retired  on  Laval.  The  with- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


507 


drawal  was  finally  accomplished  on  the  morning  of  the  12th, 
and  at  noon  Frederick  Charles  occupied  Le  Mans. 

The  German  Army  was  now  divided.  Mecklenburg,  who 
was  still  north  of  Le  Mans  with  his  army,  was  sent  in  pursuit 
of  Juarezibery’s  corps,  which  had  retreated  towards  Alen§on, 
and  the  Prince  marched  after  Chanzy.  Mecklenburg  occu¬ 
pied  Beaumont  on  the  14th,  captured  1000  prisoners  and  some 
stores,  and  the  next  day  his  cavalry  cut  the  railway,  and  com¬ 
pelled  a  large  body  of  French  troops  coming  from  Cherbourg 
to  reenforce  Juarezibery,  to  return  to  that  place.  On  the 
16th  Alen^on  was  occupied,  after  a  slight  resistance  on  the 
part  of  the  French. 

Frederick  Charles  came  up  with  the  retreating  French  on 
the  morning  of  the  14th  at  Bernay,  12  miles  west  of  Le  Mans, 
and  making  a  fierce  attack  upon  them,  drove  them  farther 
westward.  The  camp  at  Conlie,  with  a  considerable  quantity 
of  arms  and  stores,  was  captured  after  a  slight  resistance.  On 
the  loth  another  encounter  took  place  at  Vaiges,  in  which 
the  French  were  worsted  with  the  loss  of  2000  prisoners. 
Chanzy  then  continued  his  withdrawal  towards  Laval,  taking 
position  finally  to  the  westward  of  that  town.  Frederick 
Charles  followed  him  no  farther,  but,  halting  to  rest  his  men, 
and  to  make  arrangements  for  the  safe  transportation  of  his 
supplies  from  Orleans,  distributed  his  forces  across  the  coun¬ 
try,  shutting  up  Chanzy  within  the  peninsula  of  Brittany,  dis¬ 
posing  his  own  army  in  such  a  manner  as  to  enable  him  to 
prevent  the  French  from  marching  either  to  the  eastward  or 
southward  should  they  attempt  to  do  so. 

The  losses  on  both  sides  were  severe.  Between  the  6th  and 
the  12th,  the  Germans  lost  177  officers  and  3203  men  killed 
and  wounded.  The  French  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
greater.  The  Germans  took  in  this  period  22,000  unwounded 
prisoners  (making  their  captures  foot  up  near  25,000  prisoners, 
to  the  16th)  and  19  guns,  besides  100  loaded  wagons,  locomo¬ 
tives,  stores,  etc. 

Though  beaten  at  Le  Mans,  Chanzy  was  not  crushed.  He 
had  proved  himself  the  best  commander  France  had  yet  placed 


508 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


in  the  field,  and  it  was  no  slight  accomplishment  to  have  held 
his  ground  so  well  against  the  efforts  of  such  a  leader  as  Fred¬ 
erick  Charles.  He  had  nearly  100,000  men  with  him.  The 
sea  was  at  his  back,  from  which  supplies  could  be  sent  him, 
and  50,000  fresh  troops  were  at  Cherbourg  in  readiness  to 
march  to  his  assistance,  the  distance  across  the  country  being- 
si  ight. 

Such  was  the  situation  in  Brittany  when  the  armistice,  on 
the  28th  of  January,  put  an  end  to  hostilities. 

In  the  north  of  France  there  was  but  little  of  interest  to 
note  during  the  early  part  of  the  siege  of  Paris.  The  sur¬ 
render  of  Soissons  threw  open  a  large  portion  of  the  northern 
departments  to  the  foraging  parties  of  the  Germans,  who 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  collect  supplies. 
The  Prussian  cavalry,  supported  by  detachments  of  artillery, 
and  occasionally  by  an  infantry  force,  went  everywhere,  and 
though  frequent  encounters  with  the  Mobiles  and  Francs- 
Tireurs  took  place,  nothing  rising  to  the  dignity  of  a  battle 
occurred  in  northern  France  until  near  the  close  of  the  year. 
Rouen  and  Amiens  were  prompt  to  arm  their  citizens  and  to 
collect  the  Mobiles  of  their  immediate  vicinity,  but  no  effort 
at  a  systematic  defence  was  made  until  after  the  middle  of 
October.  Then  General  Bourbaki,  having  resigned  the  com¬ 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire,  was  sent  by  Gambetta  to 
organize  a  force  in  the  north,  to  resist  the  advance  of  General 
Manteuffel,  who  was  approaching  from  Metz  with  the  First 
and  Eight  Prussian  Corps,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  Lille 
and  the  northern  fortresses.  Bourbaki  worked  energetically 
to  raise  and  equip  an  army,  and  was  succeeding  fairly  in  his 
efforts,  when  M.  Gambetta  removed  him  from  his  command, 
and  placed  him  in  charge  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  just  or¬ 
ganized  at  Nevers,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Loire.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  North  by  General  Faidherbe,  an  officer  of  skill  and  distinc¬ 
tion,  who  took  up  the  work  as  it  fell  from  Bourbaki’s  hands, 
and  carried  it  on  until  he  had  between  40,000  and  50,000 
men  armed  and  equipped  for  the  campaign.  These  were  di- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


509 


vided  into  two  bodies,  one  of  which  held  Lille,  where  General 
Faidherbe  had  his  headquarters.  The  other  held  Amiens. 
General  Manteuffel  marched  from  Metz  immediately  after  the 
surrender  of  that  place,  his  route  lying  by  Verdun  and  Me- 
zi5res,  which  places  he  was  to  reduce  before  passing  by  them. 
Verdun  surrendered  before  he  could  take  any  part  in  the  at¬ 
tack,  and  his  army  was  towards  the  middle  of  November  re¬ 
lieved  of  this  duty  by  the  Seventeenth  Prussian  Corps,  under 
General  Treskow.  Thus  relieved,  he  continued  his  advance 
towards  Lille,  sending  one  of  his  regiments  to  blockade  the 
small  fortress  of  La  F5re,  on  the  Oise,  which  lay  almost  on 
his  line  of  march,  and  which,  with  its  garrison  of  2000  men 
and  seventy  guns,  surrendered  after  a  fortnight’s  siege.  Upon 
reaching  Tergnier,  the  junction  of  the  railway  lines  branching 
to  Amiens  and  Lille,  he  was  met  by  an  order  from  the  Royal 
headquarters  to  march  with  speed  upon  Amiens  in  order  to 
be  within  supporting  distance  of  the  Army  of  Prince  Fred¬ 
erick  Charles  if  that  commander  should  need  his  aid,  and  to 
assist  in  covering  the  armies  before  Paris  from  any  attack  by 
the  French  forces  which  were  gathering  on  the  Loire,  at  Le 
Mans,  and  in  the  north  of  France.  He  arrived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Amiens  on  the  25th.  During  that  day  and  the  next,  some 
unimportant  fighting  took  place,  in  which  the  advantage  lay 
with  the  French;  but  on  the  27th,  Manteuffel  moved  up  Von 
Goeben’s  Eighth  Corps,  and  delivered  battle  to  the  French 
force,  the  strength  of  which  is  estimated  at  20,000,  but  is  not 
known  with  certainty.  lie  defeated  this  with  ease,  the  Mo¬ 
biles  breaking  without  an  effort  to  hold  their  ground  upon 
the  first  attempt  to  turn  their  flank.  The  French  then  re¬ 
tired  at  all  points,  their  retreat  being  made  in  good  order, 
owing  to  the  gallant  exertions  of  the  brigade  of  marines, 
which  constituted  the  covering  force.  Their  retreat  was  in 
the  direction  of  Arras  and  Lille.  The  next  morning,  the  28th, 
the  city  of  Amiens  was  surrendered  to  Von  Goeben,  who 
garrisoned  it  with  a  small  force  from  his  own  corps.  The 
French  lost  four  guns  and  a  considerable  number  in  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  27th,  the  majority  of  the 


510 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


injured  men  belonging  to  the  Marine  Corps  whose  gallant 
resistance  cost  the  Germans  1300  men. 

The  advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire,  and  the  effort  of  Du- 
crot  to  cut  his  way  out  through  the  armies  around  Paris,  made 
it  necessary  for  Manteuffel  to  remain  inactive  about  Amiens 
for  some  days.  While  awaiting  the  result  of  these  battles, 
he  sent  a  force  of  1000  men  to  seize  and  hold  the  important 
town  of  Abbeville  near  the  north  of  the  Somme,  and  a  simi¬ 
lar  force  was  thrown  out  towards  Albert  on  the  Amiens  and 
Lille  Railway,  to  watch  the  French,  who  had  retreated  in  that 
direction,  and  blown  up  the  bridge  at  that  place,  after  their 
defeat.  His  cavalry  was  sent  towards  Rouen,  where  the  Mo¬ 
bile  Guards  of  Normandy  were  reported  to  be  in  force.  On 
the  30th  of  November,  General  Briand,  with  the  Mobiles  just 
mentioned,  inflicted  a  sharp  defeat  upon  the  German  troopers 
at  Etrepagny,  and  drove  them  back  to  Gisors. 

The  defeat  of  De  Paladines  and  Ducrot  relieved  Manteuffel 
of  the  necessity  of  remaining  about  Amiens,  and  on  the  3d  of 
December,  after  leaving  a  sufficient  garrison  in  that  city,  he 
marched  with  his  whole  army  upon  Rouen.  On  the  5th  be 
encountered  Briand’s  force,  20,000  strong,  at  Buchy,  seventeen 
miles  from  Rouen.  He  bad  no  trouble  in  breaking  and  driv¬ 
ing  off  this  force,  which  made  scarcely  any  effort  at  resistance, 
but  stampeded  as  soon  as  the  Germans  opened  fire  from  their 
artillery.  Rouen  was  then  occupied,  and,  according  to  the 
Gazette  de  France ,  a  fine  of  fifteen  millions  of  francs  was 
levied  upon  it  by  the  conqueror.  Four  hundred  prisoners 
and  ten  guns  were  captured  here. 

Rouen  lies  at  the  head  of  ship  navigation  on  the  Seine,  and 
is  consequently  a  point  of  great  importance ;  and,  having 
gained  possession  of  it,  Manteuffel  resolved  to  threaten  Havre 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Havre  was  well  fortified,  and  was 
defended  by  a  considerable  force,  including  the  command  of 
General  Briand,  which  had  returned  there  after  the  fight  at 
Buchy.  He  advanced  towards  Havre  with  the  First  Corps, 
and  sent  Yon  Goeben  to  occupy  Dieppe  on  the  English  Chan¬ 
nel.  Yon  Goeben  occupied  Dieppe  on  the  8th,  but  soon  aban- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


511 


doned  it,  after  levying  a  heavy  contribution  upon  it.  On  the 
13th,  he  returned  to  Dieppe  with  8000  men,  which  he  billeted 
upon  the  inhabitants. 

In  the  meantime  General  Faidherbe,  who  was  not  present 
at  the  battle  before  Amiens,  had  taken  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  North,  and  had  gotten  together  a  force  of  about  60,000 
men,  nearly  all  raw  troops.  They  were  indifferently  armed, 
and  were  decidedly  lacking  in  discipline.  With  this  force  he 
left  Lille,  about  the  middle  of  December,  and  marched  rap¬ 
idly  to  the  southward.  He  surprised  and  captured  a  consid¬ 
erable  German  post  at  Ham,  but  passed  by  La  Fbre  without 
even  threatening  it.  It  was  believed  at  the  time  that  his 
march,  which  he  endeavored  to  conceal  from  Manteuffel  as 
long  as  possible,  was  an  effort  to  relieve  Paris  from  the  north. 
This  is  very  probable,  for  he  wheeled  to  the  left  after  passing 
Ham,  and  marched  rapidly  towards  Amiens.  It  was  not  long 
before  he  heard  that  Manteuffel  was  coming  by  forced  marches 
to  meet  him  ere  he  could  reach  that  city. 

Manteuffel  heard  of  Faidherbe’s  march  to  the  southward 
very  soon  after  it  was  begun,  and  divining  its  object,  deter¬ 
mined  to  turn  upon  him  and  compel  him  to  give  battle.  Col¬ 
lecting  a  force  of  about  30,000  men,  well  supplied  with  artil¬ 
lery,  he  set  out  for  Amiens  by  forced  marches.  On  the  23d 
of  December,  he  encountered  the  French  army,  about  50,000 
strong,  drawn  up  on  a  line  of  eminences  along  the  left  bank 
of  a  little  brook  called  La  Ilallue,  which  falls  into  the  Somme 
at  Daours.  This  position  was  on  the  old  post-road  from 
Amiens  to  Arras,  and  was  six  miles  from  the  former  city.  It 
was  naturally  very  strong,  and  was  held  by  a  force  nearly 
double  that  of  the  Germans.  Manteuffel  boldly  attacked  his 
adversary,  and  the  battle  lasted  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
day.  The  French  succeeded  in  maintaining  their  main  posi¬ 
tion,  but  Manteuffel  took  the  villages  in  their  front,*  and 

*  General  Faidherbe  in  his  report  of  the  battle  says  :  “  General  Faidherbe 
had  ordered  the  troops  only  to  offer  a  slight  resistance  to  the  villages  with  a 
few  skirmishes,  and  at  once  to  retire  to  the  commanding  heights  in  the 


rear. 


•512 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Observatory  :  Paris. 


pressed  them  so  heavily  that  they  withdrew  towards  Arras 
on  the  24th.  The  battle  received  the  name  of  Pont  Noyelles, 
from  the  village  which  formed  the  French  centre,  and  was 
creditably  sustained  by  the  French  troops,  which,  if  superior 
in  numbers  to  the  Germans,  were,  it  must  be  remembered, 
raw  levies. 

Manteuffel  followed  the  French  army  slowly,  and  dividing 
his  forces,  sent  a  portion  to  invest  the  second  class  fortress  of 
Peronne,  while,  with  the  rest,  about  16,000  in  all,  he  ad¬ 
vanced  to  Bapaume,  a  fortified  town  fourteen  miles  southeast 
of  Arras,  the  object  of  this  advance  being  to  cover  the  siege 
of  Peronne.  A  small  reenforcement  marched  from  St.  Quen¬ 
tin  to  Manteuffel’s  assistance,  and  a  column  was  sent  to 
Abbeville  from  Dieppe  to  threaten  Faidherbe’s  right. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1871,  Faidherbe,  who  had  received 
considerable  reenforcements,  advanced  upon  Manteuffel  and 
attacked  him  with  a  greatly  superior  force  near  Bapaume. 
The  battle  was  a  severe  one,  and  lasted  from  eight  in  the 
morning  until  six  in  the  evening,  but  was  indecisive.  The 
Germans  held  their  ground  against  the  overwhelming  masses 
of  the  French.  The  next  day,  January  3d,  the  light  was  re- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


513 


nevved.  Manteuffel  had  been  reenforced,  however,  from  the 
troops  besieging  Peronne  and  by  the  detachment  from  St. 
Quentin,  and  he  now  compelled  the  French  to  abandon  the 
field,  and  to  retreat  to  the  northward.  Faidherbe  withdrew 
sullenly  towards  Arras,  and  the  Germans  made  no  effort  at 
pursuit,  being  well  content  to  retain  the  position  they  had 
held  on  to  so  gallantly. 

Manteuffel  was  now  ordered  by  Von  Moltke  to  turn  over 
the  command  of  his  army  to  Von  Gceben,  and  hasten  to  the 
east  of  France,  to  take  charge  of  the  movements  against 
Bourbaki  in  that  quarter.  Von  Goeben’s  first  care  was  to 
press  the  siege  of  Peronne,  which  surrendered  on  the  10th, 
after  a  severe  bombardment.  The  Germans  had  with  great 
difficulty  maintained  this  siege  in  the  face  of  the  superior 
forces  of  the  French,  and  it  is  asserted  that,  had  not  the  latter 
withdrawn  after  the  battle  of  the  3d  at  Bapaume,  Von  Gceben 
would  have  raised  the  siege  and  have  retreated  from  Puronne, 
being  in  readiness  to  take  that  step. 

On  the  11th,  the  very  day  after  the  surrender  of  Peronne, 
Faidherbe  advanced  again,  and  occupied  Bapaume  after  seri¬ 
ous  skirmishing  with  the  German  advanced  forces.  After 
several  unimportant  manoeuvres  along  the  Somme,  Faidherbe 
suddenly  withdrew  and  marched  towards  St.  Quentin.  On 
the  16th,  his  cavalry  drove  the  Prussians  out  of  that  town, 
and  on  the  17th  his  main  body  reached  Fins,  a  little  to  the 
northeast  of  Peronne.  Von  Gceben  at  once  went  after  him, 
as  his  movement  threatened  the  German  right  flank,  and  on 
the  18th  encountered  his  rear  guard  between  Peronne  and  St. 
Quentin,  and  forced  it  back  to  the  latter  place.  On  the  19th, 
Faidherbe  took  position  to  the  south  of  St.  Quentin,  and 
awaited  the  German  attack.  Von  Gceben,  who  had  been 
strongly  reenforced  by  detachments  from  the  Saxon  Corps 
before  Paris,  at  once  assailed  him,  and  after  four  hours’  hard 
fighting  entirely  defeated  him,  driving  his  army  through  St. 
Quentin,  towards  Cambrai.  The  entry  of  the  retreating  army 
into  Cambrai  was  a  sad  scene  of  disorder.  The  men  were 
shoeless  and  in  rags,  and  scarcely  any  command  maintained 
33 


514 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TVAR 


its  proper  order.  Faidherbe  passed  rapidly  through  this 
place,  and  took  refuge  under  the  guns  of  Douai  and  Lille. 

The  French  lost  15,000  men,  including  11,000  prisoners,  in 
this  battle.  The  German  loss  was  ninety-four  officers  and 
3000  men. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  Von  Goeben,  who  had  followed  the 
retreating  French  to  Cambrai,  bombarded  that  town,  but  was 
compelled  to  raise  the  siege  a  day  or  two  later.  His  further 
progress  to  the  northward  was  stopped  by  the  French,  who 
cut  the  embankments  and  flooded  the  entire  district  around 
Lille,  Valenciennes  and  Arras. 

Under  the  cover  of  the  northern  fortresses,  Faidherbe  went 
to  work  to  reorganize  his  army,  and  get  it  in  condition  to  take 
the  field  again.  Gambetta,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  Faidherbe’s 
disaster,  hurried  to  Lille,  where  he  sought  to  infuse  a  spirit 
of  fresh  resistance  into  the  troops  and  people ;  but  he  found 
all  parties  heartily  sick  of  the  war.  He  told  them  France 
would  be  saved  in  three  months.  They  treated  his  assertion 
with  doubt,  however,  and  so  completely  disheartened  the 
Dictator  by  their  apathy  that  he  hastened  to  more  promising 
fields.  The  truth  is,  M.  Gambetta’s  enthusiastic  promises  had 
been  so  constantly  belied  by  events  that  the  people  had  come 
to  think  him  but  little  better  than  a  madman  bent  on  sacri¬ 
ficing  them  for  no  useful  end. 

Meanwhile  the  force  left  by  Manteuffel  on  the  Lower 
Seine  held  the  town  of  Yvetot,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
Havre.  Early  in  January  they  withdrew  towards  Rouen,  for 
the  purpose  of  more  easily  sending  aid  to  Manteuffel  on  the 
Somme,  if  he  needed  it,  as  well  as  to  meet  the  efforts  of  the 
French  on  both  sides  of  the  Seine  to  force  them  back  from 
Rouen.  General  Roy,  advancing  by  the  left  bank,  was  twice 
defeated,  and  the  detachments  sent  out  from  Havre  were  re¬ 
pulsed  with  ease. 

This  part  of  the  German  force  drew  upon  itself  much 
notoriety  by  a  circumstance  which  caused  considerable  com¬ 
ment  at  the  time.  On  the  27th  of  December,  six  English 
vessels  descending  the  Seine  from  Rouen,  were  seized  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


515 


sunk  by  the  Germans  at  Duclair,  twelve  miles  below  that 
city.  These  vessels  had  taken  each  a  load  of  coal  to  Rouen, 
under  permission  from  the  Germans,  and  had  started  on  their 
return  without  a  similar  protection.  The  Germans  were  ap¬ 
prehensive  that  the  French  would  seize  and  use  them  for  the 
transportation  of  troops  when  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  they  opened  fire  on  them  to  bring  them  to,  and 
afterwards  sunk  them  to  obstruct  the  channel.  It  was  sup¬ 
posed  that  this  act  would  cause  trouble  between  England  and 
Prussia,  but  Count  Bismarck  at  once  apologized  to  the  British 
Government  for  the  occurrence,  and  after  explaining  the 
circumstances  of  the  case,  agreed,  on  the  part  of  Prussia,  to 
indemnify  the  owners  of  the  vessels  for  their  losses.  So  the 
matter  blew  over. 

The  corps  of  General  Yon  Zastrow  had  been  all  this  while 
engaged  in  reducing  the  fortresses  on  the  northeastern  fron¬ 
tier  of  France.  Mezi&res  surrendered  on  the  29th  of  Decem¬ 
ber,  with  2000  men  and  106  guns;  Rocroy,  with  30^0  men, 
capitulated  on  the  5th  of  January,  1871,  without  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  the  German  siege  guns ;  Montmedv,  as  has  been 
stated,  fell  on  the  13th  of  January  ;  and  on  the  25th  of  Janu¬ 
ary  Longwy,  with  4000  men  and  200  guns,  surrendered,  after 
a  severe  bombardment. 

On  the  28th  of  January  the  Armistice  closed  the  campaign 
in  Northern  France. 

Efforts  were  made  early  in  the  war  to  place  Lyons,  one  of 
the  most  important  fortresses  of  France,  in  a  condition  of 
defence,  as  it  was  believed  that  the  German  force  engaged  in 
besieging  Strasbourg  would  seek  to  overrun  Eastern  and 
Southeastern  France  as  soon  as  Strasbourg  should  fall.  The 
fortresses  along  the  Rhine,  Schlestadt,  Neuf  Brissach,  and 
Belfort,  were  prepared  as  far  as  possible  for  the  efforts  which 
would  be  made  to  reduce  them,  and  measures  were  taken  for 
the  formation  of  an  army  in  the  east  which  should  be  suffi¬ 
cient  to  give  succor  to  these  fortresses,  and  make  the  task  of 
the  German  armies  besieging  them  one  of  great  danger.  The 
organization  of  this  force  was  begun  under  the  Empire,  and 


516 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  command  confided  to  General  Cambriels.  It  was  con¬ 
tinued  under  the  Republic,  but  was  greatly  embarrassed  by 
the  disorderly  course  of  the  Red  Republicans  at  Lyons. 
Towards  the  last  of  September,  however,  Cambriels  succeeded 
in  getting  a  small  army  in  the  field,  the  greater  part  consist¬ 
ing  of  Mobiles.  With  this  force  he  moved  up  towards  Bel¬ 
fort,  sending  a  portion  of  his  troops  to  Epinal  to  watch  the 
Germans  then  concentrating  in  Alsace. 

Immediately  after  the  fall  of  Strasbourg,  Yon  Werder  com¬ 
manded  the  concentration  of  his  army  to  the  westward  of 
that  place,  sending  a  column  to  harass  and  levy  contributions 
upon  the  rich  district  of  Mulhouse.  On  the  3d  of  October,  he 
was  joined  by  a  Baden  division  of  Landwehr,  which  crossed 
the  Upper  Rhine,  and  laid  siege  to  Neuf  Brissach,  while  Yon 
Werder  sent  a  portion  of  his  own  command  to  invest  the 
fortress  of  Schlestadt. 

Cambriels  moved  a  column  of  10,000  men  to  break  up 
the  investment  of  Neuf  Brissach,  about  the  5th  of  October, 
but  the  Germans  did  not  wait  for  his  attack.  As  soon  as  in¬ 
formed  of  the  approach  of  the  French,  Yon  Werder  detached 
a  division  of  Baden  troops,  under  General  Gegenfeld,  to  drive 
them  back.  The  opposing  forces  met  in  the  hill  country,  half 
way  between  St.  Die  and  Epinal,  on  the  6th  of  October,  and 
after  a  sharp  conflict,  the  French  were  driven  back  upon 
Epinal.  The  Germans  followed  them  leisurely,  and  on  the 
11th  of  October  occupied  that  place,  the  French  retreating 
towards  Yesoul.  At  Epinal  Gegenfeld  halted  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  main  body  of  Yon  Werder’s  forces,  which 
arrived  about  a  week  later.  The  sieges  of  Schlestadt  and 
Neuf  Brissach  were  pressed  vigorously,  and  both  places  were 
at  length  reduced — the  former  capitulating  on  the  28d  of 
October,  and  the  latter  on  the  11th  of  November.  This  left 
the  Germans  master  of  every  stronghold  in  Alsace  except 
Belfort. 

Meanwhile  a  new  leader  had  made  his  appearance  in 
Eastern  France.  This  was  no  less  a  personage  than  General 
Garibaldi,  who  had  come  from  his  retirement  at  Caprera  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


517 


offer  his  services  to  the  Republic.  He  reached  Marseilles  on 
the  7th  of  October,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Tours,  where  he 
arrived,  simultaneously  with  Gambetta,  on  the  9th.  His  offer 
was  accepted  by  the  Dictator,  and  he  was  assigned  an  inde¬ 
pendent  command  of  irregular  forces  in  Eastern  France.  He 
at  once  proceeded  to  the  region  assigned  him,  where  he  was 
soon  joined  by  his  sons  and  a  large  number  of  his  old  fol¬ 
lowers.  By  the  last  of  October  he  formed  himself  at  the 
head  of  three  brigades  of  partisan  troops  representing  almost 
every  nationality  in  Europe.  The  1st  Brigade  consisted  of 
one  regiment  of  Mobiles,  a  battalion  of  Francs-Tireurs,  and  a 
body  of  Irishmen  and  Spaniards;  the  2d  Brigade,  under 
Colonel  Maire,  was  composed  almost  entirely  of  Frenchmen ; 
the  3d  Brigade,  under  Menotti  Garibaldi,  consisted  of  a 
battalion  of  Mobiles,  two  battalions  of  Italians,  and  one  bat¬ 
talion  of  men  from  Nice.  These  troops  were  designed  for 
partisan  service  in  the  Vosges;  they  were  sadly  deficient  in 
discipline,  and  were  but  indifferently  armed. 

The  appointment  of  Garibaldi  to  an  independent  command, 
in  the  very  heart  of  a  district  occupied  by  the  regular  forces 
of  France,  was  the  source  of  considerable  trouble.  He  soon 
became  involved  in  a  series  of  disputes  with  General  Carn- 
briels  and  other  regular  officers,  who  accused  him  of  unwar¬ 
rantable  interference  with  their  commands.  These  quarrels 
became  so  bitter  that  it  was  necessary  for  Gambetta  to  visit 
the  East  in  person  in  order  to  effect  an  amicable  agreement. 
Cambriels  finally  came  to  ignore  Garibaldi’s  existence  alto¬ 
gether,  and  the  trouble  was  only  quieted  by  the  subsequent 
removal  of  the  former  commander. 

It  had  been  expected  that  the  presence  of  Garibaldi  would 
produce  an  amount  of  enthusiasm  amongst  the  French  which 
would  arouse  them  to  extraordinary  exertions,  and  great 
things  were  expected  from  the  “  Liberator  of  Italy.”  These 
expectations  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  people  re¬ 
ceived  him  with  apathy.  The  clergy  and  the  more  religious 
portions  of  the  provincials  regarded  him  as  the  uncom¬ 
promising  enemy  of  their  religion,  and  openly  declared  that 


518 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


they  “  preferred  the  Prussians  to  Garibaldi.”  This  feeling 
was  increased  by  the  contempt  which  the  General  openly  ex¬ 
pressed  for  the  priests,  and  by  the  unrebuked  conduct  of  his 
followers,  who  were  permitted  to  desecrate  the  churches  and 
take  up  free  quarters  in  the  Jesuit  convents.  The  Bishop  of 
Autun  publicly  accused  his  men  of  plundering  the  episcopal 
palace  under  the  pretext  of  searching  for  a  Prussian  spy ;  and 
the  women  everywhere,  incited  no  doubt  by  their  confessors, 
discouraged  their  husbands,  sons  and  lovers  from  joining  his 
ranks.  Matters  were  so  bad  that  Garibaldi  himself  became 
discouraged,  and  declared  to  the  correspondent  of  an  English 
journal  that  he  feared  he  could  be  of  no  use  in  the  position 
assigned  him.  He  had  expected  to  be  given  the  command  of 
a  regularly  organized  Army  Corps ;  and  his  actual  position 
was  all  the  more  trying  to  him  as  his  health  was  almost  too 
infirm  to  admit  of  his  enduring  the  fatigues  of  an  active  cam¬ 
paign. 

Meanwhile  General  Cambriels  exerted  himself  to  increase 
his  force,  which  lay  about  Belfort,  with  a  strong  column  at 
Yesoul,  the  chief  town  in  the  Department  of  the  Upper  Saone. 
Yon  Werder  advanced  towards  this  place  on  the  18th  of  Oc¬ 
tober,  and  the  French  abandoning  it,  separated  into  two 
bodies,  one  of  which  retreated  towards  Dijon  and  the  other 
towards  Belfort  to  join  General  Cambriels,  who,  fearing  to  be 
cut  off  by  the  German  advance,  at  once  left  Belfort  and  fell 
back  to  Besangon.  Garibaldi,  who  was  at  Besangon,  with¬ 
drew  to  Dole.  Von  Werder  moved  from  Yesoul  towards  Be¬ 
sangon,  and  on  the  22d  of  October  attacked  Cambriels  on  the 
Ognon,  about  ten  miles  from  the  latter  place,  carrying  the 
passages  of  that  stream  with  slight  loss  to  himself,  and  forcing 
the  French  back  in  disorder.  It  was  expected  that  he  would 
follow  up  this  success  by  an  attack  upon  Besangon,  but,  to 
the  surprise  of  the  French,  he  lingered  on  the  Ognon  for  a  few 
days,  and  then  wheeled  suddenly  to  the  right  and  marched 
upon  Dijon,  which  was  held  by  a  French  force  under  General 
Ernest.  On  the  30th  he  attacked  the  city,  and,  after  a  can¬ 
nonade  which  lasted  nearly  the  whole  day,  drove  the  French 
out  of  it.  Ernest  retreated  towards  Dole. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


519 


Von  Werder  halted  here,  as  Dijon  was  an  excellent  point 
of  observation.  From  it  he  could  watch  the  French  imme¬ 
diately  opposed  to  him,  or  march  to  the  assistance  of  the  Ger¬ 
mans  at  Paris  or  on  the  Loire.  Frederick  Charles  was  moving 
towards  the  Loire,  and  as  a  general  advance  of  the  German 
forces  to  the  southward  was  in  contemplation,  Von  Werder 
was  ordered  by  the  King  to  remain  at  Dijon  until  the  Red 
Prince  should  take  up  the  position  assigned  him — to  close 
the  gap  between  Dijon  and  Chartres.  Meanwhile,  he  sent  a 
division  of  his  reserves  to  lay  siege  to  Belfort,  the  capture  of 
which  would  give  him  a  new  and  more  convenient  line  of 
communication  with  his  own  country.  Belfort  was  invested 
on  the  2d  of  November. 

On  the  4th  of  November  Garibaldi’s  advanced  guard,  under 
General  Bossak,  fell  back  from  its  advanced  position  about 
ten  miles  north  of  Dole,  in  consequence  of  the  disorganized 
condition  of  the  men.  On  the  6th,  he  was  attacked  near  Dole 
by  a  German  detachment  and  driven  back  towards  that  place. 
On  the  same  day,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  Gambetta, 
Garibaldi  evacuated  Dole  and  withdrew  to  Autun,  about  sixty 
miles  southwest  of  Dole.  From  this  position,  situated  at  the 
foot  of  the  Vosges,  he  could  move  upon  the  right  flank  of 
Von  Werder,  should  he  advance  south  of  Dijon.  The  General, 
however,  was  at  this  time  in  the  midst  of  the  difficulties  to 
which  we  have  referred,  and  it  seemed  that  the  opposition  of 
the  French  people,  which  was  growing  stronger  every  day, 
would  effectually  put  an  end  to  his  usefulness  there.  A  bril¬ 
liant  success  gained  by  one  of  his  sons,  however,  had  the  effect 
of  turning  the  tide  in  his  favor  to  a  great  extent. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  Ricciotti  Garibaldi  was  at  Sau- 
lieu,  about  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Autun,  with  his  brigade. 
On  the  same  day  he  learned  that  a  detachment  of  800  men, 
belonging  to  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  of  the  army  of  Prince 
Frederick  Charles,  which  was  marching  from  Metz  to  the 
Upper  Loire,  was  at  Chatillon-sur-Seine,  and  he  determined 
to  surprise  it.  He  at  once  proceeded  to  the  northward  by 
forced  marches,  with  his  command,  560  strong,  halting  at 


520 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Culmier-le-Sec,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  18th.  As  he  approched 
Chatillon,  he  sent  150  men  to  reconnoitre  the  country  towards 
the  main  line  of  the  march  of  the  Germans,  and  at  six  o’clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  surprised  Chatillon  with  the  re¬ 
mainder  of  his  force.  The  Germans  were  caught  in  bed,  and 
were  either  shot  down  as  they  rushed  into  the  streets  or  made 
prisoners.  They  lost  100  men  killed  and  wounded,  including 
2  colonels  and  2  majors,  and  167  prisoners,  of  whom  11 
officers  were  taken  by  Garibaldi.  The  remainder  of  the  Ger¬ 
mans  threw  themselves  into  the  town  hall,  which  they  re¬ 
solved  to  hold  at  all  hazards.  Their  position  was  very  strong, 
and  reenforcements,  to  the  number  of  several  thousands,  were 
coming  from  Laignes  and  Chaumont.  Ricciotti  Garibaldi, 
therefore,  withdrew  at  once  with  his  prisoners,  having  lost  3 
killed  and  12  wounded  in  the  affair,  and  hastened  to  rejoin 
his  father,  who  moved  on  the  20th  from  Autun  to  the  north¬ 
ward. 

Elated  by  this  success,  and  wishing  to  profit  by  the  moral 
effect  which  it  seemed  to  have  produced  upon  his  troops, 
General  Garibaldi  determined  to  make  an  attack  on  Yon 
Werder’s  main  column  at  Dijon.  On  the  26th  he  attacked 
the  German  outposts  at  Pasques,  about  twelve  miles  to  the 
northwest  of  Dijon.  The  attack  was  a  surprise  to  the  Ger¬ 
mans,  who  were  driven  back  after  a  short  resistance.  Gari¬ 
baldi  then  pushed  on  towards  the  town,  but  the  Germans 
being  heavily  reenforced  from  Dijon  made  a  stand  a  few  miles 
beyond  Pasques,  and  succeeded  in  turning  the  tide  of  the 
battle.  The  Mobile  Guards  broke  in  utter  dismay,  and  resis¬ 
ted  every  effort  of  their  officers  to  rally  them,  and  Garibaldi 
was  forced  to  retreat  with  all  speed.  Yon  Werder  gave  pur¬ 
suit  with  three  brigades,  and  the  next  day  came  up  with  the 
French  at  Plombieres  station,  where  he  attacked  them  again, 
inflicting  a  loss  of  about  400  men  upon  them,  and  driving 
them  back  towards  Antun.  The  Germans  continued  the  pur¬ 
suit  to  that  place,  and  on  the  30th  of  November  and  2d  of 
December,  endeavored  to  drive  Garibaldi  from  it,  but  were 
each  time  repulsed  with  loss.  While  this  column  was  with- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


521 


drawing  from  Autun,  a  considerable  French  force  from  the 
fortress  of  Langres  took  position  on  the  railway  some  twenty- 
five  miles  north  of  Dijon.  Yon  Goltz,  the  commander  who 
had  been  repulsed  at  Autun,  was  directed  to  march  against 
this  force.  He  attacked  it  on  the  16th  of  December,  and 
drove  it  into  Langres,  which  was  temporarily  blockaded. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Cambriels  had  been  relieved  of 
his  command,  and  had  been  succeeded  by  General  Michel, 
who,  in  his  turn,  was  succeeded  by  General  Crouzat  early  in 
December.  Upon  the  occupation  of  Dijon,  the  French  had 
abandoned  Besangon  and  had  occupied  Chagny,  south  of  Di¬ 
jon,  and  had  thrown  a  column  of  about  15,000  men  into  Nuits, 
which  lies  on  the  railway  from  Paris  to  Lyons,  twelve  miles 
south  of  Dijon.  On  the  18th  of  December,  General  Yon 
Werder  moved  out  from  Dijon,  and  drove  the  French  out  of 
Nuits,  inflicting  on  them  a  loss  of  1700  men.  Ilis  own  loss 
was  severe,  Prince  William  of  Baden,  and  General  Glumer 
being  among  the  wounded.  Beyond  Nuits,  however,  he  was 
not  able  to  advance,  and  the  French  soon  increased  so  rapidly 
in  strength  in  his  front,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he 
could  hold  his  ground  against  their  pressure. 

As  has  been  stated  elsewhere  in  this  chapter,  General  Bour- 
baki,  after  being  cut  off  from  the  main  body  of  the  Army  of 
the  Loire,  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  three  Corps 
which  retreated  upon  Bourges  after  De  Paladines’  defeat.  He 
held  his  position  on  the  Upper  Loire  until  early  in  January, 
when,  in  accordance  with  the  plan  which  has  already  been 
stated,  he  was  ordered  by  Gambetta  to  march  rapidly  across 
the  country  from  the  Loire,  drive  Von  Werder  from  Dijon, 
raise  the  siege  of  Belfort,  and  seize  the  German  communica¬ 
tions  with  Paris  and  Orleans  at  their  base. 

He  left  the  Loire  about  the  5th  of  January,  and  passing  by 
Nevers,  marched  towards  Dijon.  He  endeavored  to  conceal 
his  movement  from  the  Germans,  but  he  had  scarcely  began 
it  when  Von  Werder,  perceiving  signs  of  the  approach  of  a 
large  force  from  the  southeast,  withdrew  his  columns  from 
Nuits,  Dijon  and  Dole,  and  took  position  near  Yesoul,  to  cover 


522 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


that  place  and  the  roads  through  the  mountains  leading  to 
Belfort.  He  had  been  reenforced  to  a  considerable  extent  by 
the  German  Landwehr  troops,  but  was  still  no  match  in 
numbers  for  Bourbaki,  who  bad  with  him  the  Fifteenth, 
Eighteenth  and  Twentieth  French  Corps,  and  who  was  joined 
near  Dijon  by  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  from  Lyons,  making 
about  120,000  men  and  300  guns. 

Bourbaki  left  Garibaldi  in  Dijon,  with  about  25,000  men, 
to  watch  the  country  to  the  westward,  and  with  the  rest  of  his 
army  moved  through  Besangon  upon  Yesoul,  and  on  the  9th 
attacked  the  Germans  at  the  cross  roads  of  Villersexel,  where 
his  line  of  advance  from  Besangon  entered  the  pass  between 
Yesoul  and  Belfort.  After  a  sharp  encounter  he  drove  Yon 
Werder  back,  and  occupied  Yesoul  on  the  10th,  but  failed  in 
his  effort  to  cut  the  Germans  off  from  Belfort. 

Yon  Werder,  having  succeeded  in  slipping  by  the  French, 
hastened  to  the  vicinity  of  Belfort,  which  was  closely  besieged 
by  the  corps  of  General  Yon  Treskow.  Uniting  that  Gene¬ 
ral’s  forces  with  his  own,  and  leaving  enough  troops  to  con¬ 
tinue  the  siege  operations,  he  disposed  his  army  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Luisne,  to  the  south  and  west  of  the  investment 
of  Belfort.  He  had  about  40,000  men  in  all,  and  he  covered 
his  line  with  a  series  of  intrenchments,  which  he  strengthened 
at  the  weak  points  with  twenty-four  pounders  taken  from  the 
siege  train. 

The  movement  of  Bourbaki  was  one  which  required  the 
utmost  rapidity  and  boldness,  but  his  advance  was  slow  and 
hesitating.  He  moved  due  eastward  from  Yesoul,  in  order 
to  approach  Belfort  from  the  south,  conducting  the  last  part 
of  his  advance  up  the  valley  of  the  Luisne,  and  along  the 
right  bank  of  that  stream.  On  the  15th  of  January,  he  at¬ 
tacked  the  German  position  from  the  south,  bringing  four  of  his 
corps  d’armde  into  the  action.*  The  battle  lasted  nine  hours, 
but  was  indecisive.  Bourbaki  claimed  to  have  taken  several 
unimportant  positions,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  Yon  Werder 


*  Statement  of  General  Von  Werder 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


523 


claimed  to  have  repulsed  the  attack  along  the  whole  line. 
The  next  morning — the  16th — the  fighting  was  renewed,  and 
again  the  French  failed  to  break  the  German  lines.  On  the 
17th,  Bourbaki  made  his  great  effort,  but  the  Germans,  cov¬ 
ered  by  their  intrenehments,  defended  by  heavy  guns,  repulsed 
all  his  efforts,  and  when  night  came  he  drew  oft'  his  broken 
and  disheartened  troops,  and  began  to  take  measures  for 
withdrawing  to  the  southwest,  for  news  had  reached  him  that 
the  Germans  were  closing  in  upon  his  rear  in  heavy  masses, 
and  Yon  Werder’s  army  stood  unbroken  in  his  front. 

The  news  was  correct.  As  soon  as  the  true  nature  of 
Bourbaki’s  movement  was  known  at  Versailles,  Yon  Moltke 
ordered  Fansecki  with  the  Second  Prussian  Corps  to  hasten 
towards  the  army  of  Von  Werder,  and  Manteuffel  was  de¬ 
tached  from  his  command  in  the  north  and  sent  to  direct  the 
operations  for  the  relief  of  Von  Werder.  He  set  out  on  the 
9th,  taking  with  him  the  Seventh  Corps,  and  halted  near 
Langres  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Second  Corps,  which 
reached  him  about  the  16th. 

Manteuffel,  with  the  eye  of  a  true  soldier,  took  in  the  whole 
situation  at  a  glance.  Werder  was  holding  his  ground 
manfully  at  Belfort,  and  was  confident  of  success,  and  he  re¬ 
solved  to  plant  his  own  force  on  the  French  line  of  retreat 
and  demolish  Bourbaki’s  army,  which  he  knew  must  soon 
withdraw  from  Belfort.  He  skilfully  avoided  the  fortress  of 
Langres  by  sending  a  detachment  to  threaten  it,  and  com¬ 
pletely  neutralized  Garibaldi’s  25,000  men  at  Dijon  by  boldly 
attacking  him  with  one  division  on  the  23d  of  January. 
Garibaldi  easily  repulsed  this  assault,  and,  as  he  was  convinced 
that  he  would  soon  have  to  meet  the  whole  of  Manteuffel’s 
forces,  remained  inactive  at  Dijon.  When  the  Germans  had 
finished  with  Bourbaki,  they  turned  upon  Garibaldi  again, 
and  that  General  wound  up  his  share  of  the  campaign  by  a 
disorderly  flight  towards  Lyons. 

Meanwhile  Manteuffel,  with  his  main  force,  moved  upon 
the  rear  of  the  French  army  with  as  much  speed  as  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  his  provision  trains  would  allow.  He  crossed  the 


524 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Ognon  and  Doubs  successively  unopposed,  and  on  the  23d 
occupied  Dole,  and  planted  his  army  squarely  upon  Bour- 
baki’s  line  of  retreat. 

Yon  Werder  had  marched  out  of  his  strong  position  in 
pursuit  of  the  retreating  French  as  soon  as  he  became  aware 
of  their  withdrawal ;  but  finding  it  difficult  to  supply  his 
troops  he  made  slow  progress.  He  sent  a  column  ahead,  un¬ 
der  General  Schmeling,  who  encountered  the  Twenty-fourth 
French  Corps,  which  at  first  formed  Bourbaki’s  rear  guard, 
at  Beaume-les-Dames,  and  cut  it  off  from  the  main  force. 
This  corps  then  retreated  at  full  speed  upon  Pontarlier, 
whence  it  succeeded  in  making  its  way  out  of  the  Jura,  south¬ 
ward  to  Lyons,  by  the  difficult  road  which  runs  through 
Mouthe  on  the  Swiss  frontier. 

Bourbaki  with  the  main  body — now  greatly  demoralized, 
and  scarcely  capable  of  making  an  effective  resistance — was 
retreating  towards  Chalons-sur-Saone,  when  he  heard,  on  the 
night  of  the  24th,  that  Manteuffel  had  seized  his  line  of  re¬ 
treat  at  Dole.  The  unfortunate  General,  whose  mind  had 
been  considerably  shaken  by  the  events  of  the  war,  and  espe¬ 
cially  by  his  own  reverses,  gave  way  to  despair  beneath  this 
new  misfortune,  and  endeavored  to  take  his  life.  He  inflicted 
upon  himself  a  severe,  though  not  mortal,  wound,  and  was 
succeeded  in  his  command  by  General  Clinchamp. 

Clinchamp  now  turned  to  the  southeast,  and  endeavored  to 
gain  Pontarlier,  as  the  corps  of  General  De  Bressolles  had 
done,  but  Manteuffel  followed  him  up  vigorously,  attacking 
him  repeatedly,  broke  his  troops  whenever  they  attempted  a 
stand,  and  cut  him  off  from  Pontarlier  in  a  severe  engage¬ 
ment  fought  near  that  place  on  the  30th.  Clinchamp  had 
now  no  alternative  but  to  surrender  to  the  Germans  or  to  cross 
the  frontier,  and  lay  down  his  arms  in  Switzerland.  He  chose 
the  latter,  and  at  once  entered  into  negotiations  with  the  Swiss 
General  Herzog,  who  was  guarding  the  Neufchatel  frontier. 
His  force  was  about  80,000  strong,  and  it  was  agreed  that  it 
should  enter  Switzerland,  surrender  its  arms  and  yield  itself 
to  the  disposition  of  the  Swiss  Federal  Government.  On  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


525 


morning  of  the  31st  the  French  passed  through  the  valley  of 
Les  Yerri^res,  and  on  the  1st  of  Feburary  crossed  the  frontier 
at  the  village  of  Travers,  and  by  the  3d,  the  whole  force  was 
in  Switzerland  surrendered  to  the  Swiss  authorities.  The 
scene  as  they  crossed  the  border  is  thus  described  by  one  who 
witnessed  it : 

Such  was  the  desperate  haste  that  the  signatures  was  scarcely  affixed 
before  the  “  Material  ”  began  to  file  in — two  or  three  hundred  cannon 
and  thousands  of  military  equipages.  Although  the  artillery  were  in  a 
much  better  condition  than  the  rest  of  the  army,  its  draft  horses  were 
emaciated  and  exhausted.  They  had  had  no  food  for  many  days.  Many  of 
the  wagon-horses,  their  drivers  said,  had  not  been  unharnessed  for  fifteen 
days ;  and  as  the  sufferings  of  the  men  made  them  forget  those  of  the 
poor  beasts,  the  reality  was  far  greater  than  could  be  well  imagined. 
The  horses  fell  dead  along  the  road,  and  in  all  the  bivouacs  these  mis¬ 
erable  animals  were  seen  gnawing  the  woodwork  of  the  artillery,  the 
bark  of  the  trees,  and  even  tearing  out  and  chewing  each  other’s  manes 
and  tails.  As  it  was  a  simple  impossibility  to  bring  forward  forage  in 
sufficient  quantity,  the  whole  county  was  filled  with  horses  abandoned 
by  their  owners,  who,  having  nothing  to  feed  them,  gave  them  to  the 
first  comer,  or  turned  them  loose. 

There  is  no  doubt,  whatever,  that  a  very  great  negligence  must  have 
pervaded  the  French  army,  for  otherwise  the  evil  could  not  have  reached 
this  height ;  for  nothing  like  the  same  condition  is  reported  in  the  Prus¬ 
sian  army  which,  notwithstanding,  was  operating  in  the  same  district. 

Immediately  after  the  Material  followed  waves  of  troops  in  tatters, 
completely  exhausted,  for  the  most  part  without  arms,  dragging  them¬ 
selves  along,  almost  shoeless,  and  clothed  with  all  sorts  of  rags.  They 
were  generally  disorganized  Mobiles,  belonging  to  'different  corps,  and 
all  intermingled.  They  presented  a  touching  spectacle,  well  calculated 
to  recall  the  retreat  from  Moscow. 

The  next  day  the  scene  changed.  Regiments  came  in  in  good  order, 
their  generals  at  their  head,  but  always  presenting  a  lamentable  aspect. 
With  uniforms  worn  and  torn,  the  emaciated  men  dragged  themselves 
along,  rather  than  marched.  An  immense  number  were  lame,  or  tramped 
with  naked  feet  through  the  snow.  Many  had  torn  off  the  skirts  of  their 
uniforms  to  make  coverings  for  their  feet.  Happy,  indeed,  those  who 
possessed  wooden  shoes.  It  was  horrible  to  see  the  sick,  especially  the 
stragglers,  whose  lacerated,  frosted  toes  stained  the  snow. 

The  Swiss  troops  had  been  echeloned  the  whole  length  of  the  route, 
and  constituted  a  hedge  to  the  right  and  left  through  guards  at  inter¬ 
vals.  The  French  soldiers  threw  their  arms  and  accoutrements  on 
either  side  of  the  road ;  and  thus  in  the  course  of  three  days  during 


526 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TVA.R. 


which  this  defiling  lasted,  high  ridge  sgradually  formed  of  guns,  sabres, 
pistols,  etc.,  between  which  the  men  passed  as  along  a  hollow  way. 

Whilst  the  French  flowed  thus  through  its  defiles  across  the  Jura, 
entering  Switzerland  by  three  different  routes,  the  Prussians,  all  the 
while,  were  pressing  hard  on  their  rear,  harassing  them,  cutting  them 
off  at  points,  and  “  gobbling”  prisoners. 

A  French  column  which  was  defiling  through  a  depression  had  to 
suffer  for  several  hours  from  Prussian  shells,  which,  thrown  from 
another  valley,  over  the  dividing  ridge,  were  timed  to  burst  on  the  road 
occupied  by  the  French. 

Nevertheless,  an  attack  which  occurred  on  the  frontier  itself  proved 
disadvantageous  to  the  Prussians.  Several  French  regular  battalions 
succeeded,  by  climbing  the  mountains,  in  surprising  the  Germans. 
These  latter  experienced  such  a  murderous  fire,  that  they  had  to  fall 
back  within  range  of  the  Fort  of  Joux,  which  commands  the  route  from 
Pontarlier  to  Neufohatel. 

This  fort  has  been  a  sort  of  Bastile  for  more  than  one  despot.  To  its 
damp  cells  Louis  XIX.  consigned  his  rival  in  the  love  of  Mile,  de  la 
Valliere,  Fouquet.  It  was  the  prison  to  which  the  aristocracy  confined 
its  most  dangerous  enemy,  the  celebrated  “man  of  progress,”  Mirabeau, 
in  1774.  Here  it  was  also  that  the  arch  traitor  to  liberty,  the  first  Na¬ 
poleon,  shut  up  that  wonderful  negro  reformer,  Toussaint,  1’Ouverture, 
certain  that  the  child  of  the  tropics  must  speedily  perish  there  in  a  re¬ 
gion  of  alternating  humidity  and  frost. 

The  Prussian  detachment,  caught  between  the  entangling  fire  of  the 
troops  and  the  inaccessible  fortress,  were  routed.  The  French  took  150 
prisoners,  whom  they  carried  along  into  Switzerland,  where  they  turned 
them  over  to  the  Federal  troops. 

About  45.000  men  passed  through  Yerriferes  during  the  three  days 
which  were  required  for  the  transit  of  that  part  of  the  army  which  fol¬ 
lowed  this  route,  and  kept  crowding,  in  indescribable  confusion,  into  this 
narrow  valley  of  the  Jura.  In  every  direction  immense  bivouacs  were 
established  in  the  snow,  and  the  men  pressed  around  little  fires  of  green 
wood,  cut  down  as  they  advanced.  The  sight  of  the  miseries  of  this 
army  made  lookers-on  shudder.  Sick  by  thousands  ;  the  dying  breathing 
their  death-rattle  amid  the  snows ;  some  having  lost  their  toes  by  frost ; 
others  falling  victims  to  the  typhus  or  other  maladies  ;  everywhere  a 
racking  cough  ;  dead  horses  encumbering  the  road — such  were  the  sights 
and  sounds  encountered  every  moment. 

To  assuage  such  a  mess  of  misery  the  charity  of  individuals  and  the 
aid  of  the  Commissariat  rivalled  each  other  in  their  zeal.  But  how  was 
it  possible  to  relieve  a  whole  army  heaped  up  in  this  mountain  defile? 

The  first  view  was  heart-breaking;  but,  by  and  by,  a  beholder  became 
accustomed  to  the  spectacle,  and  soon  learned  to  comprehend  how,  in 


527 


Surrender  of  the  Fortress  of'  Belfort. 


528 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


time  of  war,  personal  sufferings  finish  by  rendering  individuals  indiffer 
ent  to  the  misfortunes  of  others. 

In  the  midst  of  this  disaster  every  one  was  looking  for  the  ambu¬ 
lances.  Where  had  they  hidden  themselves  ?  They  had  passed  on 
ahead  with  the  other  military  equipages,  leaving  the  army  behind.  One 
remained  at  "Verriferes,  but  the  surgeons  had  abandoned  it, and  had  gone 
down  to  Neulchatel,  where  they  were  visiting  the  eating-houses. 

Everywhere  the  same  sight.  At  Orbe  (in  the  Canton  of  Vaud)  ;  at 
Yverdun  (at  the  head  of  the  lake) ;  at  Neufchatel  itself,  the  French  sur¬ 
geons  had  abandoned  the  ambulances,  leaving  to  the  Swiss  doctors  the 
care  of  their  innumerable  sick.  At  Yverdun  one  of  these  gentlemen, 
comfortably  seated  at  a  table  in  an  eating-house,  refused  to  move  two 
steps  to  relieve  an  unfortunate  stretched  on  the  sidewalk.  “Since  we 
have  passed  the  frontier,”  was  his  answer,  “  we  are  no  longer  in  the 
service.” 

Along  the  whole  line  the  same  phenomenon  presented  itself  and 
aroused  the  indignation  of  the  people,  and  left  everywhere  the  most 
painful  impression,  since  the  generality  of  the  facts  demonstrated  that 
it  was  not  the  result  of  unforeseen  accidents,  but  truly  one  of  the  mani¬ 
festations  of  the  moral  decomposition  of  France,  which  is  the  cause  of 
all  its  disasters.  The  sentiment  of  duty  seems  to  have  disappeared, 
and  the  machine  only  moves  on  when  a  vigorous  hand  compels  it  to 
move. 

The  closing  scenes  of  this  campaign  occurred  after  the  pro¬ 
clamation  of  the  Armistice  on  the  28th  of  January.  The 
French  Government,  ignorant  of  the  result  in  the  Eastern 
Departments,  insisted  upon  excluding  them  from  the  terms 
of  that  agreement;  and  the  Germans,  surprised  at  this  igno¬ 
rance,  and  knowing  that  Bourbaki’s  army  could  not  escape 
destruction  if  vigorously  pressed,  agreed  to  retain  the  advan¬ 
tages  they  had  won. 

The  defeat  of  this  army  decided  the  fate  of  Belfort,  and  on 
the  15th  of  February  that  fortress  surrendered  upon  favorable 
terms,  the  garrison  marching  out  with  the  honors  of  war. 
Bitsche,  which  had  been  blockaded  during  the  whole  war, 
held  out  to  the  last.  After  the  surrender  of  Belfort,  the  East¬ 
ern  Departments  were  included  in  the  provisions  of  the 
armistice,  and  the  military  operations  came  to  an  end. 

Manteuffel  captured  in  the  last  three  days  of  his  brief  cam¬ 
paign,  two  eagles,  nineteen  guns,  two  generals,  and  15,000 


men. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE, 


529 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


FIRST  WEEKS  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF  PARIS — DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PALACE  OF 
ST.  CLOUD — GENERAL  YON  ROON  ON  THE  SIEGE — RECONNOISSANCES  OF 
THE  12tH,  13TH  AND  14TH  OF  OCTOBER— REAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  SIEGE 
— THE  GERMAN  PLAN — CAPTURE  OF  LE  BOURGET — THE  GRRMANS  RE¬ 
TAKE  IT— ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  PARIS  ARMIES— TROCHU’S  LETTER — 
RIOT  OF  OCTOBER  31ST — PEACE  NEGOTIATIONS — M.  THIERS’  INTERVIEW 
WITH  COUNT  BISMARCK — THE  FRENCH  AND  GERMAN  CIRCULARS— EF¬ 
FORTS  TO  RAISE  THE  SIEGE — DEFEAT  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  LOIRE — 
BATTLES  OF  THE  MARNE — DUCROT  FAILES  TO  BREAK  THE  GERMAN  LINE 
— CENSURE  OF  TROCnU— HIS  DIFFICULTIES— HIS  TRUE  POLICY — HIS 
FAILURE— EXTENSION  OF  THE  DEFENSIVE  WORKS — MONT  AVRON  FORTI¬ 
FIED — THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  21  ST  OF  DECEMBER — BOMBARDMENT  OF 
MONT  AVRON— EVACUATION  OF  THE  FORT — IT  IS  OCCUPIED  BY  THE 
SAXONS — OPENING  OF  THE  BOMBARDMENT  OF  THE  FORTS— WnAT  IT 
ACCOMPLISHED — BOMBARDMENT  OF  THE  CITY  OF  PARIS — ARRIVAL  OF 
GENERAL  KAMEKE — SIEGE  APPROACHES  BEGUN — VERSAILLES  UNDER 
GERMAN  RULE — SUFFERING  IN  PARIS — DISSATISFACTION  WITH  GENERAL 
TROCHU  —  NIGHT  SORTIES— TnE  LAST  SORTIE — BATTLE  OF  JANUARY 
19tH — DEFEAT  OF  THE  FRENCH — TROCHU  RESIGNS  THE  COMMAND— IS 
SUCCEEDED  BY  GENERAL  VINOY— THE  END  AT  LAST — JULES  FAVRE 
OPENS  NEGOTIATIONS  WITH  BISMARCK — THE  ARMISTICE  AGREED  UPON 
— SURRENDER  OF  THE  PARIS  FORTS —PROVISIONS  SENT  INTO  THE  CITY — 
REJOICINGS  OF  THE  GERMANS. 


FTEB,  the  action  of  the  30th  of  September,  the  Ger¬ 
mans  busied  themselves  in  strengthening  the  lines 
which  they  had  drawn  around  the  capital  of  France. 
They  pushed  their  advance  steadily  in  the  direction 
of  St.  Cloud  and  Sevres,  arming  the  works  which 
they  threw  up  for  their  protection  with  their  field  guns, 
for  as  yet  their  siege  train  had  not  arrived.  By  the  5th  of 
October  they  were  in  full  possession  of  the  heights  from  Bag- 
neux  to  St.  Cloud,  commanding  the  city  of  Paris.  Consider¬ 
able  skirmishing  took  place  along  the  line,  but  no  event  of 
importance  occurred.  The  French  maintained  a  constant  and 
34 


530 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  "WAR 


well  directed  fire  from  the  forts  upon  the  German  lines,  but 
while  this  kept  the  enemy  from  advancing,  it  neither  forced 
them  back,  nor  interfered  very  materially  with  their  plan  of 
operations,  which  was  merely  to  strengthen  their  line,  and 
await  the  arrival  of  their  heavy  guns  before  attempting  the 
reduction  of  the  city.  This  fire  had  the  effect  of  destroying, 
on  the  13th  of  October,  the  palace  of  St.  Cloud.  It  had  been 
made  a  rendezvous  of  Prussian  officers  who  found  pleasant 
quarters  in  its  magnificent  halls,  and  it  was  decided  by  the 
Trench  Commander  to  destroy  it.  Accordingly  the  guns  of 
the  fortress  of  Mont  Valerien  were  directed  against  it,  and  the 
beautiful  chateau  was  soon  in  flames. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  continued  to  work  patiently  at 
their  investment,  erecting  batteries  as  far  to  the  front  as 
was  possible,  and  screening  them  under  the  cover  of  the  trees 
and  shrubbery,  and  these  were  subsequently  armed  with  the 
formidable  Krupp  guns  as  fast  as  they  were  received*  The 
fire  of  the  forts  became  more  accurate  and  powerful  every  day, 

*  The  delay  in  the  attack  upon  Paris  caused  considerable  impatience  in 
Germany;  and  to  allay  this  feeling  General  Von  Roon,  the  Minister  of  War, 
published  the  following  semi-official  circular  in  the  Berlin  Staatsanzeiger : 

“ Experience  has  taught  us,  that  in  a  war  with  France  no  satisfactory  peace  can 
he  obtained  unless  dictated  at  Paris.  All  our  operations  are  necessarily  aimed  at 
this  one  object.  Had  Paris  been  in  possession  of  an  army  fit  to  undertake  its 
defence,  a  long  resistance  might  have  been  offered  in  front  of  and  between 
the  various  forts  of  the  enceinte.  To  deprive  it  of  this  resource  by  annihilat¬ 
ing  one-half  of  the  French  troops  and  shutting  up  the  rest,  was  the  result  of 
the  first  portion  of  the  campaign. 

“  Having  thus  robbed  Paris  of  the  army  which  might  have  turned  its  forti¬ 
fications  to  account,  the  efficiency  of  the  defences  was  considerably  dimin¬ 
ished.  Notwithstanding,  however,  the  damage  inflicted  upon  the  enemy,  the 
moral  and  material  resources  remaining  to  him  are  of  no  contemptible  kind, 
and  having  been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  an  energetic  commander ,  render  the  task 
of  our  armies  one  of  the  most  difficult  recorded  in  the  military  history  of .  the 
world. 

“  Considered  as  an  object  of  attack,  Paris  can  be  scarcely  regarded  as  a 
fortress.  It  is  rather  a  fortified  battle-field,  with  forts  covering  every  point 
of  access.  Among  these  forts,  some  are  strong  enough  to  rank  as  citadels 
of  themselves;  while  others,  as  for  instance  Mont  Valerian  and  St.  Denis,  are 
well  known  to  exceed  the  strength  of  many  a  fortress.  Behind  the  forts  there 
is  a  continuous  rampart  nearly  six  geographical  miles  in  circumference.  It 


531 


German  Officers  Bivouacking  in  the  Palace  of  St.  Cloud. 


532 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


as  the  gunners  acquired  experience,  and  towards  the  last  of 
October  gave  the  besiegers  more  trouble  than  it  had  jet 
caused  them.  Still  the  latter  persevered,  however,  and  the 
German  lines  grew  stronger  and  their  batteries  more  formida¬ 
ble  as  the  lire  of  the  French  became  more  accurate.  The 


would  take  no  less  than  twelve  hours  to  visit  the  forts  in  succession,  the 
sphere  of  their  efficiency  actually  extending  over  eighteen  hours. 

“  Directly  our  generals  recognized  that,  owing  to  the  unavoidable  incom¬ 
pleteness  of  the  investment  and  position  of  affairs  in  the  interior,  reduction 
by  mere  enclosure  would  not  lead  to  prompt  results,  preparations  were  begun 
to  bombard  and  regularly  besiege  the  place.  Although  in  a  city  of  2,000,000 
inhabitants  the  steady  decrease  of  provisions  and  the  progressive  disorgani¬ 
zation  of  society  alone  may  be  regarded  as  guaranteeing  ultimate  surrender, 
still,  as  the  inclement  season  is  drawing  near,  a  partial  bombardment ,  accom¬ 
panied  by  an  attack  upon  those  of  the  advanced  forts  whose  possession  may  be  in¬ 
dispensable  in  certain  contingencies ,  will  be  an  effective  means  to  accelerate  the 
catastrophe. 

“  We  must  not  omit  mentioning  that  the  portion  of  the  environs  from  which 
a  bombardment  can  be  directed,  not  alone  against  the  main  rampart  and 
several  suburbs,  but  against  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  is  the  most  hilly  and 
impracticable  of  all. 

“It  is,  however,  probable  that  the  bombardment  of  the  city  will  not  be 
proceeded  with  until  the  fire  of  several  forts  lias  been  silenced.  Great  as 
might  be  the  impression  made  by  a  bombardment,  it  cannot  be  our  object  to 
aim  at  a  partial  result.  To  secure  all  we  want,  and  secure  it  safely,  we  re¬ 
quire  the  forts.  We  may  confidently  expect  that  we  shall  not  be  long  in  con¬ 
quering  some.  The  investing  army  has  the  means  to  protect  itself  from  rain 
and  cold,  and  as  the  winter  at  Paris  is,  as  a  rule,  much  milder  than  in  Ger¬ 
many,  we  may  hope  to  brave  the  rigors  of  the  season  without  any  very  sen¬ 
sible  suffering.  Paris,  on  the  other  hand,  will  get  weaker  every  day  the 
siege  lasts.  Provisions  will  become  scarcer  and  scarcer,  and  the  proletariat 
is  likely  to  rise  ultimately  against  the  wealthy — a  contingency  hastened  on 
by  our  hindering  any  fresh  supplies  from  reaching  the  beleaguered  town.  Our 
numerous  cavalry  is  quite  competent  to  carry  this  out. 

“  The  French  Minister  of  the  Interior,  in  his  latest  circular  of  the  9th  inst., 
assures  his  countrymen  that  Paris  can  neither  be  taken  by  force,  nor  surprise, 
nor  famine,  nor  rebellion.  His  self-delusion,  it  must  be  admitted,  is  com¬ 
plete.  He  enumerates  the  very  calamities  which  will  compel  surrender 
and  in  his  blind  confidence  draws  a  false  conclusion. 

“  Our  task  is  to  possess  ourselves  of  the  French  Capital  with  as  little  loss 
of  time  and  life  as  possible.  We  are  sure  to  master  the  uncommonly  difficult 
problem,  but  we  shall  scarcely  succeed  so  very  rapidly  as  the  anxious  expec¬ 
tation  of  our  countrymen  would  desire.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


533 


only  efforts  made  by  the  French  to  interfere  with  the  invest¬ 
ment,  at  this  period,  apart  from  the  fire  of  the  forts,  were 
made  about  the  middle  of  October.  On  the  12th  of  October, 
General  Ducrot,  with  a  strong  force,  made  a  reconnoissance  to 
the  west  of  the  city,  the  French  Commander  having  detected 
the  withdrawal  of  the  German  22d  division,  which  was  sent 
to  support  Yon  der  Tann  in  the  expedition  to  Orleans. 
Knowing  that  the  Army  of  the  Loire  was  in  motion,  and, 
doubtless  believing  that  it  had  compelled  the  Germans  to 
make  a  considerable  reduction  in  their  force  on  the  south  and 
southwest  of  Paris,  General  Trochu  sent  the  corps  of  General 
Yinoy  to  test  the  strength  of  their  line  in  the  direction  of 
Bagneux,  Chatillon,  and  Clamart,  and,  if  possible  to  break  it. 
Yinoy,  keeping  his  reserves  sheltered  by  the  fort  of  Mon- 
trougle,  moved  Blanchard’s  division  against  the  villages  in 
three  columns.  He  advanced  on  the  13th,  as  far  as  Bagneux 
and  the  cross  road  which  connects  Chatillon  and  Clamart. 
Here  a  sharp  encounter  took  place  with  the  German  outposts, 
and  Yinoy,  discovering  that  the  line  in  the  rear  of  these  posts 
was  too  strong  to  be  carried  by  his  command,  and  that  it  was 
held  by  the  Germans  in  force,  withdrew  his  troops.  On  the 
14th,  the  French  succeeded  in  occupying  Yillejuif,  farther  to 
the  eastward,  but  were  driven  from  it  on  the  15th  by  the  fire 
of  the  German  field  guns. 

The  task  before  the  Germans — the  capture  of  the  largest 
and  most  powerful  fortress  in  Europe,  defended  by  an  army 
of  half  a  million  of  men — was  one  of  no  ordinary  magnitude. 
There  were  four  ways  open  to  them  of  accomplishing  their 
object,  and  of  these  they  had  to  choose  the  most  promising, 
that  which,  as  Minister  Yon  Roon  declared,  would  enable  them 
to  accomplish  it  “  with  as  little  loss  of  time  and  life  as  possi¬ 
ble.”  These  were,  1st,  An  immediate  assault  upon  the  defences. 
2d,  A  bombardment  of  the  city.  3d,  The  reduction  of  the 
forts  and  inner  defences  by  a  system  of  regular-approaches.  4th, 
A  blockade  of  the  fortress  and  the  starvation  of  the  garrison. 

There  are  those — and  among  them  certain  gentlemen  whose 
judgment  is  entitled  to  great  consideration — who  have  urged 


534 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


that  an  attempt  to  carry  the  defences  by  a  coup  de  main  im¬ 
mediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Germans,  -would  have  been 
crowned  with  success.  We  have  already  stated  the  strength 
of  the  forts  and* the  inner  defences,  and  have  shown  what 
obstacles  they  presented  to  such  a  course.  There  were  80,000 
trained  soldiers,  counting  the  sailors,  douaniers,  and  foresters 
in  the  garrison,  who  could  have  opposed  a  formidable  resist¬ 
ance  to  such  an  attack  ;  and  the  National  Guard,  although  of  lit¬ 
tle  account  in  the  open  field,  would  have  been  of  good  service 
in  the  defence  of  the  works.  The  taking  of  one  or  more  of 
the  forts  would  not  of  necessity  have  exposed  the  enceinte  to 
capture  had  it  been  defended  with  vigor,  as  it  would  have 
been,  and  there  were  difficulties  of  a  very  serious  character  to 
be  overcome  with  reference  to  the  ground  to  be  passed  over 
There  was  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  Germans  would 
have  failed  in  their  assault,  and  that  their  losses  would  have 
been  as  heavy  as  those  of  the  bloodiest  battle  of  the  war. 
They,  themselves,  appear  to  have  been  convinced  of  this,  for 
they  declined  to  adopt  the  first  of  the  methods  we  have 
named,  and  put  into  execution  a  plan  which  was  a  combina¬ 
tion  of  the  other  three.  They  began  the  siege  with  a  blockade 
which  effectually  cut  off  the  fortress  from  relief  from  without, 
and  at  a  later  period  opened  a  bombardment  of  the  southern 
quarter  of  the  city,  and  finally  began  a  series  o  regular  ap¬ 
proaches,  which  advances,  however,  were  begun  too  late  to 
have  any  influence  upon  the  ate  of  Paris. 

It  is  astonishing  that  so  good  an  engineer  as  General  Trochu 
should  have  made  such  a  passive  resistance;  but  Yon  Moltke 
was  well  content  that  this  should  be  the  case.  He  had  little 
fear  of  trouble  from  a  Provincial  army,  but  he  was  or  some 
time  naturally  anxious  lest  the  F rench  Commander  should  seek 
to  advance  the  defensive  works,  and  thus  increase  the  difficul 
ties  of  the  Germans.  Towards  the  last  of  October  he  was  in¬ 
duced  to  believe  that  such  was  the  intention  of  his  adversary. 
On  the  28th,  the  French  made  a  dash  at  the  village  of  Le 
Bourget,  a  little  to  the  east  of  St.  Denis,  and  carried  it.  This 
capture  was  undertaken  by  General  Bellemare  on  his  own  re- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


535 


sponsibility,  and  formed  no  part  of  Trochu’s  plan,  but  it  was 
so  obviously  what  should  have  been  done  that  General  Yon 
Moltke  determined  to  recover  it  at  all  hazards,  as  its  retention 
by  the  French  placed  in  their  hands  an  advantage  which  he 
did  not  intend  they  should  hold.  lie  accordingly  ordered 
.  Prince  Augustus,  commanding  the  Corps  of  Guards,  to  retake 
Le  Bourget  at  any  cost.  The  French  had  loopholed  the 
houses  and  had  otherwise  prepared  the  village  for  defence ; 
but  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  October,  they  were  driven 
from  it  with  heavy  loss  after  a  severe  engagement  of  four 
hours’  duration,  and  the  German  position  was  reestab¬ 
lished. 

Since  the  beginning  of  the  siege  General  Trochu  had  been 
exerting  himself  to  render  the  forces  placed  uuder  him  effi¬ 
cient  for  military  operations.  They  consisted  of  about  60,000 
regulars,  12,000  sailors,  9000  douaniers,  4000  foresters,  about 
100,000  Mobiles,  and  about  400,000  National  Guards.  These 
were  armed  and  equipped  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  Na¬ 
tional  Guard  were  given  the  task  of  defending  the  enceinte, 
the  regulars  and  sailors  were  placed  in  the  forts  to  work  the 
guns,  and  the  Mobiles  and  volunteers,  with  a  small  force  of 
regulars,  were  organized  into  an  active  army  under  General 
Ducrot  for  the  purpose  of  making  reconnoissances.  In  order 
to  employ  the  more  turbulent  element  and  keep  them  from 
giving  trouble,  the  men  who  composed  the  clubs  were  put.  to 
work,  under  Rochefort  and  Flourens,  to  erect  barricades. and 
construct  an  inner  line  of  defences,  none  of  which  General 
Trochu  had  the  least  idea  of  using.  When  it  came  to  the 
barricades  he  was  fully  aware  that  a  surrender  would  be  his 
plain  duty,  but  as  the  construction  of  these  works  amused  and 
quieted  a  class  which  would  otherwise  have  caused  him  se¬ 
rious  trouble,  he  encouraged  the  “  good  patriots  ”  to  persevere 
Arms,  cannon,  ammunition  and  materials  of  war  were  manu¬ 
factured  in  considerable  quantities,  many  of  the  field  guns 
being  contributed  by  the  citizens.  The  people  were  calm 
and  hopeful,  though  there  was  considerable  impatience  at 
the  delay  in  attacking  the  Germans.  The  expression  of  this 


536 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


feeling  drew  forth  the  following  letter  from  General  Trochu 
to  the  Mayor  of  Paris  : 

Paris,  October  15. 

Monsieur  i,e  Maire  : — In  the  month  of  July  last  the  French  army,  in 
all  the  splendor  of  it's  strength,  passed  through  Paris,  amidst  shouts  of 
“  A  Berlin  !  A  Berlin  !  ”  I  was  far  from  sharing  their  confidence ,  and 
alone ,  perhaps,  among  all  the  general  officers ,  I  ventured  to  tell  the  Mar¬ 
shal  Minister  of  War  that  I  perceived  in  this  noisy  manner  of  entering 
upon  a  campaign,  as  well  as  the  means  brought  into  requisition,  the  ele¬ 
ments  of  a  great  disaster.  The  ivill  which  at  this  period  I  placed  in  the 
hands  of  M.  Ducloux.  a  notary  of  Paris,  will  one  day  testify  to  the  pain¬ 
ful  and  too  well-grounded  presentiments  with  which  my  soul  was  filled. 

To-day,  in  the  presence  of  the  fever  which  has  rightly  taken  possession 
of  the  public  mind,  I  meet  with  difficulties  which  present  a  most  striking 
analogy  with  those  that  showed  themselves  in  the  past.  I  now  declare 
that  I  ivill  not  cede  to  the  pressure  of  the  public  impatience.  Animating 
myself  with  the  sense  of  the  duties  which  are  common  to  us  all,  and  of 
the  responsibilities  which  no  one  shares  with  me,  I  shall  pursue  to  the 
end  the  plan  which  I  have  traced  out  without  revealing  it,  and  I  only 
demand  of  the  population  of  Paris,  in  exchange  for  my  efforts,  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  that  confidence  with  which  it  has  hitherto  honored  me. 

Receive,  Monsieur  le  Maire,  the  assurance  of  my  high  consideration. 

General  Trochu. 

About  the  1st  of  November  General  Trochu  organized  his 
forces  into  three  armies,  officered  as  follows : 

Commander-in-;Ohief,  General  Trochu ;  general  staff,  Generals  Schmitz 
and  Foy ;  commander  of  artillery,  General  Guiod  ;  of  engineers,  General 
De  Chabaud-Latour  ;  general  intendant,  General  Wolff. 

First  Army — General  Clement  Thomas;  staff,  Colonal  Montagut; 
comprises  266  battalions  of  the  Garde  Nationale  Sfidentaire ;  cavalry  le¬ 
gion,  Colonel  Quielet;  artillery,  Colonel  Schoelcher. 

Second  Army — General  Ducrot ;  staff,  General  Appert,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Wernet;  artillery,  General  Fr6bault ;  engineers,  General 
Tripir. 

First  Corps — General  Yinoy;  staff,  General  De  Yaldan;  artillery, 
General  d’Ubexi ;  engineers,  General  Du  Pouet.  First  division — General 
Malray  ;  brigadier-generals,  Martenot,  Paturel.  Second  division — Gene¬ 
ral  Le  Maudhay ;  brigades,  Colonel  Yalentin,  General  Blaise.  Third  di¬ 
vision — Genaral  Blanchard ;  brigades,  Colonel  Comte,  General  De  Mar- 
riouse. 

Second  Corps — General  Renauld  ;  staff,  General  Ferri-Pisani ;  artillery, 
General  Boissonnet ;  engineers,  Colonel  Corbin.  First  division — Gene¬ 
ral  Sasbielle ;  brigades,  Colonel  Bonnet,  General  Lecomte.  Second  di- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


537 


vision — brigades,  General  Bocher,  Colonel  Boutier.  Third  division — 
General  De  Maussion;  brigadier-generals,  Courty,  Avril  de  Lanclos. 

Third  Corps — General  d’Exba;  staff,  Colonel  De  Belgaric  ;  artillery, 
General  Princeteau ;  engineers,  Colonel  Ragon.  First  division — General 
De  Bellamare  ;  brigades,  Colonel  Fournbs,  Colomieu.  Second  division — 
General  Mattat;  brigadier-generals,  Faron,  Dandel ;  cavalry  division — 
General  De  Champion ;  brigadier-generals,  Gerbrois  and  Cousin ; 
mounted  gendarmes,  Colonel  Allaveine. 

Third  Army — Under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Trochu. 
First  division,  General  Soumaine ;  staff,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pbchin ; 
brigadier-generals,  Dargentolle,  Chassibre.  Second  division — Vice-Ad¬ 
miral  De  la  Roncibre  ;  brigades,  Colonels  Lavoignet  and  Haurion  ;  Cap- 
tain-of-Frigate,  Lamotte  Tenet.  Third  division — General  De  Liniers  ; 
staff,  Major  Morlaincourt ;  brigades,  Colonels,  Filhol  de  Camas,  De  Cham- 
beret.  Fourth  division — General  De  Beaufort ;  staff,  Major  Lecoq  ; 
brigades,  General  Dumoulin,  Captain-of-Frigate,  D’Andrb.  Fifth  di¬ 
vision — General  Corrbard  ;  staff,  Major  Vial ;  brigades,  Lieutenant-Colo¬ 
nel  Champion,  Colonel  Porion.  Sixth  division — General  D’Hugues  ; 
staff,  Major  D’Eloy  ;  brigades,  Captain-of-Frigate,  De  Bray,  Colonel  Bro. 
Seventh  division — Rear-Admiral  Pothuan;  brigades,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
le  Mains,  Ship-Captain  Salmon.  Cavalry — First  brigade,  General  De 
Bernis ;  Second  brigade,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Blondel. 

The  1st  army  was  composed  of  the  Garde  Nationale  Se- 
dentmre,  and  was  designed  to  act  as  a  home  guard.  It  was 
made  up  mostly  of  middle-aged  and  married  men,  and  was  not 
designed  for  service  beyond  the  walls.  The  2d  army 
was  designed  as  an  active  force,  and  was  to  be  used  to  make 
sorti  is,  etc.  The  3d  army  manned  the  forts  and  other 
defences.  Later  in  the  month,  Trochu  relinquished  the  im¬ 
mediate  command  of  the  3d  army  and  was  succeeded  by 
General  Vinoy,  whose  former  place  was  filled  by  General 
Blanchard. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  the  authority  of  the  Provisional 
Government  was  seriously  endangered  by  the  Bed  Bepublican 
riot,  which  is  described  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  Trochu 
was  held  a  prisoner  for  some  time,  and  came  near  losing  his 
life  by  a  shot  fired  at  him  by  one  of  the  insurgents.  The  ex¬ 
cuse  offered  by  the  Reds  for  this  riot  was  their  belief  that  the 
Government  was  contemplating  a  surrender  of  the  city  to  the 
Germans. 


538 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Count  Bismarck’s  Headquarters  at  Versailles. 


This  was  not  true,  however.  The  Government  was  not 
contemplating  a  surrender  of  Paris,  but  it  had  entered  into 
negotiations  with  the  King  of  Prussia  with  a  view  to  the 
restoration  of  peace.  The  neutral  Powers  of  Europe,  towards 
the  last  of  October,  informed  both  the  Prussian  and  French 
Governments  of  their  desire  to  secure  the  conclusion  of  an 
Armistice  between  the  combatants,  which  should  give  the 
French  people  an  opportunity  of  expressing  their  wishes  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


539 


regard  fo  a  farther  prosecution  of  the  war.  M.  Thiers,  who 
had  just  returned  to  Tours  from  his  visit  to  the  Foreign 
Courts,  was  selected  as  the  representative  of  the  Provisional 
Government,  and  in  order  to  allow  him  to  confer  fully  with 
the  members  of  that  body,  lie  was  permitted  by  the  Germans 
to  enter  Paris,  where  he  had  a  conference  with  the  Ministers, 
after  which  he  repaired  to  Versailles,  where  he  was  admitted 
to  an  interview  with  Count  Von  Bismarck.  His  account  of 
his  mission  is  as  follows  : 

He  proceeded  forthwith  to  Paris,  stopping  at  the  Ministry  of  Foreign 
Affairs  to  confer  with  the  Government;  passed  the  night  in  deliberation, 
and  the  next  morning,  the  1st  of  November,  went  to  meet  Bismarck, 
who  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  nature  of  his  mission,  as  he  had  received, 
at  the  same  time  that  France  had,  the  notice  from  the  Powers  that  an 
Armistice  was  desired  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood,  and  to  allow  France, 
through  elections,  to  form  a  regular  government  with  which  to  treat 
effectively.  This  was  all  the  more  evident  from  the  fact  that  Prussia 
had  pretended  that,  owing  to  the  situation  of  France,  she  knew  not  to 
whom  to  apply.  Bismarck  made  casual  mention  that  the  remains  of 
the  Government  now  at  Cassel  were  the  only  one  recognized  by  Europe; 
that  he,  however,  merely  made  the  remark  to  establish  the  diplomatic 
situation,  having  no  intention  to  meddle  with  the  internal  management 
of  France.  Thiers  immediately  answered  that  the  Government  which 
precipitated  France  into  the  abyss  of  a  war  so  foolishly  resolved  upon, 
had  forever  terminated  its  existence  with  its  fatal  career  at  Sedan,  and 
would  be  for  France  but  a  remembrancer  of  shame  and  grief.  Bismarck 
did  not  contest  the  fact,  and  made  with  me  an  examination  of  the  fol¬ 
lowing  questions  of  the  Armistice  proposed :  To  furnish  France  time 
for  the  expression  of  her  will  as  to  the  Government  she  should  choose 
to  have ;  to  allow  entire  freedom  for  the  elections  during  the  Armistice, 
and  also  for  the  organization  of  the  armies ;  lastly,  to  permit  the  re¬ 
victualling  of  the  besieged  places,  and  especially  of  Paris.  Bismarck 
seemed  to  have  no  insurmountable  objections  to  allow  any  of  these  ques¬ 
tions,  and  after  an  interview,  which  lasted  four  hours,  I  had  the  right 
to  suppose  we  should  agree  on  all  points,  and  thus  conclude  the  first 
part  of  a  pacification  so  ardently  desired  on  both  hemispheres.  Our 
conferences  were  three  per  day,  as  I  was  impatient  to  achieve  a  result 
which  would  cause  as  much  noise  as  the  cannon  we  distinctly  heard. 
Count  Yon  Bismarck  assured  me  as  to  the  principle  of  Armistice,  that 
he  desired  as  much  as  any  of  the  neutrals  to  end  hostilities,  and  that  he 
desired  to  see  established  in  France  a  power  which  might  contract  last- 


540 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TfAR 


ing  engagements.  We  were  thus  in  accord  on  the  essential  points.  I 
demanded  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  days’  Armistice,  as  this  time  was 
needed  for  the  votes  and  reunion  of  the  elected  candidates.  Bismarck 
did  not  contest  this,  and  seemed  to  accept  twenty-five  days.  As  to  the 
elections,  Bismarck  assured  me  they  should  be  free  in  the  departments 
occupied  by  the  Prussians.  He  made,  however,  a  reservation  concern¬ 
ing  that  portion  of  the  territory  of  the  French  near  the  German  fron¬ 
tiers  and  German  in  origin.  I  immediately  answered  that  the  Armistice 
must  not  be  delayed  by  the  argument  of  questions  which  came  within 
the  province  of  a  treaty  of  peace.  Bismarck  said  that  it  was  better  not 
to  discuss  these  questions,  and  that  he,  if  not  admitting  the  electoral 
agitation  in  said  provinces,  would  not  refuse  that  they  be  represented 
in  the  future  National  Assembly  by  a  notable,  free  in  opinion  as  other 
representatives.  After  a  pause,  we  then  arranged  as  to  the  conduct  of 
the  armies.  Bismarck  referred  this  to  the  generals  and  to  the  King, 
and  this  was  the  conclusion  arrived  at,  namely :  the  belligerents  were  to 
stop  where  they  were  on  the  day  of  the  signing  of  the  Armistice. 
Lastly  came  the  question  of  revictualling,  and  here  again  Bismarck 
wished  to  consult  military  commanders.  So  matters  were  deferred  to 
the  next  day.  When,  on  the  3d,  I  saw  Bismarck,  he  seemed  uneasy 
and  preoccupied,  and  asked  if  I  had  any  news  from  Paris.  I  said  “No.” 
He  then  said,  “Paris  is  in  revolution,  and  a  new  Government  is  pro¬ 
claimed.”  I  replied,  “If  disorder  for  the  moment  has  triumphed,  the 
people’s  love  of  order  and  patriotism  will  soon  restore  order.”  I  was 
forced,  however,  to  suspend  the  negotiations,  but  soon  received  proof 
that  I  was  not  mistaken.  I  saw  Bismarck  that  night,  and  resumed  the 
negotiations  on  the  subject  of  revictualling,  I  explaining  the  principle 
that  at  the  end  of  the  Armistice  each  belligerent  must  be  in  the  same 
condition  as  at  the  commencement.  Bismarck,  speaking  in  the  name 
of  the  military  leaders,  pronounced  against  the  revictualling  unless  he 
received  a  military  equivalent.  I  demanded  what  he  meant.  He  an¬ 
swered  :  “A  fort,  perhaps  more  than  one.”  I  immediately  stopped  Bis¬ 
marck,  saying:  “Is  it  Paris  you  ask?  Paris,  our  force,  our  hope, 
which  you  are  not  able  to  vanquish  after  fifty  days’  siege.”  Arrived 
here,  we  could  go  no  farther.  I  saw  the  military  spirit  all  powerful  in 
the  Prussian  resolution  against  the  peace  policy,  and  asked  Bismarck  for 
leave  to  see  M.  Favre  and  advise  with  him.  Bismarck  charged  me  to 
declare  that  he  would  not  interfere  with  the  election  even  if  there  was 
no  Armistice,  and  would  let  Paris  communicate  with  Tours  on  the  sub¬ 
ject.  The  Government  was  informed  of  what  had  occurred,  and  they 
desired  me  to  break  off  the  negotiations  on  the  refusal  of  the  revictual¬ 
ling,  and  leave  Versailles;  which  resolution  I  imparted  to  Bismarck. 
The  Powers  must  judge  of  the  conduct  of  the  belligerents  and  the  efforts 
made  to  secure  peace,  which  was  not  lost  through  the  nation,  but 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  541 

through  the  fault  of  the  late  Government,  the  existence  of  which  was 
the  fault  of  France  in  abandoning  its  destinies  to  such  hands.  * 


*  Count  Bismarck,  immediately  after  the  breaking  off  of  the  negotiations, 
addressed  the  following  circular  to  the  Representatives  of  the  North  German 
Confederation  abroad : 

“Your - will  know  that  M.  Thiers  expressed  a  desire  to  be  admitted 

to  negotiate  with  our  headquarters,  after  having  entered  into  communications 
with  the  different  members  of  the  Government  for  the  national  defence  at 
Tours  and  Paris.  In  compliance  with  the  orders  of  His  Majesty  the  King,  1 
declared  my  willingness  to  grant  such  an  interview,  and  Monsieur  Thiers  was 
allowed  first  to  proceed  to  Paris  on  the  30th  ult.,  from  whence  he  returned  to 
headquarters  on  the  31st  ult.  That  the  first  statesman  of  importance  and 
experience,  M.  Thiers,  had  accepted  the  plenipotence  of  the  Paris  Govern¬ 
ment,  led  me  to  hope  that  proposals  would  be  submitted  to  us,  the  acceptance 
of  which  would  be  possible,  and,  in  the  interest  of  a  conclusion  of  peace,  I 
received  Monsieur  Thiers  with  that  respectful  conduct  to  which  his  distin¬ 
guished  person — not  to  speak  of  our  former  relations — fully  entitles  him. 
Monsieur  Thiers  declared  that  France,  induced  by  the  desires  of  the  neutral 
Powers,  was  ready  to  accept  an  Armistice.  This  His  Majesty  had,  in  the 
face  of  this  declaration,  to  consider,  that  every  Armistice  in  itself  would 
bring  Germany  all  the  disadvantages  connected  with  the  prolongation  of 
every  campaign  for  every  army  which  receives  its  provisions  from  distant  re¬ 
sources.  Besides  this,  we  took  upon  ourselves  the  obligation  to  leave  the 
German  troops,  which  had  become  available  by  the  capitulation  of  Metz,  in 
the  position  they  occupied  the  day  the  Armistice  was  signed,  and  to  renounce 
the  occupation  of  further  territory  of  the  enemy,  which  might  be  achieved 
without  any  or  very  little  resistance.  Ou  the  other  hand,  France  would,  by 
the  Armistice,  be  enabled  to  develop  its  resources,  to  complete  the  corps  now 
forming,  and  when  the  hostilities  should  reopen,  after  the  Armistice,  to  op¬ 
pose  troops  to  us  which  at  present  do  not  exist.  In  spite  of  these  considerations, 
the  desire  of  His  Majesty  to  take  the  first  step  in  the  interest  of  peace  pre¬ 
vailed,  and  I  was  empowered  to  make  the  advance  to  M.  Thiers  by  granting 
an  Armistice  of  twenty-five,  or — as  he  afterwards  wished — twenty-eight  days, 
on  a  basis  of  simple  statu  quo.  On  the  day  of  signing  it,  I  proposed  to  him, 
by  a  line  of  demarcation  to  be  agreed  on,  to  define  the  position  of  the  troops, 
to  interrupt  hostilities  for  three  weeks,  and  to  proceed  to  elections  for  a  con¬ 
stitution  and  of  national  representation  of  the  French  side.  This  truce  would 
have  resulted  simply  in  the  cessation  of  the  insignificant  and  always  disas¬ 
trous  sorties  and  a  useless  and  incomprehensible  waste  of  ammunition  from 
the  guns  of  the  forts  during  the  Armistice.  With  regard  to  the  elections  in 
Alsace,  I  was  in  a  position  to  declare  that  we  should  not  insist  on  any  stipu¬ 
lation  which  would  call  in  question  the  claim  of  France  to  the  German  depart¬ 
ments  before  the  conclusion  of  peace,  and  that  we  would  not  make  any  of 
the  inhabitants  of  these  parts  responsible  for  their  appearance  at  a  French 
National  Assembly  as  a  representative  of  their  countrymen.  I  was  surprised 


542 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


During  these  negotiations,  the  military  operations  went  on 
without  interruption.  General  Trochu  intimated  to  the 

at  the  French  plenipotentiary  declaring,  after  these  proposals,  in  which  all 
the  advantages  were  on  the  part  of  the  French,  that  he  would  accept  an 
Armistice  only  in  the  event  of  our  agreeing  to  an  extensive  provisioning  of 
Paris.  I  replied  that  this  would  include  so  much  more  of  a  military  conces¬ 
sion  than  the  status  quo  or  anything  reasonable  to  be  expected.  I  asked  him 
if  he  was  in  position  to  offer  any  equivalent  in  return.  Monsieur  Thiers  de¬ 
clared  that  he  was  not  in  position  to  make  any  military  offer  in  return,  and 
was  obliged  to  ask  this  concession  of  the  provisioning  of  Paris,  without  offer¬ 
ing  anything  else  than  the  readiness  of  the  Paris  Government  to  accord  the 
French  nation  an  election  of  its  representative  body,  which  would  probably 
constitute  an  authority  with  which  it  would  be  possible  to  treat  for  peace. 
In  this  way  I  had  to  submit  the  result  of  the  negotiations  to  the  King  and 
his  military  advisers.  His  Majesty  was  surprised  at  these  exorbitant  military 
claims,  and  disappointed  in  his  expectations  as  to  the  negotiations  entered 
into  with  M.  Thiers.  The  incredible  demand  that  we  should  give  up  the 
fruit  of  all  the  efforts  made  during  the  last  two  months  and  the  advantages 
gained,  and  bring  the  situation  back  to  the  moment  when  the  investment  of 
Paris  was  commenced,  could  but  prove  that  in  Paris  they  were  looking  for 
pretexts  to  deny  the  nation  the  elections,  and  were  not  willing  to  give  them 
an  opportunity  to  carry  them  out  without  interruption.  In  compliance  with 
my  desire  to  make  another  attempt  to  come  to  an  understanding  on  another 
basis,  M.  Thiers  had  an  interview  on  the  line  of  outposts  with  the  members 
of  the  Paris  Government  on  the  5th  inst.,  to  propose  either  an  Armistice  on 
the  basis  of  a  status  quo  for  a  shorter  time,  or  the  simple  convening  of  elec¬ 
tions  without  any  treaty  of  Armistice,  on  which  I  could  guarantee  free  ad¬ 
mission,  and  grant  every  facility  not  interfering  with  military  safety.  Re¬ 
garding  the  substance  of  this  in  his  interview  with  Messieurs  Favre  and 
Trochu,  M.  Thiers  has  not  given  me  any  approximate  information.  He  could 
only  tell  me  that  the  result  had  been  the  advice  to  break  off  the  negotiations 
and  leave  Versailles,  since  an  Armistice  with  a  condition  of  revictualling 
Paris  was  not  to  be  attained.  His  departure  for  Tours  took  place  on  the  7th, 
early.  The  course  of  the  negotiations  has  impressed  me  with  the  conviction 
that  the  present  rulers  of  France,  from  the  beginning,  did  not  sincerely  wish 
to  hear  the  voice  of  the  French  nation  in  a  representative  body,  constituted 
by  free  elections,  and  that  it  has  as  little  been  their  intention  to  bring  about 
an  Armistice ;  but  that  they  stipulated  for  a  concession  which  they  knew 
from  the  first  to  be  unacceptable,  and  that  they  only  asked  for  these  condi¬ 
tions  in  order  not  to  give  the  neutral  Powers,  on  whose  support  they  count,  a 
direct  refusal. 

“Your - :  I  beg  to  request  that  you  express  yourself  in  accordance 

with  the  contents  of  this  dispatch,  to  the  reading  of  which  you  are  em¬ 
powered. 

(Signed)  “  Bismarck.’’ 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


543 


people  of  Paris  that,  although  the  efforts  to  secure  an  Armis¬ 
tice  had  failed,  the  hour  of  their  deliverance  was  at  hand. 
The  troops,  he  said,  were  almost  ready  for  the  field,  and  in  a 
few  weeks  the  state  of  affairs  would  be  materially  changed 
for  the  better.  In  the  meantime,  he  exhorted  the  citizens  to 
be  calm  and  to  give  the  Government  their  full  support. 

The  movement  to  which  he  so  mysteriously  alluded  was 
none  other  than  an  effort  to  raise  the  siege  by  a  combined 
movement  of  Ducrot’s  army  and  the  forces  on  the  Loire.  It 
was  arranged  between  Generals  Trochu  and  De  Paladines  that 
the  latter  should  move  forward  from  the  Loire,  turn  the  Ger¬ 
man  left  flank  on  that  stream,  beat  back  the  army  of 
Frederick  Charles,  and  send  a  strong  column  of  at  least 
100,000  men  to  attack  the  German  army  on  the  south  of 
Paris  and  compel  them  to  raise  the  investment.  While  this 
movement  was  in  progress,  Trochu  was  to  advance  from  Paris 
with  Ducrot’s  army,  attack  the  investing  force,  push  it  back, 
and  take  such  a  position  near  the  junction  of  the  Marne  and 
Seine  as  would  enable  him  to  cooperate  with  the  army  of  De 
Paladines,  which  was  expected  to  approach  the  capital  from 
the  direction  of  Fontainebleau.  Both  armies  were  to  move  on 
the  28th  of  November.  The  fate  of  the  Army  of  the  Loire 
has  been  related  in  the  previous  chapter. 

Trochu  made  his  preparations  with  great  care.  The  1st 
army,  under  General  Thomas,  was  to  hold  Paris  and  the  de¬ 
fences;  detachments  from  the  3d  army,  under  General  Vinoy, 
were  to  make  a  series  of  feints  from  St.  Denis,  on  the  north, 
from  Fort  Nogent  on  the  east,  towards  Mont  Avron,  from 
Forts  Ivry  and  Bicetre,  on  the  south,  towards  Choisy-le-Boi 
and’ Chevilly,  and  from  Mont  Valcrien,  on  the  west,  towards 
Bougival  and  Besons  ;  while  the  2d  army,  under  General 
Ducrot,  was  to  break  through  the  investment  at  Villiers-sur- 
Marne,  Champigny,  and  Brie-sur-Marne.  Trochu  and  the 
Provisional  Government  announced  the  intended  movement 
of  the  Parisians  and  the  army  in  stirring  proclamations,  and 
all  Paris  was  elated  with  the  hope  of  a  speedy  victory. 

On  Sunday,  November  the  27th,  the  concentration  of  troops 


544 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


towards  the  destined  points  of  attack  was  begun.  All  through 
the  28th  the  streets  of  Paris  were  filled  with  armed  men, 
artillery  and  trains,  moving  towards  the  south  and  southwest. 
At  nine  o’clock  the  generale  was  beaten  and  the  National 
Guards  called  to  arms ;  and  at  eleven  o’clock  Forts  Charenton 
and  Ivry  opened  a  fearful  fire  upon  the  German  lines,  in  which 
Forts  Bicetre,  Yauves,  Montrouge,  and  Issy,  and  the  formida¬ 
ble  redoubts  which  the  French  had  constructed  at  Moulins 
Saquet  and  Hautes  Bruy&res  joined.  Several  gunboats  lay  in 
the  Seine,  above  Port  a  1’ Anglais,  and  these  too  added  their 
share  to  the  terrible  cannonade.  This  cannonade  led  the  Ger¬ 
mans  to  suspect  that  some  movement  of  unusual  importance 
was  about  to  take  place,  and  their  vigilance  was  redoubled. 
About  midnight,  the  German  outposts  detected  unmistakable 
signs  of  a  heavy  movement  of  troops  in  the  French  lines,  and 
these  being  reported  to  the  royal  headquarters,  orders  were 
telegraphed  all  along  the  circle  of  investment  to  be  in  readi¬ 
ness  for  an  attack  at  any  point,  and  preparations  were  made 
to  reenforce  the  assailed  points  as  rapidly  and  as  powerfully 
as  possible. 

Ducrot,  with  a  force  of  60,000  picked  troops,  took  position 
on  the  night  of  the  28th  beyond  the  wood  of  Vincennes,  and 
under  the  guns  of  Forts  Nogent  and  Rosny,  intending  to 
begin  his  advance  the  next  morning ;  but,  about  daylight  on 
the  29th  a  sudden  rise  in  the  Marne  carried  away  the  bridges 
which  had  been  laid  down  for  the  passage  of  his  troops,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  await  the  subsidence  of  the  waters  before 
pursuing  his  movement  farther. 

Not  wishing  to  lose  time,  and  hoping  that  Ducrot  would 
be  able  to  pass  the  Marne  during  the  day,  General  Tro'chu 
began  the  sorties  from  the  other  quarters  at  the  appointed 
hour  on  the  29th.  In  the  early  twilight  of  the  morning 
General  De  Beaufort  moved  out  from  behind  Mont  Valerien, 
and  advanced  with  his  division  towards  Bougival  and  the 
hights  of  Malmaison,  on  the  road  to  Versailles ;  and  at  the 
same  time  the  division  of  General  De  Liniers  moved  from  the 
same  point  upon  the  bridge  at  Besons.  The  advance  of  both 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


545 


divisions  was  covered  by  a  tremendous  fire  from  the  heavy 
guns  of  Mont  Valerien.  They  soon  encountered  the  outposts 
of  the  Prussian  Fifth  Corps,  and  became  hotly  engaged.  Yon 
Kirchbach  was  speedily  reenforced,  and  he  brought  his 
artillery  into  use  with  good  effect.  The  French  drove  in  his 
outposts  and  endeavored  to  storm  his  intrenchments  atBougi- 
val  and  Montretout,  but  without  success.  The  French  Com¬ 
manders  did  not  force  their  advances  with  much  vigor,  how¬ 
ever,  as  the  whole  movement  was  a  feint  to  draw  Yon 
Moltke’s  attention  to  Von  Kirch  bach’s  position,  and  to  com¬ 
pel  him  to  weaken  the  rest  of  his  line  by  reenforcing  the 
Fifth  Corps.  When  it  was  thought  that  this  object  had  been 
accomplished,  General  Vinoy  withdrew  his  divisions  under 
the  cover  of  the  guns  of  Mont  Valerien. 

A  little  later  the  movement  towards  the  north  was  made 
by  a  division  under  Admiral  Ronci^re,  from  St.  Denis 
towards  Epinay,  Drancv,  and  Le  Bourget.  It  was  met  by  the 
Fourth  Prussian  Corps  and  a  division  of  the  Guards,  and  was 
repulsed  with  considerable  loss  to  the  French. 

On  the  east,  the  Marines,  under  Admiral  Saisset,  and  the 
division  of  General  D’Hugues  succeeded  in  occupying  Mont 
Avron,  from  which  they  threatened  Chelles,  Neuilly,  Noisy, 
Brie,  and  Villiers. 

On  the  south,  Vinoy  advanced  in  person,  about  nine  o’clock, 
with  two  divisions,  from  Villejuif  and  LTIay  upon  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  Prussian  Sixth  Corps  and  the  Wiirtembergers. 
His  advance  was  supported  by  a  heavy  fire  from  a  new  work 
at  Villejuif.  He  was  met  by  a  severe  artillery  fire  from  the 
Germans,  who  repeatedly  unmasked  new  batteries  from  com¬ 
manding  positions,  and  in  two  hours,  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of 
their  officers  to  hold  them  firm,  the  French  were  forced  to  re¬ 
treat  in  disorder.  In  the  afternoon,  Vinoy  made  a  sharp 
attack  upon  the  position  of  the  Wiirtembergers  at  Mont 
Mesly.  After  five  hours’  fighting,  the  French  were  driven 
back  at  all  joints. 

In  the  afternoon,  finding  it  impossible  to  cross  Ducrot's 
command,  Trochu  put  a  stop  to  all  the  movements. 


546  HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 

During  the  night  of  the  29th  the  waters  of  the  Marne  fell, 
and  the  French  at  once  threw  eight  pontoon  bridges  over  that 
stream  at  Joinville,  under  the  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  double 
redoubt  of  Gravelle  and  La  Faisanderie,  and  at  Nogent  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort  of  the  same  name.  At  the  first  light,  the 
redoubt  above  named,  the  Forts  of  Vincennes,  Nogent,  and 
Rosny,  and  the  long-ranged  field  batteries  which  had  been 
advanced  to  Mont  Avron  on  the  previous  day,  opened  a  heavy 
fire  on  the  German  lines,  under  cover  of  which  the  First  and 
Second  Corps,  under  Generals  Blanchard  and  Renault,  with 
their  artillery,  passed  the  river  between  Nogent  and  Joinville, 
and  advanced  upon  the  position  of  the  Germans  at  the  villages 
of  Champigny  and  Villiers  ;  while  the  Third  Corps,  under 
General  D’Exea,  marched  up  the  Marne,  and  passing  the 
river  at  Neuilly,  moved  against  the  village  of  Brie,  upon 
which  a  division  of  Renault’s  corps  was  also  directed.  Brie 
was  held  by  an  inferior  force  of  Saxons,  and  was  carried  at 
the  first  attack,  the  French  pressing  the  Saxons  back  by  mere 
weight  of  numbers.  The  struggle  for  Champigny  was  more 
difficult,  but  the  place  was  carried  by  Blanchard’s  corps, 
which  paid  dearly  in  killed  and  wounded  for  its  success. 
Blanchard  at  once  began  to  entrench  his  position  at  Cham¬ 
pigny,  while  the  German  batteries  at  Chenevieres  endeavored 
to  make  the  village  untenable  by  their  fire. 

The  villages  of  Brie  and  Champigny  lie  at  the  outer  end 
of  the  loop  of  the  Marne  by  which  Ducrot  had  made  his  ad¬ 
vance.  East  of  them  is  a  little  sandy  plain  at  the  end  of  which 
■rises  a  low  range,  scarcely  a  gunshot  eastward  of  Brie  and 
'Champigny,  and  on  this  range  stand  the  villages  of  Villiers 
and  Cocuilly.  These  villages  were  held  by  the  Saxon  and 
Wiirtemberg  brigades,  which  had  been  driven  out  of  Brie 
and  Champigny,  and  which  were  vastly  inferior  to  the  force 
arrayed  against  them.  The  possession  of  these  villages  was 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  Ducrot,  whose  forces  were 
hemmed  in  on  the  neck  of  land,  barely  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
wide,  enclosed  by  the  bend  of  the  Marne.  Once  in  possession 
of  them,  he  could  deploy  his  force  on  a  wider  front,  and  de- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


547 


rive  advantage  from  his  superior  numbers  ;  but  as  long  as  they 
were  held  by  the  Germans,  he  could  not  make  a  proper  de¬ 
ployment  of  his  force,  which,  penned  up  in  its  close  quarters, 
offered  a  better  mark  for  the  fire  of  the  German  artillery.  It 
was  believed  at  the  French  headquarters  that  the  Army  of 
the  Loire  was  approaching,  and  it  was  of  the  highest  impor¬ 
tance  that  Ducrot  should  secure  a  position  from  which  he 
could  cooperate  with  De  Paladines,  but  in  order  to  do  so  the 
villages  named  must  be  taken. 

Renault’s  Corps  was  accordingly  directed  against  Villiers, 
and  D’Exea  was  ordered  to  support  him  from  Brie.  The 
Germans  were  inferior  to  the  French  in  numbers,  but  they 
managed  to  cover  their  assailed  line.  The  French  advanced 
gallantly  to  the  attack,  and  were  met  with  that  quiet  deter¬ 
mination  which  is  so  characteristic  of  a  German  defence. 
From  noon  until  nightfall  the  battle  raged  in  front  of  Villiers 
with  varying  success.  Sometimes  the  German  line  was  beaten 
back,  and  sometimes  it  advanced  driving  the  French  before 
it.  General  Renault  was  severely  wounded  about  two  o’clock, 
and  the  losses  on  both  sides  in  killed  and  wounded  were  very 
heavy.  When  the  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  fighting,  mat¬ 
ters  stood  thus  :  —  The  French  had  carried  and  still  held  Brie 
and  Champigny,  but  they  had  failed  to  take  Villiers,  and  were 
still  confined  to  the  loop  of  the  Marne.  They  had  made  a 
good  fight,  but  they  had  failed  to  accomplish  the  main  object 
of  the  day’s  operations,  namely,  the  securing  of  a  position 
which  would  enable  them  to  use  their  large  force  advantage¬ 
ously. 

During  the  day  the  forces  of  General  Vinoy  continued  to 
make  sorties  towards  Choisy-le-Roi  and  Thiais,  and  one  of  his 
divisions  advanced  to  Mont  Meslv,  which  it  held  until  night¬ 
fall.  Admiral  La  Rondure  sallied  out  from  St.  Denis,  with 
his  division,  aided  by  the  fire  of  a  gunboat  in  the  Seine,  and 
captured  the  village  of  Epinay,  which  he  barricaded.  The 
Germans,  later  in  the  afternoon,  sent  six  battalions  to  retake 
the  village,  and,  after  a  sharp  fight,  the  French  were  driven 
out.  The  forts  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  on  the  German  lines  all 
day,  and  continued  it  late  into  the  night. 


548 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  Germans  expected  that  the  battle  would  be  renewed 
the  next  morning,  December  1st,  but  the  French  remained 
quiet  in  their  positions  during  the  entire  day,  and  both 
armies  passed  the  time  in  burying  the  dead  and  attending  to 
the  wounded.  This  failure  on  the  part  of  the  French  to  re¬ 
new  the  attack  is  still  unexplained.  They  had  every  reason 
to  spare  no  effort  to  cut  the  investing  line,  for  they  believed 
that  De  Paladines  was  approaching  to  their  assistance;  but 
they  lay  perfectly  quiet  during  the  1st  of  December,  although 
they  must  have  known  that  the  Germans  would  occupy  that 
day  in  strengthening  their  position  at  Yilliers  and  in  reen¬ 
forcing  the  troops  holding  it,  the  latter  of  which  they  did  by 
sending  a  large  part  of  the  Second  Corps  to  Yilliers.  It  is 
most  likely  that  the  delay  was  caused  by  Ducrot’s  unwilling¬ 
ness  to  risk  another  encounter  with  the  Germans,  with  the 
troops  who  had  failed  to  carry  Villiers  on  the  80th.  The 
Germans,  on  their  part,  were  more  active.  They  not  only 
reenforced  their  troops  on  the  Marne,  but  Yon  Moltke  deter¬ 
mined  to  assume  the  offensive  the  next  morning,  to  retake 
Brie  and  Champigny,  and  to  break  up  the  bridges  by  which 
Ducrot  had  crossed  the  Marne,  and  cut  off  his  retreat. 

The  villages  of  Brie  and  Champigny  were  entirely  com¬ 
manded  by  the  guns  of  Fort  Nogent,  and  the  former  was  also 
enfiladed  by  the  long  range  guns  on  Mont  Avron.  The 
French  held  their  positions  here,  seemingly  unsuspicious  of 
an  attack  by  the  Germans,  who,  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of 
December,  soon  after  daylight,  made  a  dash  into  Brie,  with 
about  2500  men,  surprised  the  French  force  there,  and  cap¬ 
tured  the  village,  with  500  prisoners,  eight  of  whom  were 
officers.  The  French  were  either  in  bed  at  the  time  of  the 
attack,  or  engaged  in  cooking  their  morning  meal,  and  were 
utterly  unprepared  for  the  sudden  onset  of  the  Germans. 
Fort  Nogent  at  once  opened  fire  on  Brie,  which  at  length 
became  too  hot  to  be  held,  and  at  ten  o’clock  the  Saxons  fell 
back  from  it,  taking  their  prisoners  with  them.  Champigny 
was  attacked  by  the  Wiirtembergers  early  in  the  morning, 
and  was  carried  by  them  about  eight  o’clock. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.  549 

• 

As  the  Germans  fell  back  from  Brie,  the  French  threw 
forward  a  strong  column  and  occupied  the  village.  At  the 
same  time  they  drove  the  Wiirtembergers  out  of  Champigny, 
and  formed  a  line  across  the  neck  of  land  from  that  place  to 
Brie.  Under  the  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  forts  and  the  bat¬ 
teries  on  Mont  Avron,  which  pounded  the  Germans  over 
their  heads,  they  threw  forward  a  force  from  Champigny, 
which  pressed  the  Wiirtembergers  heavily.  The  Wiirtern- 
bergers  were  supported  by  strong  detachments  from  the  Prus¬ 
sian  Second  Corps,  and  steadily  resisted  all  the  efforts  of  their 
assailants  to  dislodge  them.  The  main  effort  of  the  French 
was  made  at  Villiers  and  beyond  Brie  from  the  direction  of 
the  latter  village.  They  were  supported  by  the  fire  of  the  forts, 
which  caused  considerable  loss  to  the  Germans,  but  this  ceased 
as  the  French  neared  the  line  of  their  enemies,  and  a  heavy  in¬ 
fantry  fire  took  its  place.  The  Germans  met  the  French  advance 
with  a  counter  attack,  and  after  a  severe  struggle  succeeded 
in  breaking  them  and  forcing  them  back.  Then  the  forts 
opened  fire  again,  and  the  Saxons  withdrew.  They  were  una¬ 
ble  to  get  their  artillery  fairly  into  action.  The  ground  was 
unfavorable  to  its  use,  and  the  fire  of  the  forts  silenced  it 
whenever  an  effort  was  made  to  employ  it. 

About  noon  the  fire  of  the  forts  began  to  slacken,  and  the 
infantry  fire  died  away  also.  There  was  a  lull  of  an  hour  in 
the  battle,  which  was  employed  by  each  side  in  preparing  for 
a  final  effort.  At  one  o’clock  the  French  made  another 
advance,  pushing  forward  in  such  numbers  and  with  such 
energy  that  the  Saxons  at  first  gave  ground;  but  rallying 
quickly,  they  went  at  the  French  with  the  bayonet,  and  for 
nearly  two  hours  the  battle  was  carried  on  with  the  most  stub¬ 
born  tenacity  on  each  side,  and  at  close  quarters.  At  length 
the  French  were  driven  back,  and  the  Saxons,  pressing  for¬ 
ward,  endeavored  to  reach  the  Marne  and  cut  the  pontoon 
bridges.  This,  however,  they  were  not  able  to  accomplish, 
for  the  guns  of  Fort  Nogent  swept  the  approaches  to  the  river 
with  such  a  storm  of  shells  that  it  was  impossible  to  reach 
the  water’s  edge  with  a  corporal’s  guard.  About  three  o’clock 


550  HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 

t 

the  Germans  withdrew  to  their  original  line,  and  the  French 
remained  under  the  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  forts.  Brie  was 
abandoned  by  both  parties,  being  swept  through  and  through 
by  the  fire  of  Fort  Nogent,  and  Champigny  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  French.  Yilliers  was  still  held  by  the  Ger¬ 
mans,  and  the  line  of  the  investment  was  unbroken.  The 
French  had  failed  to  occupy  the  position  for  which  they  had 
fought  so  hard,  but  they  had  successfully  opposed  the  efforts 
of  the  Germans  to  reach  their  bridges  and  cut  off  their  retreat. 

The  losses  up  to  the  night  of  the  2d  were  as  follows :  Ger¬ 
mans,  6500  killed  and  wounded.  French,  6030  killed  and 
wounded,  and  1800  prisoners.  Among  the  French  prisoners 
were  one  general,  and  twenty  commissioned  officers.  The 
Germans  also  took  seven  pieces  of  artillery.* 

The  2d  of  December  decided  the  fate  of  the  French.  They 
had  failed  in  their  efforts  to  break  the  investing  line,  and  it 
had  become  evident  to  them  that  a  further  trial  was  useless. 
News  had  also  come  that  De  Paladines  had  lost  the  battle  of 
Beaune-la-Rolande,  and  that  there  was  but  little  if  any  hope 
of  assistance  from  the  Army  of  the  Loire.  Therefore  it  was 
decided  to  withdraw  Ducrot’s  army  across  the  Marne.  This 
was  accomplished  without  molestation  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  3d  of  December.  Garrisons  were  left  in  Brie  and  Cham¬ 
pigny,  and  the  2d  army  bivouacked  in  the  wood  of  Vincennes. 

On  the  night  of  the  4th,  Brie  and  Champigny  were  entirely 
abandoned.  The  Germans  then  merely  occupied  them  with 
their  picket  posts,  as  they  were  made  too  hot  by  the  fire  of 
the  forts  to  be  held  by  larger  forces. 

The  sortie  was  a  failure.  Not  only  had  the  French  failed 
to  break  the  German  line,  but  they  had  been  absolutely  pow¬ 
erless  to  leave  the  little  peninsula  at  which  they  crossed  the 
Marne.  The  Germans,  however,  had  found  the  fire  of  the 
forts  more  formidable  than  they  had  anticipated,  and  had 
discovered  that,  until  they  had  completed  the  erection  of  bat¬ 
teries  sufficiently  powerful  to  silence  the  forts,  it  would  be 
useless  to  attempt  to  advance  their  lines.  The  ordy  real  ad- 


*  King  William’s  dispatch. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


551 


vantages  gained  by  the  French  were  the  discoveries  that  Du- 
crot’s  men  could  fight  well,  and  that  the  National  Guards  of 
Paris  were  worth  very  little  in  the  open  field. 

The  plan  to  which  General  Trochu  so  frequently  referred 
in  his  orders  and  proclamations  was  simply  this — -to  convert 
Paris  into  an  impregnable  fortress,  and  to  await  assistance 
from  the  provincial  armies,  confining  his  efforts  merely  to 
sorties  which  should  prevent  the  besiegers  from  weakening 
themselves  to  send  assistance  to  the  German  forces  in  the  pro¬ 
vinces.  This  would  have  done  well  enough  had  France  pos¬ 
sessed  a  reliable  army  in  the  departments,  or  had  there  been 
one  single  great  general  to  direct  such  armies  as  were  raised ; 
but  under  the  circumstances,  General  Trochu’s  plan  amounted 
simply  to  waiting  until  the  provisions  should  give  out  and 
hunger  should  compel  a  surrender.  This  patient  waiting  was 
sorely  trying  to  the  people  of  Paris,  and  they  were  loud  in 
their  demands  for  more  sorties  and  for  a  more  determined  ef¬ 
fort  to  break  through  the  German  lines.  As  the  time  passed 
on,  and  nothing  was  done,  Trochu,  who  had  entered  upon  his 
command,  not  only  in  possession  of  the  unlimited  confidence 
of  the  Parisians,  but  amidst  their  most  enthusiastic  rejoicings, 
gradually  lost  his  popularity,  and  came  to  be  regarded  as  but 
one  more  of  the  incapables  with  whom  France  was  cursed. 

The  truth  is,  however,  that  the  Parisians  expected  more  of 
Trochu  than  he  was  capable  of  performing.  He  had  made 
Paris  a  powerfully  armed  fortress,  and  he  had  provided  an  army 
in  readiness  to  take  the  field;  but  it  was  not  possible  for  him 
to  plant  that  army  beyond  the  German  lines.  He  had  tried 
his  troops  fairly  in  the  battles  on  the  Marne,  and  he  had  found 
them  unequal  to  the  task  of  carrying  the  German  position. 
There  was  but  little  generalship  to  be  brought  into  play  in  such 
an  effort.  It  required  simply  good  fighting  to  carry  the  Ger 
man  works  and  cut  the  investment.  The  first  part  of  the  task 
devolved  upon  the  army  almost  entirely.  Generalship  would 
come  into  play  afterwards.  The  troops  failed  to  perform  the 
task  assigned  them.  Trochu  could  not  help  this. 

But  had  Ducrot  been  successful,  had  he  carried  the  posi- 


552 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


tion  on  the  Marne,  his  efforts  would  have  been  of  no  avail. 
He  would  have  taken  upwards  of  60,000  men  beyond  the  in¬ 
vestment,  but  with  the  Army  of  the  Loire  in  full  retreat  he 
would  have  been  helpless.  Without  abandoning  the  investment 
— for  the  troops  left  to  Trochu  would  not  have  been  difficult 
to  manage — the  Germans  could  have  detached  a  force  sufficient 
to  crush  Ducrot.  After  escaping  from  Paris,  Ducrot’s  army 
would  have  been  without  a  base  of  operations,  yvithout  supplies 
of  any  kind,  and  its  commander  compelled,  even  if  unmolested 
by  the  Germans,  to  disband  his  force  or  to  surrender  in  order 
to  escape  starvation.  The  highest  number  of  effective  troops 
which  could  have  been  carried  out  of  Paris,  had  the  invest¬ 
ment  been  broken,  would  not  have  exceeded  150,000,  and  the 
great  size  of  this  force  would  merely  have  hastened  its  dissolu¬ 
tion.  The  Army  of  the  Loire  being  in  full  retreat,  Ducrot  would 
have  been  helpless,  and  would  have  been  beaten  long  before 
he  could  have  joined  De  Paladines.  Had  De  Paladinesbeen  sue 
cessful,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  the  case  would  have  been  dif¬ 
ferent  at  Paris,  for  Ducrot  was  beaten  by  an  inferior  force,  and 
his  fate  was  really  decided  in  the  first  day’s  fight.  The  Ger¬ 
mans,  on  their  part,  were  so  encouraged  by  the  result  of  the 
30th,  that  they  could  easily  have  spared  troops  enough  to 
prevent  De  Paladines  from  compelling  them  to  raise  the  siege. 
Trochu’s  plan  was  able,  but  it  required  victory  on  both  the 
Loire  and  the  Marne.  A  defeat  on  either  river,  he  foresaw, 
would  be  fatal  to  it.  As  it  was,  it  failed  in  every  particular. 

This  effort  seems  to  have  satisfied  General  Trochu  of  the 
utter  hopelessness  of  trying  to  break  up  the  investment  by 
mere  sorties  without  assistance  from  without,  and  during  the 
remainder  of  the  siege  he  made  no  effort  to  carry  Duerot's 
army  beyond  the  enemy’s  lines.  Many  persons  have  cen¬ 
sured  him  for  not  attempting  to  do  so,  and  have  expressed 
surprise  that  with  half  a  million  of  men  at  his  back,  he  re¬ 
mained  so  passive.  The  truth  is,  however,  that  of  all  this 
large  force  Ducrot’s  army  constituted  the  only  troops  he  could 
depend  on,  if  we  except  the  few  regulars  in  Vinoy’s  army. 
The  rest — the  National  Guard  of  Paris — constituted  a  force 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


553 


excellent  for  reviews,  and  good  at  making  domestic  revolu¬ 
tions,  but  utterly  worthless  for  field  sorties,  and  especially 
good-for-nothing  in  such  a  task  as  driving  the  German  vete¬ 
rans  from  their  intrenched  positions.  General  Trochu  has 
never  expressed  himself  on  this  point,  but  we  have  every 
reason  to  believe  that  he  understood  the  character  of  the  1st 
army  too  well  to  place  the  slightest  hope  upon  its  efforts  in 
the  field.  Paris  was  in  no  condition  to  send  out  even  a  small 
army  well  supplied  with  provisions.  Rations  for  a  few  days, 
a  week  at  the  most,  could  be  spared,  but  that  was  all.  We 
insist,  therefore,  that  no  censure  should  justly  attach  to  Gen 
eral  Trochu,  for  not  seeking  to  send  out  a  force  from  Paris 
after  Ducrot’s  first  failure.  Even  had  he  been  able  to  force 
his  way  through  the  German  lines,  which  were  much  stronger 
after  the  2d  of  December  than  before  that  day,  Ducrot  would 
have  been  exposed  to  defeat  and  starvation  without  accomp¬ 
lishing  anything  of  real  benefit.  Only  the  successful  ap¬ 
proach  of  a  provincial  army  would  have  justified  Trochu  in 
forcing  his  way  out  of  Paris,  and  it  was  not  in  his  power  to 
raise  the  siege  with  his  own  troops. 

But  although  unable  to  break  the  German  line  by  an  as¬ 
sault,  it  was  in  the  power  of  General  Trochu  to  conduct  the 
defence  with  energy  and  in  a  manner  which  would  have 
caused  the  Germans  no  little  trouble.  Possessing  a  force  nu¬ 
merically  superior  to  the  besiegers,  and  having  at  his  com¬ 
mand  unlimited  engineering  resources,  it  was  generally  be¬ 
lieved  that  he  would  from  the  first  carry  on  a  system  of 
operations  which  would  greatly  advance  the  defences  of  the 
capital  and  make  the  investment  utterly  impracticable. 

During  the  first  month  of  the  siege  the  Germans  were  en¬ 
tirely  dependent  on  their  field  artillery.  Their  siege  guns 
had  not  reached  them.  During  this  same  period  Trochu  could 
have  begun  a  system  of  intrenchments  beyond  the  forts,  but 
sufficiently  under  their  guns  to  be  protected  by  them,  which 
he  could  have  made  as  strong  as  the  forts  themselves.  Ma¬ 
terials  of  every  description  could  have  been  had  in  Paris; 
tools  were  in  abundance,  and  the  workmen  of  Paris  would 


554 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


have  been  better  employed  as  engineer  troops  than  as  National 
Guards  or  builders  of  barricades.  Such  a  system  of  works 
could  have  been  begun,  if  at  no  other  place,  on  the  very  line 
which  was  selected  for  Ducrot’s  sortie,  and  at  the  villages 
which  proved  untenable  for  the  Germans  in  consequence  of 
the  fire  of  the  forts.  Mont  Avron  offered  similar  advantages, 
as  did  also  the  ground  between  the  Seine  and  the  Marne,  at 
their  junction,  and  that  beyond  Mont  Valdrien.  These  works 
could  have  been  built,  armed,  and  pushed  forward  steadily 
before  the  arrival  of  the  German  siege  guns,  and  had  they 
been  advanced  with  proper  skill  and  vigor  would  have  forced 
back  the  investing  line  until  it  was  broken,  or  have  cut  the 
lines  on  which  the  besiegers  depended  for  direct  communica¬ 
tion  between  the  various  parts  of  their  force.  Undoubtedly 
the  Germans  would  have  sought  to  put  a  stop  to  the  advance 
of  these  works,  but  by  the  time  the  works  had  been  advanced 
beyond  the  protection  of  the  forts  they  could  have  been  made 
strong  enough  to  defy  assault,  or  at  least  strong  enough  to 
require  a  fearful  price  in  human  lives  to  be  paid  for  their 
capture.  Had  such  a  system  been  but  put  in  practice,  Trochu’s 
National  Guards  would  have  been  of  service  to  him,  for  they 
would  have  made  good  engineer  troops.  Paris  might  even 
then  have  been  taken,  but  it  would  have  proved  another  Se¬ 
bastopol,  and  the  story  of  the  siege  might  have  formed  one 
of  the  proudest  episodes  in  French  history. 

Nothing  of  this  kind  was  attempted,  however,  until  after 
the  close  of  November.  Then  the  effort  was  made  to  push  the 
defences  of  Mont  Valerien  further  towards  Versailles,  and  to 
strengthen  the  position  which  had  been  taken  at  Mont  Avron  ; 
but  it  was  too  late. 

Mont  Avron  is  the  name  given  to  a  commanding  plateau, 
lying  south  of  the  Forest  of  Bondy  and  to  the  east  of  Paris, 
about  a  mile  beyond  Forts  Rosny  arid  Nogent.  The  position 
was  seized  by  a  division  of  Vinoy’s  Army  at  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  Ducrot’s  sortie,  and  upon  the  failure  of  that  effort, 
Trochu  decided  to  retain  and  fortify  it.  A  strong  redoubt 
was  thrown  up  on  the  hill,  and  this  work  was  armed  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


555 


siege  guns  of  long  range,  and  was  well  supplied  with  traverses 
for  the  protection  of  the  guns  and  artillerymen,  but  no  bomb 
proofs  were  built,  although  the  French  must  have  known  that 
the  Germans  would  take  the  first  opportunity  to  cannonade  it. 

The  Germans,  on  their  part,  had  been  well  satisfied  with 
Trochu’s  failure  to  resort  to  the  means  of  defence  we  have  in¬ 
dicated,  while  they  were  dependent  on  their  field  guns;  and 
now  that  they  had  had  the?'  advantage  of  a  delay  of  nearly 
three  months,  in  which  to  strengthen  their  own  works  and 
receive  their  heavy  guns,  they  were  resolved  that  no  such 
plan  should  be  carried  out.  Therefore,  as  soon  as  the  French 
works  began  to  appear  on  Mont  Avron,  they  commenced  their 
preparations  to  reduce  it.  In  order  to  avoid  the  losses  which 
an  assault  would  entail  upon  them,  it  was  determined  to  bom¬ 
bard  the  new  fort;  and,  accordingly,  they  began  the  construc¬ 
tion  of  batteries,  which  were  located  at  distances  exceeding  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  the  work  to  be  reached.  These  batte¬ 
ries  mounted  seventy  guns;  and  were  located  in  a  semicircle, 
extending  from  Rainey  on  the  north,  by  Maison  Blanche  and 
Ville  Evrard,  to  Noisy-le-Grand,  south  of  the  Marne ;  the  most 
distant  batteries  were  armed  with  five-and-a-half-inch  rifled 
guns,  throwing  shells  weighing  sixty-four  pounds,  and  the  others 
were  armed  with  twelve-pounders,  throwing  lighter  missiles. 

The  French  soon  became  aware  of  the  construction  of  these 
batteries,  and  determined  to  put  a  stop  to  them.  Accordingly, 
on  the  21st  of  December,  General  Trochu  sent  strong  columns 
to  attack  the  Germans  at  Le  Bourget  and  Stains,  and  under 
the  cover  of  this  attack  he  made  a  rush  at  Maison  Blanche 
and  Vi  lie  Evrard  with  Blaise’s  division  of  Ducrot’s  army. 
The  attacks  on  Le  Bourget  and  Stains  were  repulsed,  but 
Blaise  succeeded  in  carrying  the  villages  in  his  front.  In  the 
rear  of  Maison  Blanche  and  Ville  Evrard  were  the  batteries 
for  the  reduction  of  Fort  Avron,  and  a  few  miles  back  of 
these  was  the  great  depot  of  Lagny  on  the  Paris  and  Stras¬ 
bourg  Railway,  the  point  to  which  the  cars  brought  the  Ger¬ 
man  supplies.  Having  carried  the  villages,  Trochu  should 
not  have  lost  a  moment  in  strengthening  them,  and  should 


556 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


have  reenforced  Blaise  to  the  extent  of  his  abilty,  and  have 
made  a  bold  push  for  the  railroad.  The  villages,  however, 
were  not  strengthened,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  a  storming 
column  of  Saxons  was  directed  upon  them,  and  after  a  sharp 
light,  in  which  General  Blaise  was  killed,  the  Trench  were 
driven  out.  Some  of  the  French  troops  were  cut  off  from 
their  friends  by  the  sudden  advance  of  the  Saxons,  and  the 
next  day  a  demonstration  was  made  against  the  Saxon  left, 
under  the  cover  of  which  the  isolated  French  parties  made 
their  way  back  to  their  own  lines. 

After  his  repulse  from  Le  Bourget,  General  Ducrot  began 
the  construction  of  a  series  of  earthworks  in  front  of  and  be¬ 
yond  the  village  of  Drancy,  and  under  the  cover  of  the  guns 
of  tthe  northern  forts.  General  Trochu  continued  to  push 
forward  the  works  he  had  begun  in  the  bend  of  the  Seine 
beyond  Mont  Valcrien.  The  construction  of  Fort  Avron  was 
hastened,  and  the  Germans,  on  their  part,  hurried  forward  the 
batteries  on  which  they  were  engaged.  A  day  or  two  after  the 
battle,  a  heavy  frost  set  in,  and,  by  freezing  the  roads,  greatly 
lightened  the  task  of  hauling  the  guns  and  the  heavy  shells. 

At  length  all  was  in  readiness,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th  of  December  the  German  batteries,  comprising  the  semi¬ 
circle  around  Mont  Avron,  opened  simultaneously  on  the 
doomed  fort.  The  firing  was  heavy  and  overpowering,  and  was 
not  lessened  by  the  snow  which  commenced  falling  soon  after 
the  bombardment  began.  It  was  continued  through  the  day 
and  kept  up  all  night,  the  rate  at  night  being  one  discharge 
per  hour  from  each  gun,  or  more  than  one  shell  per  minute 
thrown  into  the  fort.  At  first  Fort  Avron  replied  with  spirit, 
but  as  the  range  of  the  German  guns  became  more  accurate, 
its  fire  began  to  slacken,  and  in  a  short  while  ceased  alto¬ 
gether.  The  guns  of  the  fort  had  been  made  to  face  outwards, 
and  it  was  impossible  to  change  their  direction  so  as  to  con¬ 
centrate  their  fire  upon  any  of  the  batteries  but  those  im 
mediately  in  front,  and  as  there  were  no  boom-proofs  to 
shelter  the  men,  it  soon  became  impossible  to  afford  them 
any  relief  from  the  constant  dropping  of  the  German  shells. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


557 


The  traverses  were  practically  of  no  use  under  a  vertical  fire, 
and  the  infantry  stationed  in  the  work  to  support  the  gunners 
became  so  much  demoralized  by  their  exposure  that  they  re¬ 
fused  to  remain,  and  the  gunners  declared  they  could  not 
work  the  guns  if  left  without  the  support  of  the  infantry. 
All  the  while  the  German  shells  came  crashing  into  the  open 
work,  increasing  the  dismay  of  the  garrison.  On  the  after¬ 
noon  of  the  28th,  orders  were  given  to  dismantle  the  fort  and 
evacuate  it,  and  this  was  done  during  the  night.  On  the  29th, 
surprised  at  the  long  silence  of  Fort  Avron,  and  noticing  signs 
of  its  desertion  by  the  garrison,  the  Germans  made  a  recon- 
noissance  towards  it,  and  discovered  that  it  was  empty.  That 
night  the  Saxons  occupied  it. 

The  fire  of  the  German  batteries  at  Roincy  was  also  directed 
at  the  works  thrown  up  by  Ducrot  towards  Le  Bourget. 
These  were  silenced  for  the  time. 

Having  taken  Mont  Avron  the  Germans  pushed  forward  / 
their  preparations  for  bombarding  the  forts.  Their  batteries 
were  well  constructed,  and  were  well  armed,  many  of  their 
guns  possessing  a  range  which  would  enable  them  to  throw 
shells  over  the  forts  into  Paris.  Two  hundred  and  sixty  guns 
were  mounted  in  the  batteries  extending  from  the  Park  of  St. 
Cloud  along  the  heights  south  of  the  city.  These  were  screened 
to  a  great  extent  by  the  trees  and  inequalities  of  the  ground ;  but 
on  the  29th  of  December,  the  trees,  which  had  been  sawn 
through,  were  levelled,  and  the  German  guns  opened  fire  on  forts 
on  the  south,  east  and  northeast  of  Paris.  The  greatest  exer¬ 
tions  were  made  to  complete  the  batteries  on  the  north  and 
west  of  the  city,  in  order  to  batter  the  forts  in  that  direction. 
Towards  the  middle  of  January  these  were  completed,  were 
armed  with  the  guns  which  had  been  used  in  the  reduction  of 
Mezi&res,  and  were  opened  on  the  works  opposite  them.  The 
fire  of  the  German  batteries  was  continued  without  interrup¬ 
tion  from  this  time  until  the  close  of  the  siege.  The  forts  at 
first  replied  with  spirit,  but  on  the  second  day  of  the  bom¬ 
bardment  became  silent.  It  was  at  first  thought  by  the  Ger¬ 
mans  that  their  guns  had  been  silenced,  but  it  was  found  that 


558 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  garrisons  had  simply  retired  to  the  shelter  of  the  bomb- 
proofs,  and  that  the  forts,  though  considerably  battered,  were 
fully  capable  to  the  last  of  making  a  powerful  defence.  None 
of  them  were  disabled,  and  when  the  Armistice  closed  the  fight¬ 
ing,  all  were  in  a  condition  to  continue  the  defence  of  the 
city;  so  that  in  a  military  sense  the  bombardment  really  did 
little  more  than  exasperate  and  frighten  the  citizens  of  Paris. 
The  loss  to  the  garrisons  of  the  forts  was  but  trifling.  Durino- 
the  first  seven  days  of  the  firing,  Forts  Noisy,  Nogent,  and 
Rosny  lost  but  thirty-eight  men  killed  and  wounded.  A 
correspondent  of  the  London  Times ,  who  visited  the  forts 
during  the  bombardment,  Avrites  as  follows  concerning  it : 

The  shells  were  coming  at  about  the  rate,  I  calculate,  of  two  per  min¬ 
ute,  and  with  a  precision  which  struck  me — this  being  my  first  exper¬ 
ience  of  bombardment — as  very  marvellous,  until  a  little  later,  at  Rosnv, 
I  saw  firing  far  superior.  Nearly  all  struck  some  portion  of  the  fort 
(Nogent),  and  yet  I  could  not  see  that  any  damage  was  done.  A  few 
did  not  burst;  others  struck  harmlessly  mounds  of  earth,  sometimes 
burying  themselves  in  it,  sometimes  scattering  showers  of  it  high  into 
the  air.  Many  fell  into  the  paved  court-yard,  and  exploded  with  a  noise 
and  vibration  which  seemed  to  shake  the  house  we  were  in  from  roof  to 
base.  As  far  as  I  could  judge,  they  were  of  enormous  size  and  weight, 
and  I  was  considerably  surprised — having  very  vague  notions  of  what  a 
bombardment  ought  to  do — to  see  that  they  did  apparently  so  little  mis¬ 
chief.  They  might  have  killed  and  wounded  to  any  extent  if  there  had 
been  anybody  to  kill  and  wound,  but  as  the  fort  guns  were  not  being 
worked,  the  men  were.  I  presume,  stored  away  in  safe  corners ;  at  any' 
rate  they  were  out  of  sight,  and  the  deserted  aspect  and  death-like  still¬ 
ness  of  the  fort,  broken  only  when  every  now  and  then  a  shell  burst  like 
a  thunder  clap  in  the  middle  of  it,  had  a  most  singular  effect.  I  looked 
in  vain  for  the  breached  walls,  crumbling  ramparts,  or  dismounted  guns 
which  I  had  always  imagined  to  be  among  the  effects  of  bombarding  so 
vigorous  as  I  was  then  watching.  “  You  may  go  on  in  that  way  for  two 
years,"  said  one  of  the  few  Mobiles  ulio  shared  our  observatory.  It  seems 
to  me  they  might  “  go  on  in  that  way  ”  for  twenty  years  unless  the  con¬ 
tinuous  dropping  of  shells  upon  a  fort  produces  anything  like  the  effect 
which  the  constant  falling  of  drops  of  water  on  the  head  is  said  to  work 
on  the  brain.  Yet  the  firing  was  first-rate,  so  good  that  we  had  felt  in 
no  sort  of  danger  until  at  last  one  shell  came  out  of  the  usual  line  right 
in  the  direction  of  our  house,  but  luckily  falling  short. 

At  Fort  Rosny  I  was  struck,  even  more  than  at  Nogent,  by  the  dis- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


559 


proportion  between  the  terrific  character  of  the  bombardment  and  its 
apparently  harmless  results.  The  shells  were  whizzing  in  at  the  rate  of 
about  four  a  minute.  They  were  of  enormous  size,  judging  from  one  I 
saw  which  had  not  burst.  They  scarcely  missed  hitting  some  portion 
of  the  fort,  the  target  which  they  were  firing  at.  Directed  against  troops 
in  the  open  field,  without  shelter,  I  could  easily  imagine  their  effect  posi¬ 
tively  irresistible.  But  terrific  as  such  a  bombardment  might  be  against 
troops  on  an  exposed  plateau,  it  seemed  to  do  very  little  harm  to  a  fort. 
There  was  an  unprotected  building  on  the  Rosny  fort  which  might  have 
been  knocked  to  pieces  in  an  hour,  but  the  Prussians  had  not  apparently 
cared  to  waste  their  ammunition  on  it,  and  had  fired  only  at  the  guns 
and  the  works  of  defence,  apparently  with  very  little  result.  I  can  easily 
credit  the  statements  of  the  Officiel  that,  after  a  hard  day’s  cannonading, 
two  or  three  men  are  killed  and  half  a  dozen  wounded.  As  the  Parisians 
have  seen,  without  losing  heart,  three  or  four  thousand  killed  and 
wounded  in  one  sortie,  a  bombardment  on  these  terms  ought  to  take  a 
long  time  to  bring  them  to  reason,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  but  the  prelim¬ 
inary  to  an  assault. 

The  same  correspondent,  describing  a  visit  to  Fort  De 
Rosny  on  the  2d  of  January,  says:  “Why  so  few  men  are 
hurt,  vve  began  to  understand  when  we  found  ourselves  under 
the  casemate  to  which  our  guide  took  us  to  look  for  the 

Commandant . We  were  assured  we  were  as  safe 

from  the  shells  as  if  we  had  been  sitting  a  mile  under  ground.” 
Even  the  gunners  and  those  necessarily  exposed  to  the  Ger¬ 
man  fire  suffered  comparatively  little  from  it. 

As  was  to  have  been  expected,  some  of  the  shells  fired  at 
the  forts  went  beyond  them,  and  fell  into  the  inhabited  quar¬ 
ters  in  their  rear,  some  even  falling  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
Capital.  These  shots  were  accidental,  but  on  the  5th  of 
January  the  Germans  advanced  some  of  their  most  powerful 
batteries,  and  opened  fire  on  the  city  of  Paris  itself.  During 
the  remainder  of  the  siege  they  continued  to  throw  shells  into 
the  city.  They  did  considerable  damage  to  the  buildings,  es¬ 
pecially  the  churches  and  hospitals,  which  were  repeatedly 
struck,  though  they  deny  that  these  were  aimed  at;  and  in 
the  first  ten  days  of  the  bombardment  they  killed  eighty 
citizens  and  wounded  194,  fifty-two  children  being  among  the 
casualties.  The  effects  of  this  bombardment  are  related  in 
the  next  chapter,  and  we  pass  them  by  here. 


560 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


The  Germans  have  been  severely  censured,  even  by  their 
friends,  for  the  bombardment  of  the  city.  They  had  a  perfect 
right  to  direct  their  guns  upon  Paris,  for  the  city,  having 
been  made  a  fortress,  was  liable  to  be  treated  as  a  fortress ; 
but  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  bombardment  was  a  useless 
addition  to  the  horrors  of  the  war.  It  accomplished  nothing 
save  to  inflict  an  increase  of  suffering  upon  the  citizens  of 
Paris.  The  1st  of  February  had  long  since  been  fixed,  by 
persons  well  informed  as  to  the  capacity  of  Paris  for  resistance, 
as  the  latest  period  to  which  the  defence  could  be  prolonged. 
The  provisions  would  be  exhausted  by  that  time,  and  then 
the  city  must  fall.  This  was  well  known  to  the  German 
Commander,  who  must  also  have  been  fully  aware  that  no 
decisive  militar}'-  result  could  be  achieved  by  firing  on  the 
city.  The  garrison  and  citizens  were  already  reduced  to 
great  extremes,  and  Paris,  “  the  gayest  city  in  all  the  world,” 
was  full  of  suffering.  It  was  mid-winter.  Fuel  was  almost 
impossible  to  procure,  and  people  were  perishing  with  the 
cold.  Cases  of  actual  starvation  were  occurring,  and  every¬ 
body  was  suffering  privation  of  some  kind.  It  was  impossible 
to  doubt  that  the  end  was  close  at  hand,  and  since  the  throw¬ 
ing  of  shells  into  the  city  was  not  likely  to  hasten  the  result 
at  all,  there  was  no  good  reason  why  a  bombardment  should 
have  been  resorted  to.  It  was  a  cruel  and  useless  measure, 
and  reflects  no  credit  upon  either  the  humanity  or  the  saga¬ 
city  of  the  German  commanders. 

Meanwhile  the  French  had  endeavored  to  strengthen  their 
defensive  line,  throwing  up  new  batteries  at  exposed  points, 
and  mounting  new  and  more  formidable  guns.  Their  fire 
was  maintained  with  spirit  from  all  their  works,  and  occasion¬ 
ally  caused  considerable  damage  to  the  besiegers.  The  guns 
of  Mont  Valerien  laid  the  town  of  Sevres  in  ruins,  and  Yon 
Moltke  himself  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death  during  one 
of  his  rides  along  the  lines,  a  huge  shell  exploding  within  a 
few  feet  of  his  carriage. 

Having  failed  to  silence  the  forts  by  the  bombardment, 
v  on  Moltke  now  determined  to  reduce  them  by  a  system  of 


36 


561 


A  German  Siege  Battery  before  Paris. 


562 


HISTORY  OK  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


regular  approaches.  General  Karneke,  who  had  been  engaged 
in  conducting  the  operations  against  the  frontier  fortresses, 
was  summoned  to  Paris,  and  given  charge  of  the  engineering 
operations  of  the  siege.  New  batteries  were  constructed,  and 
early  in  January  approaches  were  marked  out,  to  be  begun 
as  soon  as  the  condition  of  the  ground  should  allow  a  free  use 
of  the  pick  and  spade.  The  cessation  of  hostilities  came  too 
soon,  however,  for  this  portion  of  the  German  operations  to 
have  any  effect  upon  the  fate  of  the  city. 

The  construction  of  the  batteries  on  the  north  was  pushed 
forward  vigorously,  and  on  the  21st  of  January  they  opened 
lire  on  the  town  of  St.  Denis  and  the  neighboring  forts. 

o  o 

Says  a  writer  in  the  London  Daily  News: 

This  morning-  the  German  batteries  opened  fire  on  the  group  of  forts 
surrounding  St.  Denis.  The  armament  of  these  batteries  consists  chiefly 
of  the  siege-train  employed  in  the  reduction  of  M6zibres,  and  it  was 
brought  down  by  the  railway  to  Villers-le-Bel,  whence  it  was  brought, 
partly  the  night  before  last  and  partly  last  night,  into  the  emplacements 
which  had  been  stealthily  prepared  for  it  more  than  a  week  past.  The 
batteries  now  directed  against  St.  Denis  are  ten  in  number,  mounting, 
therefore,  about  sixty  guns,  chiefly  German  twenty-four-pounders,  and 
there  are  also  at  least  two  mortars  in  position  behind  the  Stains  bat¬ 
teries.  The  guns  might  have  been  earlier  pushed  forward,  but  there 
was  no  occasion  for  hurry  in  this  respect,  pending  the  accumulation  of 
a  sufficiency  of  ammunition.  Commencing  on  the  right,  there  is  no 
battery  in  the  neighborhood  of  Epinay.  The  nimble  gunboats  might 
enfilade  batteries  here.  The  batteries  on  Mont  d’Orgemont  will  take 
care  that  they  do  not  do  so  as  regards  the  other  two,  which  might  other¬ 
wise  be  affected  by  them.  These  are  :  (1)  one  battery  of  six  twenty-four- 
pounders  in  front  of  St.  Gratien,  in  front  of  Rouen  Railway,  directed 
against  La  Briche  ;  (2)  one  battery  of  short  twenty-four-pounders  at  La 
Barbe,  a  little  nearer  Montmorency.  At,  La  Clievrette,  almost  directly 
in  front  of  Montmorency,  there  is  a  third  battery.  The  height  known 
indifferently  as  Richebourg,  or  Pierrefitte  (lying  between  the  village  of 
the  latter  name  and  Montmagny),  presents  on  its  summit  nearer  St. 
Denis  a  splendid  offensive  position  for  artillery,  dominating  alike  all  the 
forts;  but  the  position  is  so  much  exposed  that  it  has  been  wisely 
avoided,  without  any  detriment  to  efficiency.  This  long  bluff,  whose 
nose  looks  out  to  St.  Denis,  contracts  about  its  middle,  so  that  its  pro- 
montorium  throws  forward,  as  it  were,  two  sheltering  wings  for  batteries 
stationed  in  the  narrow  waist  behind.  This  configuration  of  ground  has 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


563 


been  admirably  utilized.  The  summit  has  not  been  loaded  with  guns, 
but  two  batteries  have  been,  as  it  were,  slung  panier-wise  across  the  nar¬ 
row  waist,  one  on  either  side,  and  they  can  throw  a  telling,  indirect,  and 
plunging  fire  down  into  the  forts,  while  the  bastion-like  bluff  in  front  of 
each  is  an  effective  screen  against  the  French  return-fire.  On  the  slope 
behind  the  village  of  Stains  (further  round  to  the  east),  with  the  butt 
ends  of  the  guns  towards  Garges,  are  four  batteries  with  the  howitzers. 
On  the  verge  of  the  elevated  table-land  between  Garges  and  Dugny  is 
the  ninth  battery,  and  close  to  Le  Bourget,  between  it  and  Dugny,  is 
the  tenth.  I  believe  that  the  guns  manning  the  two  latter  have  already 
been  in  use  in  positions  further  to  the  rear,  and  more  southward.  Thus 
there  is  a  converging  fire  on  the  focus  of  the  forts  from  the  radius  of  at 
least  a  semicircle.  The  French  had  not.  to  all  appearance,  the  remotest 
cognizance  of  the  preparations,  and  it  was  some  time  before  the  forts 
shook  off  their  surprise  sufficiently  to  reply  with  vigor.  Up  till  the 
present  (midday)  the  cannonade  is  active  on  both  sides. 

During  the  four  months  and  a  half  of  the  siege,  the  Ger¬ 
man  armies  around  Paris  suffered  considerably  from  sickness. 
When  the  cold  weather  set  in  they  were  much  inconvenienced 
by  it,  and  cases  of  frost  bite  were  numerous.  They  were  com¬ 
fortable,  as  a  rule,  however,  taking  advantage  of  the  good 
quarters  afforded  by  the  villages  along  their  line. 

Versailles  being  the  headquarters  of  the  King  and  the 
Crown  Prince,  was  the  chief  point  of  interest.  A  letter  from 
a  resident  of  that  town  to  the  New  York  World,  thus  describes 
the  manner  in  which  the  conquerors  conducted  themselves 
during  its  occupation.  This  description  will  serve  as  a  speci¬ 
men  of  the  manner  in  which  other  towns  held  by  the  German 
armies,  were  treated : 

Wo  cannot  enter  the  great  court  without  meeting,  on  all  hands,  with 
the  signs  of  conquest.  At  the  gates  a  row  of  soldiers,  with  pointed  hel¬ 
mets,  ready  to  rush  out  and  take  up  their  arms  as  often  as  resounds  the 
shrill  nasal  command  of  their  officers.  The  court  itself  is  full  of  cattle, 
carts,  and  carriages  ;  of  wagons  belonging  to  the  field  hospitals,  or  black 
hearses,  capacious  enough  to  hold  several  coffins  ;  full  of  aides-de-camp, 
prancing  on  their  steeds,  of  men  coming  in  for  billets  or  going  out  loaded 
with  spoil ;  a  perpetual  going  and  coming  of  officers  and  officials  of  all 
ranks  and  uniforms.  Let  us  elbow  in,  however,  get  up  the  steps  and 
enter.  We  are  in  the  hall.  It  is  strewed  over  with  every  sort  of  goods 
and  implements,  mattresses,  blankets,  jugs,  brooms,  candlesticks,  and 
what  not.  On  the  right  hand  open  a  series  of  very  humble  rooms, 


564 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


where  the  Maire  and  his  assessors  transact  business,  where  clerks  write 
and  applicants  wait;  on  the  left,  the  state  apartments  of  old  times,  with 
remains  of  their  former  splendor,  such  as  elegant  wainscoting,  and 
mythological  pictures.  Along  this  last  runs  a  long  and  handsome  gal¬ 
lery,  used  for  great  solemnities ;  another  large  room  is  appropriated  to 
the  sittings  of  the  Municipal  Council,  a  third  to  the  legal  celebration  of 
marriages.  Just  now,  however,  the  usual  destination  of  the  building  is 
entirely  overlooked.  The  only  thing  like  order  or  method  that  strikes  a 
stranger,  as  he  walks  in,  is  the  distinction  between  the  conquerors  and 
the  conquered.  These  last  are  represented  by  a  crowd  of  poor  people 
who  throng  the  offices  on  the  right,  and  wait  for  some  charitable  allow¬ 
ance.  For  Versailles  has  not  the  invading  army  only  to  support,  but 
also  a  number  of  country  people  expelled  from  places  situated  within 
the  lines  of  attack,  inhabitants  of  Sevres,  Saint  Cloud,  and  Garches,  and 
now  without  home  or  bread,  not  to  speak  of  the  poor  of  the  town  itself, 
workmen  without  work,  day-laborers  without  labor,  thousands  whose 
means  of  living  have  been  cut  off,  and  whose  sufferings  are  increased  by 
the  approach  of  winter.  Nor  is  this  all.  flow  many  are  there  who  have 
a  decent  coat  on  their  back,  who  fill  some  public  situation  with  a  fair 
salary,  or  live  upon  a  small  income  secured  by  past  labor  and  thrift,  but 
who  are  precluded  by  the  focus  of  Paris  from  receiving  their  annuity  or 
their  salary  ?  All  these  sufferings  the  authorities  of  Versailles  have 
undertaken  to  relieve  as  much  as  possible;  they  find  a  home  for  the 
immigrants,  support  the  starving  functionary,  give  bread  and  work  to 
the  poor,  and  therefore  it  is  that  the  door  to  the  right  hand  within  the 
town  hall  is  besieged  by  so  many  people,  with  sad  looks,  who  wear  smock 
frocks  most  of  them  and  jabber  French,  while  on  the  left  congregate  a 
larger  crowd  still,  but  dressed  with  foreign  uniform,  a  cigar  between 
their  teeth,  an  unknown  language  on  their  lips,  and  come,  not  to  ask  for 
the  free  gifts  of  charity,  but  to  claim  the  spoils  due  to  the  conqueror. 

When  they  come  out  they  seem  to  be  empty-handed,  holding  nothing 
but  a  slip  of  paper ;  but  that  paper  is  a  requisition.  And  what  is  a  re¬ 
quisition  ?  Such  a  question  would  be  enough  to  show  that  you  are  a 
stranger,  for  no  word  just  now  holds  a  larger  place  in  the  language  of 
Versailles.  A  requisition  is  an  order  addressed  to  the  occupant  of  a 
house,  or  to  the  tenant  of  a  shop,  or  to  any  one  who  has  at  his  command 
any  commodity  of  any  sort,  and  requiring  him  to  deliver  it  to  the  bearer. 
With  this  order  in  his  hand  the  German  soldier  gets  a  home  when  the 
barracks  are  too  full  to  admit  him  ;  he  gets  food  where  the  commissariat 
has  provided  none  for  him ;  he  gets  a  carriage  for  his  officer’s  drive,  and 
medicines  for  the  hospitals;  he  gets  a  blanket  when  he  is  cold,  and  a 
shirt  when  he  is  short  of  linen;  gets  shoes  for  himself  and  for  his  horse; 
gets,  in  fact,  all  that  can  be  wanted  by  an  army,  or  thought  of  by  the 
ingenuity  of.a  commissary  of  stores.  If  you  want  to  know  what  is  war, 


Avenue  of  the  Empress:  Paris;  showing  the  Fortress  of  Mont  Valerien  in  the  distance. 

StaifcrinsOUlcc  :  VaviS,  mit  bcr  Scftuug  OTtont  Oalcricn  in  bcr  Sernc. 


1^.  ttji 

. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


565 


not  tinder  its  heroical  aspects  and  in  a  day  of  battle,  but  what  it  carries 
along  with  it  in  the  shape  of  necessities  to  foresee  and  needs  to  supply, 
you  cannot  do  better  than  to  enter  behind  these  soldiers  into  the  Town 
Hall  of  Versailles,  and  to  attend  there  to  the  signing  of  requisitions. 

Method,  from  the  first,  had  to  be  applied  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
innumerable  wants  of  our  unwelcome  guests.  The  members  of  the  Mu¬ 
nicipal  Council  took  the  work  to  themselves,  secured  the  services  of  in¬ 
terpreters,  and  formed  into  four  commissions.  These  commissions  sit 
throughout  the  day  in  the  rooms  I  have  described  above — the  state 
apartments  of  the  dukes  and  princesses  of  old.  The  more  busy  of  the 
four  commissions  is  that  which  has  to  provide  the  sundry  necessaries  of 
an  army.  Meat,  bread,  wine,  and  provender  are  the  objects  of  a  distinct 
administration;  but  here  it  is  that  soldiers  come  for  all  the  rest,  down 
to  the  most  trifling  articles,  a  table  or  a  chair,  I  might  say  a  nail  or  a 
pin.  There  is  not  a  German  with  the  least  authority  who  does  not  pre¬ 
fer  applying  to  the  commission  for  an  order  upon  a  tradesman  rather 
than  to  inquire  himself  for  a  shop  and  having  to  pay  for  the  article  he 
requires.  The  more  so  as  the  commission  is  sure  to  comply.  Discus¬ 
sion  or  remonstrance,  they  are  aware,  would  be  of  no  use.  It  must  be 
a  glaring  impossibility  indeed  that  is  received  as  an  excuse.  I  know  but 
of  two  or  three  cases  in  which  disobedience  was  overlooked.  On  the 
first  day,  as  an  instance,  when  the  commissariat  asked  for  150.000  cigars  ; 
as  they  had  begun  by  plundering  all  the  tobacco  shops  and  the  public 
stores,  they  could  hardly  insist  upon  their  demand.  A  fortnight  later 
they  applied  to  the  municipality  for  180,000  flannel  shirts ;  the  town  was 
searched,  not  more  than  260  were  discovered,  and  the  requisition  was 
dropped.  Another  time  again  it  was  a  saddle  that  was  required,  but  a 
very  peculiar  saddle ;  the  officer  who  had  occasion  for  it  would  have  it 
so  and  so,  and  not  otherwise.  Unluckily  people  do  not  ride  much  here 
in  Versailles,  saddle-makers  are  but  few  in  number  and  poorly  supplied, 
and  the  exact  saddle  could  not  be  got.  The  town  this  time  was  fined 
2000  francs,  but  the  fine  was  never  paid.  Such,  in  truth,  is  the  system. 
Demands  are  always  accompanied  with  an  expressed  or  an  implied  threat, 
generally  with  the  threat  of  a  fine  to  be  paid  by  the  city ;  but  on  the 
other  hand,  a  fine  of  100  francs  because  a  cab  is  not  procured  in  time,  or 
of  500  francs  because  a  map  is  asked  for  in  vain,  or  of  2000  francs  be¬ 
cause  a  saddle  is  not  to  be  had,  such  a  punishment  might  provoke  resis¬ 
tance,  necessitate  the  use  of  violence,  bring  all  to  confusion,  and  they 
have  always  thought  it  wise  not  to  carry  their  threats  out.  As  to  the 
commissions,  they  never  refused  anything  that  was  to  be  had.  The  only 
exception  I  have  heard  of  was  a  demand  for  petroleum.  This  substance 
being  used  to  fill  incendiary  shells,  the  demand  was  met  with  a  decided 
negative.  “You  may  take  me  out  into  the  court  and  shoot  me,”  declared 
the  old,  honest  burgher  who  had  received  the  application,  “  but  you  will 


566 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


never  make  me  sign  a  requisition  for  materials  of  war  to  be  used  against 
my  countrymen.”  And  here  the  matter  was  allowed  to  rest. 

Another  commission,  hardly  less  busy  than  the  first,  has  to  provide 
lodgings  for  officers  and  such  men  as  find  no  room  in  the  barracks. 
Such  troops  as  pass  through  the  town,  or  detachments  that  come  back 
after  having  done  duty  at  the  outposts,  are  billeted  upon  the  inhabitants, 
where  some  behave  properly  and  try  to  alleviate  the  discomfort  they 
bring  along  with  them,  while  others  seem  to  pride  themselves  upon  their 
exactions  and  bluster.  The  soldiers  are  not  to  be  fed,  but  cook  them¬ 
selves  the  food  that  is  supplied  them  by  the  commissariat.  The  officers  re¬ 
ceive  from  the  town  a  daily  allowance  of  six  francs,  which  pays  their 
breakfast  and  dinner  at  a  restaurant.  The  obligation  of  lodging  our  un¬ 
friendly  guests  is  not  the  less  one  of  the  most  painfully  felt  consequences 
of  the  war.  Too  numerous  often  to  be  provided  each  with  a  bed  of  his 
own,  the  soldiers  huddle  together,  take  everything  they  can  appropriate, 
eat,  spit,  and  smoke  everywhere,  and  leave  behind  them  a  peculiar  stink 
which  science  has  not  yet  accounted  for,  and  which  cannot  be  got  rid 
of.  Besides,  they  are  hardly  gone  and  the  house  swept  clean  than  others 
take  their  place.  Nor,  personal  as  this  sort  of  taxation  seems  to  be,  is 
the  municipality  without  its  share  of  the  burden.  It  has  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  many  an  august  personage,  to  supply  wood  and  light  to  king 
and  prince,  table  and  lodgings  for  the  chief  officers.  I  wish  you  could 
see  some  of  these  gentlemen’s  bills  and  what  a  flattering  appreciation 
they  show  of  our  best  wines,  our  champagne  especially  ! 

1  have  only  two  more  commissions  to  mention,  one  which  has  under¬ 
taken  to  supply  the  wants  of  hospitals,  and  another  which  commands 
over  the  few  horses,  carts,  and  carriages  still  extant  in  the  town. 

Beyond  the  rooms  occupied  by  the  commissions  is  a  larger  one, 
adorned  with  a  large  picture  of  “  Leda  and  the  Swan,”  after  Corregio 
(the  original  is  in  Berlin),  and  almost  entirely  taken  up  by  a  large  table 
covered  with  green  baize.  It  is  there  where  the  Parliament  of  Versail¬ 
les,  I  mean  the  Municipal  Council,  hold  their  sittings.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  occupation  they  sat  daily,  sometimes  more  than  once  in  the  day, 
but  now  that  the  machinery  is  in  working  order,  the  committees  meet 
only  three  times  a  week — a  burdensome  duty  under  other  circumstances, 
and  which  no  man  who  had  any  business  of  his  own  could  submit  to — 
but  all  avocations  are  in  abeyance  just  now,  nor  has  anybody  anything 
better  to  do  than  to  try  to  alleviate  the  public  calamities.  The  sittings 
are  presided  over  by  the  Maire,  whose  business-like  habits  and  fluency 
of  speech  specially  qualify  him  for  such  functions.  The  debates  being 
private,  I  could  not,  if  I  would,  penetrate  into  the  sanctuary,  much  less 
introduce  the  reader  amongst  our  venerable  representatives.  Nor,  per¬ 
haps,  would  it  be  worth  their  while.  Nothing  there  but  a  set  of  plain 
men,  discharging  to  the  best  of  their  abilities  the  most  ungrateful  of 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


567 


duties.  Witrm  debates  sometimes,  angry  words  perhaps,  but  upon  the 
whole  real  harmony,  because  real  patriotism.  There  are,  as  in  most 
other  assemblies,  two  sides,  a  right  and  a  left,  the  timid  and  the  bold, 
the  men  of  tradition  and  the  men  of  innovation ;  but  one  thing  is  sure, 
the  differences  merge  into  efficiency.  The  mixture  of  conciliation  and 
spirit  which  has  marked  the  measures  of  the  Council  may  be  ascribed 
to  the  simultaneous  influence  of  those  who  are  disposed  to  give  up  most 
points  for  fear  of  bringing  new  calamities  upon  their  fellow-citizens,  ami 
of  those  who  consider  the  dignity  of  the  city  as  one  of  the  public  inte¬ 
rests  with  which  they  have  been  intrusted. 

A  little  pride  was  the  more  needful  here,  as  the  plan  of  the  German 
authorities  was  evidently  to  intimidate  without  having  recourse  to  actual 
measures  of  coercion.  Fines,  as  I  have  said,  have  been  pronounced, 
but  none  has  been  levied.  A  contribution  of  war  of  400,000  francs  was 
laid  upon  the  town,  and  then  withdrawn.  A  sum  of  650,000  francs  was 
asked  for  to  make  up,  as  was  alleged,  the  difference  between  the  stores 
that  had  been  required  and  those  that.had  been  supplied — an  intolerable 
demand,  which  the  town  never  could  have  met.  and  which  was  overruled. 
Still,  once  applied,  the  screw  has  ever  been  turning,  the  pressure  ever 
been  increasing,  and  a  wonderful  deal  of  substance  has  been  got  from  the 
unfortunate  city.  The  Council,  of  course,  does  not  enter  into  the  de¬ 
tails  of  the  requisitions  delivered  by  its  commissions,  and  takes  only  cog¬ 
nizance  of  the  general  demands  of  the  German  authorities.  Its  aim  is 
to  throw  off  as  much  as  possible  on  the  future  the  demands  of  the  present, 
and  to  put  to  the  charge  of  the  town  the  demands  which  the  inhabitants 
could  not  individually  answer  without  parting  with  their  own  property, 
but  this  extremity  could  not  always  be  avoided.  As  the  cold  weather 
set  in.  it  brought  along  new  and  worse  exigencies  of  the  enemy.  The 
soldiers  wanted  blankets;  6000  were  to  be  got  within  twenty-four  hours, 
and  as  the  shops  had  sold  all  they  had,  nothing  was  left  but  to  apply  to 
the  inhabitants.  In  this  plight,  the  members  of  the  Council  undertook 
to  go  themselves  from  house  to  house,  explaining  the  necessity  of  the 
case,  and  exhorting  the  citizens  to  strip  their  beds  if  they  wished  to 
avoid  worse.  A  strange  and  melancholy  sight,  I  assure  you,  that,  magis¬ 
trates  passing  along  our  streets  followed  by  carts  on  which  they  heaped 
their  plunder.  The  blankets  were  found,  but  the  demand  had  been  too 
successful  not  to  bring  up  others  in  the  train.  A  few  days  later,  the 
municipality  had  to  find  5000  mattresses,  then  5000  shirts,  and  then 
again  2000  pairs  of  boots.  As  to  this  last,  the  Germans  had  to  put  up 
with  shoes,  as  the  old  boot  which  they  are  faithful  to  has  long  been  out 
of  use  in  France. 

So  much  for  the  requirements  of  the  military  authorities:  but  there 
is  also  a  civil  administration,  and  not  less  intent  upon  getting  some¬ 
thing  out  of  us.  Considering  himself  as  invested  with  all  the.  rights  of 


568 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 

the  French  Government,  the  German  prefect  levies  taxes,  fells  timber 
in'  the  state’s  forests,  dries  up  all  the  sources  of  public  revenue  'Hie 
situation  of  the  town  is  this,  that  it  must  pay  its  own  current  expenses, 
disburse  large  sums  on  the  Government’s  account,  supply  the  wants  of 
this  German  commissariat,  answer  the  demands  of  the  German  civil  ad¬ 
ministration — and  all  this  with  an  empty  exchequer,  since  the  toll  du¬ 
ties  and  other  taxes  which  make  up  its  income  have  naturally  been 
affected  by  the  lawlessness  and  misery  of  war.  Happy  if  the  enemy 
would  allow  the  plea  of  poverty  !  But  no  ;  the  Germans  may  have  the 
reputation  of  being  an  honest  and  dreamy  nation— I  can  answer  for 
their  being  as  practical  as  any.  Their  object  just  now  is  to  induce  the 
town  of  Versailles  to  borrow  a  large  sum,  which,  once  in  our  coffers,  would 
then  be  easily  transferred  into  theirs.  But  how  to  borrow,  since  Versailles 
is  shut  out  both  from  Paris  and  from  the  rest  of  the  moneyed  world? 
But  lo !  they  have  just  the  man  !  There  is  one,  M.  Betzold,  a  banker, 
a  follower  of  the  army,  who  has  millions  at  his  command,  and  who 
would  be  happy  to  oblige  the  town  with  a  few.  The  interest  is  not  ex¬ 
orbitant,  and  as  Versailles  might  scruple  to  enter  into  an  engagement 
which  it  would  not  be  able  to  meet,  M.  Betzold  declares  that  the  pay¬ 
ment  will  be  put  to  the  charge  of  the  French  Government  by  an  article 
of  the  future  treaty  of  peace  ! 

Towards  the  close  of  December,  it  was  announced  by  the 
German  authorities  that  a  plot  for  the  assassination  of  King 
William  had  been  discovered,  and  in  order  to  render  the  in¬ 
habitants  powerless  to  aid  its  execution,  or  to  assist  their 
countrymen  in  case  of  a  dash  of  the  French  troops  into  the 
town,  the  residences  of  the  citizens  of  Versailles  were  rigor¬ 
ously  searched  for  concealed  arms.  Searches  were  frequently 
made  for  Francs-Tireurs,  who  were  from  time  to  time  re¬ 
ported  to  be  concealed  in  the  town,  but  none  were  found. 

Christmas  Day  was  celebrated  by  the  besiegers  with  true 
German  heartiness,  and  on  New  Year’s  Day  the  King  held  a 
grand  levee  at  the  Prefecture  of  Versailles,  which  was  at¬ 
tended  by  all  the  great  dignitaries  of  the  army  and  court. 

Meanwhile  matters  in  Paris  were  growing  sadder.  The 
stock  of  fuel  was  giving  out,  and  the  weather  was  very  cold. 
Food  was  becoming  scarcer  every  day,  and  the  inhabitants 
had  been  driven  to  subsisting  on  dogs,  cats,  and  rats.  The 
German  shells  were  dropping  into  the  city  at  the  rate  of  one 
per  minute,  and  the  relief  which  was  to  come  from  the  Pro- 


German  Soldiers  searching'  for  concealed  Arms  in  a  Mansion  at  Versailles. 


570 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


vinces  had  not  yet  made  its  appearance.  Every  carrier  pigeon 
from  Bordeaux,  every  flag  of  truce  from  the  German  lines, 
brought  bad  news.  Trochu’s  popularity  was  gone.  Murmurs 
against  him  were  open,  and  cries  of  aA  has  Trochu /”  were 
even  heard  on  the  Boulevards.  It  became  plain  even  to  the 
most  ignorant  that  the  plan  of  the  Governor,  the  development 
of  which  they  had  awaited  so  patiently,  was  a  failure,  and  on 
every  side  the  demand  was  repeated  that  General  Trochu 
should  either  make  a  supreme  effort  to  raise  the  siege  or  re¬ 
sign  the  position  he  was  incompetent  to  fill.  The  demand 
was  natural,  and,  although,  as  we  have  shown,  it  was  to  a 
certain  extent  unjust,  Trochu  deserved  a  large  share  of  his 
unpopularity  for  his  failure  to  avail  himself  of  the  means 
within  his  grasp. 

General  Trochu  was  not  unmoved  by  these  murmurs.  He 
had  hitherto  firmly  refused  to  sacrifice  his  men  in  a  hopeless 
undertaking;  but  now  he  yielded  to  the  popular  clamor,  and 
began  a  series  of  attempts  which  his  better  judgment  must 
have  told  him  would  be  unsuccessful. 

On  the  13th  and  14th  of  January,  bold  sorties  were  made 
at  night  against  the  Prussian  Guards  at  Le  Bourget,  the 
Eleventh  Corps  at  Meudon,  and  the  Second  Bavarian  Corps 
at  Clamart.  The  fighting  was  severe,  but  the  French  were 
everywhere  repulsed,  and  in  some  cases  tell  back  in  con¬ 
siderable  disorder. 

The  great  effort,  and  the  last  one,  was  appointed  for  the 
19th  of  January.  On  the  18th,  the  Government  issued  a 
stirring  proclamation  to  the  Parisians,  telling  them  that  “  to¬ 
morrow  we  go  forth  against  the  foe  which  kills  our  wives 
and  our  children.”  During  the  day  the  streets  of  the  citv 
were  filled  with  regiments  of  the  line,  tattered  and  worn,  and 
the  showy  marching  battalions  of  the  National  Guard,  all 
hurrying  towards  the  Porte  de  Neuilly,  by  which  they  passed 
out  of  the  city  to  the  bivouac  assigned  them  on  the  Peninsula 
of  Genevilliers.  One  hundred  thousand  men  and  three  hun¬ 
dred  pieces  of  artillery  were  assembled  here  under  the  im¬ 
mediate  command  of  General  Trochu.  The  force  was  divided 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


571 


into  three  columns  of  about  equal  strength.  General  Yinoy, 
commanding  the  left  wing,  was  ordered  to  take  Montretout,  a 
height  between  St.  Cloud  and  Garches ;  General  Bellemare 
in  the  centre,  was  to  attack  Buzenval  and  the  heights  of  La 
Bergerie  ;  while  General  Ducrot,  on  the  right,  was  to  carry 
La  Malmaison  and  Reuil.  The  whole  front  to  be  attacked 
was  about  four  miles  in  length,  and  constituted  the  neck  of 
the  peninsula  on  which  the  fortress  of  Mont  Valerien  is 
situated.  Six  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  1‘Jth  of  January 
was  the  hour  appointed  for  the  attack,  but  in  consequence  of 
a  heavy  fog  which  shrouded  the  valley,  and  the  delay  in  the 
arrival  of  Ducrot’s  column  which  had  been  kept  back  by  the 
fire  of  the  German  batteries,  the  attack  was  delayed  several 
hours. 

At  precisely  ten  o’clock,  Ducrot  being  in  position,  the  bat¬ 
tle  was  opened  on  the  left  by  Vinoy’s  corps.  Moving  out 
rapidly  from  his  bivouac  behind  Mont  Valbrien,  he  marched 
by  the  road  parallel  to  the  Seine,  his  advance  being  for  some 
time  sheltered  by  the  hillock  of  La  Fouilleuse.  After  passing 
this  hillock,  he  quickened  his  pace,  and,  still  partially  pro¬ 
tected  by  the  fog,  soon  reached  Montretout.  An  overwhelm¬ 
ing  rush  of  the  Zouaves,  the  106th  of  the  Line,  and  a  force  of 
National  Guards,  carried  the  hill  and  the  redoubt  erected  on 
it  for  its  defence.  The  Prussian  Jagers,  who  held  the  hill, 
were  surprised  by  the  sudden  attack  of  the  French,  and  after 
a  sharp  encounter  at  close  quarters  were  driven  back.  Vinoy 
then  extended  his  attack  to  the  village  of  St.  Cloud,  which  he 
captured. 

General  Bellemare  moved  off  with  his  corps  as  soon  as 
Vinoy  had  gotten  fairly  started.  Upon  reaching  the  farm  of 
La  Fouilleuse,  he  was  met  by  a  stout  resistance  from  the 
German  force  stationed  there,  and  was  twice  repulsed  in  his 
efforts  to  carry  the  position.  He  was  determined  to  trust  to 
the  bayonet  alone,  and  again  ordering  a  charge,  succeeded  in 
capturing  the  farm.  Advancing  rapidly,  he  attacked  the 
German  position  between  La  Fouilleuse  and  St.  Cloud  with 
the  bayonet,  and  carried  it.  This  success  established  com 


572 


HISTORY  OF  THK  LATE  WAR. 


munieation  between  bis  left  and  the  right  of  Vinoy’s  corps, 
and  preparations  were  now  made  for  an  advance  against  the 
German  main  line,  which  was  strongly  intrenched  in  the 
rear  of  the  ground  which  had  been  won. 

Meanwhile,  Ducrot,  who  had  advanced  up  the  peninsula 
from  the  direction  of  St.  Denis,  by  Nanterre  and  Reuil,  had 
been  stopped  by  the  fire  of  the  German  batteries  posted 
in  the  quarries  of  St.  Denis.  He  endeavored  to  reply  to  them 
with  his  field  artillery,  but  was  unable  to  make  progress  until 
Trochu  dispatched  to  his  relief  a  locomotive  covered  with 
armor  and  carrying  two  powerful  guns.  This  novel  “  war 
steamer”  was  run  out  on  the  St.  Germain  Railway  to  a 
point  from  which  it  could  reply  to  the  German  guns,  and  with 
its  assistance  Ducrot  succeeded  in  forcing  his  way  to  La 
Malmaison,  from  ,  which  place  he  endeavored  to  reach  La 
Celle  St.  Cloud,  to  the  assistance  of  his  comrades.  He 
reached  La  Malmaison  soon  after  the  successes  of  the  columns 
in  the  centre  and  on  the  left. 

Trochu  now  endeavored  to  concentrate  the  action  of  his 
whole  army  upon  a  point  south  of  La  Bergerie,  and  the  guns 
of  the  enceinte  of  Paris  were  opened  on  the  Park  of  St. 
Cloud,  and  the  village  of  Sevres.  It  was  in  vain,  however. 
The  attack  had  scarcely  been  made  upon  Montretout,  when 
the  alarm  was  given  at  Versailles.  Crown  Prince  Fritz  at 
once  set  off  for  the  field,  and  reenforcements  were  hurried  for¬ 
ward  to  the  threatened  points.  These  had  now  arrived,  and 
consisted  of  the  Bavarians,  the  Landwelir  of  the  Guard,  and 
some  batteries  of  the  reserve  artillery.  Bellemare’s  troops 
had  scarcely  occupied  the  Buzenval  and  the  heights  of  La 
Bergerie,  when  the  Germans  from  their  entrenched  position 
opened  on  them  a  steady  fire  of  artillery  and  small  arms. 
The  French  were  fully  exposed  to  this  fire,  and  suffered  very 
much  from  it.  The  National  Guards  became  demoralized  by 
it,  and  the  Mobiles  were  prompt  to  follow  the  example  thus, 
set  them.  All  regular  formation  soon  became  lost.  A  series 
of  detached  fights  took  place,  without  order  and  without 
system,  and  Bellemare’s  corps  was  on  the  point  of  breaking 


673 


La  Malmaison 


574 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


into  a  disorderly  flight.  Vinoy’s  men  were  steadier,  but  they 
were  not  unaffected  by  the  confusion  on  their  right.  Ducrot 
was  held  back  from  La  Celle  St.  Cloud  with  a  hand  of  iron, 
and  the  Germans  were  receiving  fresh  troops  all  along  their 
line.  A  little  later  their  artillery  fire  increased  in  strength 
and  effectiveness,  and  the  panic  in  the  French  ranks  grew 
greater.  For  two  hours  matters  stood  thus,  the  fire  of  the 
French  guns  gradually  growing  weaker.  To  advance  under 
such  circumstances  was  impossible,  and  it  was  very  plain  that 
the  army  was  in  no  condition  to  resist  a  counter  attack,  of 
which  the  Germans  began  to  give  unmistakable  signs.  The 
centre  would  not  hold  its  ground  half  an  hour  in  such  a  case; 
and  so,  seeing  all  hope  of  success  at  an  end,  Trochu  gave  the 
order  for  a  general  withdrawal.  At  three  o’clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  army  began  to  fall  back  to  the  shelter  of  Mont 
Valdrien,  followed  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  German  batteries. 
In  the  evening  the  Germans  reoccupied  Montretout  without 
opposition,  and  reestablished  their  whole  line. 

The  German  loss  in  this  engagement  was  39  officers  and 
316  men.  That  of  the  French  was  much  heavier,  and  was 
estimated  by  the  Germans  at  nearly  6000,  since  1000  dead 
were  left  on  the  field. 

The  beaten  army  withdrew  to  the  shelter  of  the  guns  of 
Mont  Valerien,*  and  General  Trochu  the  next  day  sent  Count 
D'llerison  to  the  German  headquarters  to  ask  a  forty  eight 
hours’  truce,  in  order  to  bury  the  dead.  The  messenger  was 
informed  that  the  commanders  of  outposts  had  been  given  the 
usual  orders  to  allow  the  removal  of  the  wounded  by  both 
combatants,  but  that  a  truce  could  not  be  granted  without  a 
written  application. 

When  the  failure  of  the  sortie  became  known  in  Paris,  the 

*  Trochu  announced  his  failure  in  the  following  bulletin  : 

“The  day,  which  commenced  successfully,  did  not  terminate  as  we  could 
have  wished.  The  enemy  were  at  first  surprised,  but  subsequently  concen¬ 
trated  great  masses  of  artillery  and  infantry,  and  at  three  o’clock  in  the  af¬ 
ternoon  our  left  receded.  We  resumed  at  nightfall  the  offensive  movement, 
bnt  were  unable  to  hold  the  heights  which  we  had  taken.  The  struggle  was 
sanguinary.  We  have  asked  for  an  Armistice.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


575 


most  profound  dispair  settled  down  upon  the  city.  The  good 
patriots  ”  of  Belleville  made  it  the  occasion  of  an  unsuccessful 
attack  upon  the  Government,  which  is  related  elsewhere,  and 
there  was  a  universal  demand  that  General  Trochu  should 
relinquish  the  command  of  the  army. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  January,  while  the  defeated 
battalions  were  filing  into  Paris,  the  members  of  the  Govern 
rnent  met  in  Council  to  consider  the  situation  before  them. 
General  Trochu  is  said  to  have  declared  that  the  time  for  the 
surrender  of  Paris  had  come,  that  as  there  was  no  hope  of  re¬ 
lief  from  the  provinces,  that  as  it  had  been  found  impossible 
to  raise  the  siege  by  the  unaided  exertions  of  the  Paris  army, 
and  that  as  the  provisions  of  the  city  would  be  entirely  ex¬ 
hausted  in  a  few  days,  a  prolongation  of  the  defence  would  be 
madneSs.  He  was  warmly  opposed  by  some  of  the  members, 
and  immediately  tendered  his  resignation.  No  one  was  found 
willing  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  continuing  the  defence, 
however,  and  the  matter  was  compromised  by  accepting  Gen¬ 
eral  Trochu’s  resignation  of  the  command  of  the  army,  which 
was  conferred  upon  General  Vinoy.  The  office  of  Governor 
of  Paris  was  abolished,  and  General  Trochu  remained  merely 
the  President  of  the  Government  of  the  National  Defence. 

Trochu  had  spoken  the  truth  ;  the  time  for  the  surrender 
of  Paris  had  come,  and  the  city  was  to  fall  not  before  the 
bombardment,  nor  by  an  assault,  but  before  the  rigid  block¬ 
ade  established  bv  the  German  armies  which  from  the  first 
had  made  starvation  merely  a  question  of  time.  Starvation 
was  close  at  hand  now,  and  in  a  few  days  would  be  upon  the 
city  in  all  its  terrors.  Two  millions  of  people  craving  for  bread 
would  be  difficult  to  manage,  and  it  would  be  impossible  to 
provide  them  with  food  for  at  least  a  week  after  the  gates  were 
reopened.  The  Government  had  to  decide  promptly  whether 
it  would  continue  the  defence  until  the  food  was  all  gone,  and 
thus  incur  the  responsibility  of  the  fearful  sufferings  which 
the  famine  would  entail  upon  the  citizens,  or  surrender  at 
once  and  take  measures  to  avert  such  a  calamity.  A  surrender 
in  cither  case  was  inevitable.  They  chose  the  latter  course. 


576 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Their  decision  was  formed  none  too  soon.  General  Trochu’s 
unpopularity  had  been  shared  by  the  Government,  and  the 
appointment  of  Vinoy  to  the  military  command  did  not  lessen 
this  feeling,  for  Paris  had  lost  confidence  in  the  army  and  its 
leaders.  The  disaffection  was  growing  stronger  every  day. 
The  Red  Republicans  were  becoming  more  violent,  and  it 
was  not  uncertain  that  the  “  good  patriot  ”  Flourens  and  his 
friends  would  very  soon  meet  with  more  success  than  they 
obtained  on  the  23d  of  January.  There  was  no  escape.  Paris 
must  fall. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  M.  Jules  Favre,  with  the  approval 
of  his  colleagues,  set  out  for  the  German  headquarters  to  ob¬ 
tain  the  most  favorable  terms  he  could  for  the  city  and  army. 
He  was  forwarded  from  the  outpost  at  which  he  entered  the 
German  lines,  to  Count  Bismarck’s  headquarters  at  Versailles, 
where  he  arrived  an  hour  or  two  later.  Count  Bismarck  met 
him  with  kindness  and  respectful  courtesy,  his  voice  often  be¬ 
coming  husky  with  emotion. 

“  My  dear  friend,”  said  he,  “  I  know  the  cause  of  your 
visit;  you  would  stop  the  further  shedding  of  blood.” 

“Yes,  M.  Bismarck,”  replied  M.  Favre,  much  affected; 
“  my  object  is  to  stop  the  terrible  sufferings  of  my  unhappy 
countrymen  in  Paris,  for  all  hope  of  relief  from  without  seems 
lost,  and  Paris  must  needs  seek  peace.” 

“  We  respect  the  gallantry  of  the  French  nation,”  said  Bis 
marck,  “and  we  pity  their  sufferings.  We  will  do  what  we 
can  for  peace,  consistent  with  the  safety  and  honor  of  Ger¬ 
many.  This,  ,my  dear  M.  Favre,  has  been  the  desire  of  the 
Emperor  William  and  his  advisers  since  the  unhappy  war 
was  forced  upon  him.  What  has  Paris  to  offer?” 

This  meeting  began  a  series  of  conferences  between  the 
two  ministers,  M.  Favre  several  times  returning  to  Paris  to 
consult  his  colleagues,  which  resulted  in  the  capitulation  of 
Paris  and  the  conclusion  of  an  Armistice  for  three  weeks. 
The  Armistice  was  signed  on  the  28th  of  January.  The  text 
was  as  follows : 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


577 


CONVENTION 

Between  the  Count  Bismarck,  Chancellor  of  the  Germanic  Confedera 
tiori.  acting  in  the  name  of  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  Germany.  King 
of  Prussia,  and  M.  Jules  Favre,  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  of  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  of  the  National  Defence,  armed  with  regular  powers,  the  fol 
lowing  agreements  are  concluded  : 

Article  1.  A  general  Armistice  over  the  whole  line  of  military  opera¬ 
tions  in  course  of  execution  between  the  German  armies  and  the  French 
armies  will  commence  at  Paris  this  same  day ;  in  the  departments,  aftei 
a  delay  of  three  days.  The  continuance  of  the  Armistice  will  be  twenty- 
one  days,  to  date  from  to-day  ;  so  that,  saving  the  case  of  its  being  re¬ 
newed  the  Armistice  will  terminate  everywhere  on  February  19,  at  noon. 

The  belligerent  armies  will  retain  their  respective  positions,  which  will 
be  separated  by  a  line  of  demarcation.  That  line  will  extend  from  Pont 
l’Eveque,  upon  the  border  of  the  department  of  Calvados,  to  Lignieres 
in  the  northeast  of  the  department  of  the  Mayenne,  passing  between 
Briouze  and  Fromentel;  touching  the  department  of  the  Mayenne  at 
Lignieres,  it  will  follow  the  boundary  which  separates  that  department 
from  that  of  the  Orne  and  of  the  Sarthe  to  the  north  of  Morannes,  and 
will  continue  in  such  a  way  as  to  leave  to  the  German  occupation  the 
departments  of  the  Sarthe,  Indre-et-Loire,  Loir-et-Cher,  Loiret,  and  the 
Yonne,  as  far  as  a  point  east  of  Quare-les-Tombes,  touching  the  depart¬ 
ments  of  the  Cote  d’Or,  of  the  Nievre,  and  of  the  Yonne.  From  this 
point,  the  course  of  the  line  will  be  left  to  an  agreement  which  will  take 
place  as  soon  as  the  contracting  parties  are  informed  upon  the  actual 
situation  of  military  operations  in  execution  in  the  departments  of  the 
Cote  d’Or,  the  Doubs,  and  the  Jura.  In  any  case  it  will  traverse  the 
territory  composed  of  these  three  departments  ;  leaving  to  the  German 
occupation  the  departments  situated  to  the  north,  and  to  the  French 
army  those  situated  to  the  south  of  that  territory. 

The  departments  of  the  north  and  of  the  Pas  de  Calais,  the  fortresses 
of  Givet  and  of  Langres,  with  the  territory  which  surrounds  them  for  a 
distance  of  ten  kilometres,  and  the  peninsula  of  Havre  as  far  as  a  line 
drawn  from  D’Etretat  in  the  direction  of  St.  Romain,  will  remain  without 
the  German  occupation.  The  two  belligerent  armies  and  their  advance 
posts  on  both  sides  will  hold  themselves  at  a  distance  of  at  least  ten 
kilometres  from  the  lines  traced  to  separate  their  positions. 

Each  of  the  two  armies  reserves  to  itself  the  right  to  maintain  its 
authority  in  the  territory  which  it  occupies,  and  to  employ  the  means 
which  its  commandants  judge  necessary  to  arrive  at  that  end. 

The  armistice  is  equally  applied  to  the  naval  forces  of  the  two  coun¬ 
tries,  adopting  the  meridian  of  Dunkerque  as  the  line  of  demarcation,  to 
the  west  of  which  the  French  fleet  will  hold  itself,  and  to  the  east  of 
which  the  German  vessels  of  war  which  are  found  in  eastern  waters  will 
37 


578 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


retire  as  soon  as  they  can  be  notified.  The  captures  which  may  be  made 
after  the  conclusion  and  before  the  notification  of  the  Armistice  will  be 
restored  ;  as  well  as  the  prisoners  which  may  be  made  on  one  side’or  the 
other,  in  engagements  which  may  take  place  in  the  interval  indicated. 
The  military  operations  upon  the  region  of  the  departments  of  the 
Doubs,  of  the  Jura,  and  of  the  Cote  d’Or,  as  well  as  the  siege  of  Belfort, 
will  continue,  independent  of  the  Armistice,  up  to  the  moment  of  agree¬ 
ing  upon  the  line  of  demarcation,  of  which  the  course  across  the  three 
departments  mentioned  has  been  reserved  for  a  subsequent  understand¬ 
ing. 

Article  2.  The  Armistice  thus  agreed  upon  has  for  its  object  to  per¬ 
mit  the  Government  of  the  National  Defence  to  convoke  an  Assembly 
freely  elected,  which  shall  pronounce  upon  the  question,  to  wit :  Whether 
the  war  shall  be  continued,  or  upon  what  conditions  peace  ought  to  be 
made. 

The  Assembly  will  meet  in  the  city  of  Bordeaux. 

Every  facility  will  be  given  by  the  commanders  of  the  German  armies 
for  the  election  and  meeting  of  the  deputies  who  are  to  compose  it. 

Article  3.  There  will  be  made  immediately  a  surrender  to  the  Ger¬ 
man  army  by  the  French  military  authority  of  all  the  forts  forming  the 
perimeter  of  the  exterior  defence  of  Paris,  as  well  as  of  their  material 
of  war.  The  communes  and  the  houses  situated  outside  of  that  perime¬ 
ter  or  between  the  forts  may  be  occupied  by  the  German  troops  as  far 
as  a  line  to  be  traced  by  the  military  commissaries.  The  ground  re¬ 
maining  between  that  line  and  the  fortified  wall  of  the  city  of  Paris  will 
be  forbidden  to  armed  forces  of  both  parties.  The  manner  of  surrender¬ 
ing  the  forts  and  the  course  of  the  line  mentioned  will  form  the  object 
of  a  protocol  to  be  annexed  to  the  present  convention. 

Article  4.  During  the  continuance  of  the  Armistice  the  German  army 
will  not  enter  within  the  city  of  Paris. 

Article  5.  The  wall  ( enceinte )  will  be  disarmed  of  its  cannons,  the 
carriages  of  which  will  be  transported  to  the  forts  to  be  designated  by  a 
commissary  of  the  German  army. 

Article  6.  The  garrisons  (army  of  the  line,  mobile  guards,  and  ma¬ 
rines)  of  the  forts  and  of  Paris  will  be  prisonei-s  of  war,  save  a  division 
of  12,000  men,  which  the  military  authority  in  Paris  will  preserve  for 
interior  service. 

The  troops,  prisoners  of  war,  will  deposit  their  arms,  which  will  be 
collected  in  the  designated  places  and  delivered  according  to  rule  by  com¬ 
missaries  according  to  custom  ;  the  troops  will  remain  in  the  interior  of 
the  city,  the  wall  of  which  they  may  not  pass  during  the  Armistice.  The 
French  authorities  will  have  the  charge  of  watching  that  every  individual 
belonging  to  the  army  and  to  the  mobile  guard  will  remain  consigned  to 
the  interior  of  the  city. 


Hoisting  the  German  Flag  on  Mont  Yaterien. 


579 


580 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  officers  of  the  imprisoned  troops  will  be  designated  by  a  list  to  be 
sent  to  the  German  authorities. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  Armistice  all  the  soldiers  belonging  to  the 
army  consigned  in  Paris  will  have  to  constitute  themselves  prisoners 
of  war  to  the  German  army  if  the  peace  is  not  concluded  by  then. 

The  surrendered  officers  will  retain  their  arms. 

Article  7.  The  Garde  Nationale  will  retain  its  arms;  it  will  be 
charged  with  the  guard  of  Paris  and  the  maintenance  of  order.  It  will 
be  the  same  with  the  gendarmerie  and  the  assimilated  troops  employed 
in  the  municipal  service,  such  as  the  republican  guard,  custom-house 
officers,  and  firemen  ;  the  total  of  this  category  shall  not  exceed  3500 
men. 

All  the  corps  of  Francs-Tireurs  will  be  dissolved  by  an  ordinance  of  the 
French  government. 

Article  8.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  signature  of  these  presents 
and  before  taking  possession  of  the  forts  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
German  armies  will  give  every  facility  to  the  commissaries  whom  the 
French  government  may  send,  as  well  to  the  departments  as  abroad,  to 
prepare  the  revictualling,  and  to  bring  near  to  the  city  the  merchandise 
which  is  destined  there. 

Article  9.  After  the  surrender  of  the  forts,  and  after  the  disarma¬ 
ment  of  the  enceinte  and  of  the  garrison  stipulated  in  articles  5  and  6, 
the  revictualling  of  Paris  shall  go  on  freely  by  means  of  the  railways 
and  rivers. 

The  provisions  destined  for  this  revictualling  cannot  be  drawn  from 
the  region  occupied  by  the  German  troops,  and  the  French  government 
engages  to  make  the  acquisition  outside  of  the  line  of  demarcation  which 
surrounds  the  positions  of  the  German  armies  by  means  of  the  counter 
authorization  given  by  the  commandant  of  the  latter. 

Article  10.  All  persons  who  wish  to  quit  the  city  of  Paris  must  be 
provided  with  regular  permits  delivered  by  the  French  military  authority, 
and  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  German  advance  posts.  These 
permits  and  visas  will  be  accorded  by  right  to  the  candidates  to  the  depu¬ 
tation  from  the  country  and  to  the  deputies  to  the  Assembly. 

The  circulation  of  the  persons  who  may  have  obtained  the  authoriza¬ 
tion  indicated  will  not  be  permitted  except  between  the  hours  of  six  in 
the  morning  and  six  at  night. 

Article  11.  The  city  of  Paris  will  pay  a  municipal  contribution  of 
war  of  the  sum  of  two  hundred  millions  of  francs.  This  payment  will 
have  to  be  completed  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  Armistice.  The 
mode  of  payment  will  be  determined  by  a  mixed  commission,  German 
and  French. 

Article  12.  During  the  continuance  of  the  Armistice  there  will  be 
nothing  removed  from  the  public  property  capable  of  serving  as  gage 
for  the  recovery  of  the  contributions  of  war. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


581 


Article  13.  The  importation  into  Paris  of  arms,  of  munitions,  or  of 
matters  serving  for  their  fabrication,  will  be  interdicted  during  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  the  Armistice. 

Article  14.  The  exchange  of  all  the  prisoners  of  war  who  have  been 
made  by  the  French  army  since  the  commencement  of  the  war  will  be 
immediately  proceeded  with.  To  this  end  the  French  authorities,  after 
the  shortest  delay,  will  send  lists  naming  the  German  prisoners  of  war 
to  the  military  authorities  at  Amiens,  Le  Mans,  Orleans,  and  Vesoul. 
The  liberation  of  the  German  prisoners  of  war  will  take  place  at  the 
points  nearest  to  the  frontier.  The  German  authorities  will  send  in  ex¬ 
change  to  the  same  point,  and  after  the  least  possible  delay,  an  equal 
number  of  French  prisoners  of  war  of  corresponding  grades  to  the  French 
military  authorities. 

The  exchange  will  extend  to  prisoners  of  the  bourgeoise  condition, 
such  as  the  captains  of  vessels  of  the  German  merchant  marine  and  the 
French  civil  prisoners  who  have  been  confined  in  Germany. 

Article  15.  A  postal  service  for  letters  not  sealed  will  be  organized 
between  Paris  and  the  departments  by  way  of  the  general  headquarters 
at  Versailles. 

In  faith  of  which  the  undersigned  have  invested  the  present  conven¬ 
tion  with  their  signatures  and  their  seals. 

Done  at  Versailles,  January  28,  1871  Bismarck. 

Favre. 

As  the  reader  will  see,  the  Eastern  Departments,  in  which 
the  fortress  of  Belfort  was  located,  and  in  which  Bourbaki’s 
army  was  operating,  were  excepted  from  the  provisions  of 
this  Armistice.  This  exception  had  been  insisted  upon  by 
M.  Favre,  who,  on  the  28th  of  January,  was  in  such  utter 
ignorance  of  the  true  state  of  affairs  in  the  East,  that  he  sup¬ 
posed  that  Bourbaki’s  movement  for  the  relief  of  Belfort  was 
successful.  Believing  this,  he  desired  to  leave  Bourbaki  un¬ 
fettered  and  free  to  gain  any  advantage  that  lay  within  his 
reach.  Count  Bismarck  did  not  enlighten  M.  Favre  on  the 
subject.  He  demanded  the  surrender  of  Belfort,  and  upon 
the  refusal  of  his  demand,  insisted  that  the  siege  operations 
should  go  on.  M.  Favre  then  stipulated  that  if  Von  Werder 
were  left  at  liberty  to  besiege  Belfort,  Bourbaki  should  be 
free  to  attempt  to  raise  the  siege.  Count  Bismarck  was  sur¬ 
prised  at  the  ignorance  of  the  French  Minister,  but  promptly  ac¬ 
cepted  the  proposal,  well  knowing  that  Manteuffel  would  destroy 
the  French  army  in  the  East  in  a  few  days.  The  Armistice 


582 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Yon  Moltke  at  Mont  Yal6rien. 


was  at  once  submitted  to  the  Bordeaux  Government,  and 
approved  by  the  members  of  that  delegation.  M.  Gambetta, 
while  accepting  it,  urged  the  nation  to  prepare  for  a  renewal 
of  the  struggle  at  the  close  of  the  twenty-one  days  of  peace. 

At  midnight,  on  the  27th  of  January,  the  fire  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  batteries  and  the  French  forts  ceased,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  terms  of  the  Armistice,  the  forts  were  evacuated  by 
the  French  on  the  evening  of  the  28th.  On  the  29th,  the 
German  detachments  occupied  the  forts,  and  hoisted  their 
colors  over  them.  On  the  30th,  the  fortress  of  Mont  Valerien 
was  visited  by  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  Crown  Prince  Fritz, 
and  General  Yon  Moltke,  who  inspected  the  works  and  the 
guns.  One  of  these  guns,  named  Sainte  Valdrie,  was  the  object 
of  much  curiosity.  It  was  slung  by  chains  in  a  peculiar 
manner  within  an  iron  fra  me- work  rising  above  its  carriage. 
The  largest  gun  of  this  fortress  had  sent  a  ball  during  the 
siege  across  the  Seine  as  far  as  the  terrace  at  St.  Germains. 
The  forts  were  found  to  be  considerably  battered  by  the  Ger- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


583 


man  fire,  but  were  still  in  a  condition  to  continue  the  defence 
so  far  as  their  armament  was  concerned.  The  Germans  also 
took  up  the  other  positions  assigned  them  by  the  terms  of 
the  agreement,  and  measures  were  at  once  set  on  foot  for 
supplying  the  city  with  food.  The  immediate  wants  of  the 
citizens  were  generously  supplied  by  the  conquerors,  and  by 
the  3d  of  February  trains  of  provisions  purchased  in  the  pro¬ 
vinces  and  in  England  began  to  arrive  in  Paris.  For  some 
time,  however,  the  distress  continued  to  be  very  great,  but 
was  gradually  lessened  until  an  abundance  of  food  of  all  kinds 
was  on  hand. 

The  news  of  the  Armistice  was  received  throughout  the 
German  camps,  and  in  the  German  land  beyond  the  Khine, 
with  the  most  unqualified  delight.  It  was  truly  felt  that  the 
war  was  at  an  end,  and  the  gallant  fellows  who  had  won  the 
peace  were  outspoken  in  their  joy  at  being  able  to  return 
home  before  the  Spring. 


584 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  XIV 


DIARY  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF  PARIS. 


tFFAIRS  within  the  walls  of  Paris  were  of  great  inte¬ 
rest  during  the  siege.  As  a  means  of  presenting  to 
the  reader  a  connected  and  comprehensive  account 


of  the  condition  of  the  city  during  this  period,  we 


ey«)  have  decided  to  devote  this  chapter  to  a  diary  of  the 
events  which  are  not  discussed  elsewhere  in  these  pages. 

September  19 th. — The  gates  of  the  city  were  shut  on  this 
day,  and  no  one  wTas  allowed  from  this  time  to  leave  Paris 
without  a  permit  from  General  Trochu.  The  city  was  greatly 
excited  over  the  battle  at  Le  Petit  Bicetre.  Stragglers  came 
in  from  the  battle-fields  in  considerable  numbers,  bringing 
the  most  alarming  reports.  They  were  arrested  at  night  by 
order  of  General  Trochu. 

September  2 Oth. — The  investment  completed.  A  barricade 
committee  has  been  formed  within  the  walls,  of  which  Henri 
Rochefort  is  President,  and  Gustave  Flourens  Vice-President. 
Under  the  supervision  of  this  committee  the  main  streets  of 
the  city  will  be  barricaded. 

September  21st. — The  anniversary  of  the  formation  of  the 
Republic  of  1792.  In  the  afternoon  enthusiastic  popular 
demonstrations  were  held  in  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  the 
Place  de  la  Bastile,  and  before  the  Hotel  de  Ville. 

September  22 d. — Provisions  plentiful.  The  measures  for 
the  defence  of  the  city  going  forward  with  energy.  Cannon¬ 
ading  on  the  lines  of  the  army. 

September  23 cl. — Three  skirmishes  in  front  of  Paris — at 
Drancy,  Pierrefitte,  and  Villejuif.  The  first  balloon  from 
Paris  ascends  from  the  heights  of  Montmartre. 

Septembtr  21th. — Continued  skirmishing  before  Paris.  City 
quiet. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


585 


September  2,0th. — Cannonading  from  the  forts.  The  day 
being  Sunday,  the  citizens,  in  holiday  attire,  thronged  the 
vicinity  of  the  Arc  de  Triomphe  to  watch  the  firing  from 
Fort  du  Mont  Valerien. 

September  20th. — City  quiet.  The  price  of  provisions  regu¬ 
lated  by  the  military  authorities,  but  they  really  command 
much  higher  prices.  Fears  of  a  scarcity  beginning  to  be  en¬ 
tertained  by  the  citizens. 

September  27th. — Troops  drilled  daily. 

September  28th  and  29 th. — The  work  of  building  barricades 
goes  on.  General  Trochu,  it  is  said,  has  no  idea  that  these 
will  ever  be  of  use,  but  builds  them  merely  to  keep  the  dan¬ 
gerous  classes  of  Paris  busy.  The  leading  Red  Republicans 
are  made  officers  of  barricades.  The  Red  Republican  clubs 
meet  every  night,  and  pass  the  most  extreme  resolutions. 
One  of  these  demands  that  the  column  in  the  Place  Vendome, 
which  is  of  bronze,  shall  be  pulled  down  and  made  into  coins. 
They  also  demand  the  confiscation  of  the  property  of  such 
citizens  as  have  left  Paris.  The  Provisional  Government  en¬ 
gaged  in  publishing  the  private  correspondence  of  the  Em¬ 
peror. 

September  30th. — Battle  of  Villejuif.  Great  excitement  in 
the  city. 

October  ls<. — City  quiet.  A  balloon  left  in  the  afternoon 
for  Tours.  General  Burnside  arrived  in  Paris.  Had  an  in¬ 
terview  with  the  Ministers. 

October  2d. — The  surrender  of  Strasbourg  and  Toul  an¬ 
nounced  to  the  Parisians  by  the  Minister  of  the  Interior. 
The  announcement  at  first  produced  considerable  depression, 
but  this  feeling  at  length  changed  to  a  greater  determination 
to  resist  the  enemy.  A  decree  was  issued  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment  ordering  the  statue  of  the  city  of  Strasbourg  in  the 
Place  de  la  Concorde  to  be  “  reproduced  in  enduring  bronze.” 
General  Burnside  left  Paris  under  flag  of  truce.  It  is  known 
that  his  object  in  visiting  the  city  was  to  endeavor  to  effect 
an  arrangement  for  securing  peace.  The  GQvernment  orders 
the  postponement  of  the  Michaelmas  quarter’s  rent  for  three 
months.  The  Prussian  lines  cannonaded  by  the  forts. 


586 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


October  3 d. — Ten  thousand  armed  National  Guards,  headed 
by  Gustave  Flourens,  assembled  before  the  Hotel  de  Ville  to 
press  certain  demands  upon  the  Government,  such  as  the  im¬ 
mediate  abandonment  of  what  they  termed  the  military  tactics 
of  the  Empire — viz.,  the  constant  opposition  of  one  French¬ 
man  to  three  Prussians,  the4evy  en  masse  of  the  entire  nation, 
the  immediate  appeal  to  republican  Europe,  the  immediate  elec¬ 
tion  of  a  municipal  Commune,  the  discharge  of  all  suspected 
Government  functionaries  in  a  position  to  betray  the  Republic, 
and  the  distribution  by  the  medium  of  the  proposed  municipal 
Commune  of  all  articles  of  subsistence  existing  in  the  capital. 

October  4 ih. — Persons  owning  spirits  stored  in  the  entrepot 
of  Bercy  were  ordered  to  remove  them  and  bury  them  in  the 
sand  until  the  close  of  the  siege.  The  Government  issues 
directions  to  the  people  as  to  the  proper  steps  to  be  taken  to 
guard  against  the  effects  of  a  bombardment.  This  brought  the 
prospect  of  a  rain  of  shells  home  to  the  Parisians  for  the  first 
time,  and  was  the  topic  of  discussion  in  all  quarters. 

October  5th. — Heavy  bombardment  of  the  woods  near  St. 
Cloud  by  Fort  Mont  Valerien. 

October  6th. — Under  the  cover  of  a  heavy  fog,  such  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  St.  Cloud  as  had  not  abandoned 
their  homes  at  the  approach  of  the  Gemans,  made  their  way 
into  Paris,  headed  by  their  Mayor.  A  report  of  Count  Kdra- 
try  published  by  the  Government,  advising  the  suppression 
of  the  Prefecture  of  Police,  and  confiding  such  of  the  functions 
as  it  now  exercises,  and  which  it  is  desirable  to  maintain,  to 
the  magistracy,  the  municipality,  and  the  Minister  of  the  In¬ 
terior — the  police  no  longer  to  be  allowed  to  interfere  in  poli¬ 
tical  matters.  A  terrific  explosion  of  a  building — said  to  be 
a  powder  mill — in  the  Rue  Javal,  adjoining  the  Chiffonniers’ 
quarter,  at  Grenelle ;  thirteen  persons  killed,  and  five 
wounded. 

October  7th. — One  of  M.  Nadar’s  balloons,  the  Armand  Bar- 
bes,  made  its  ascent  from  Montmartre.  It  contained  M.  Gam- 
betta,  the  Minister  of  the  Interior,  and  his  Secretary,  bound 
for  Tours.  A  second  balloon  followed  it,  containing  two 
Americans. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


587 


October  8th. — A  decree  published,  announcing  the  intention 
of  the  Government  to  take  possession  of  all  the  supplies  of 
food  and  forage  stored  in  the  magazines  of  the  various  rail¬ 
ways,  the  price  to  be  paid  for  them  to  be  settled  between  the 
railway  companies  and  the  Minister  of  Commerce. 

The  Reds  made  another  demonstration  to-day.  The  Cen¬ 
tral  Republican  Committee,  in  conjunction  with  citizens  Le- 
dru  Rollin,  Felix  Pyat,  Blanqui,  Delescuze,  and  Flourens,  ac¬ 
companied  by  several  thousand  people  without  arms,  assem¬ 
bled  in  the  square  before  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  to  force  the 
Government  to  consent  to  the  immediate  election  of  a  Muni¬ 
cipal  Commune.  Several  members  of  the  Government  were 
seen  seated  at  the  windows  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  and  the 
mob  at  once  raised  the  cry  of  Vive  la  Commune!  A  bat¬ 
talion  of  the  National  Guard,  and  several  companies  of  the 
Garde  Mobile,  with  fixed  bayonets,  now  took  position  in  front 
of  the  building  and  behind  the  railings.  The  mob  demanded 
that  their  delegates  should  be  admitted,  and  the  demand  was 
at  length  complied  with.  The  delegates  were  informed  by  M. 
Jules  Ferry  that  the  Government  would  not  comply  with 
their  demand.  The  crowd  in  the  square  had  now  swoollen  to 
many  thousands,  and  General  Trochu,  who  had  arrived  on 
horseback,  was  assailed  with  shouts  of  Vive  la  Commune! 
uttered  in  a  menacing  tone.  He  made  no  response  to  the 
cries,  but,  being  joined  by  his  staff,  rode  off  towards  the 
Quais.  The  gates  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville  were  closed,  and  the 
rappel  beaten,  which  brought  to  the  spot  several  companies 
of  National  Guards,  prepared  to  support  the  decision  of  the 
Government.  The  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  National 
Guard  rode  from  group  to  group,  haranguing  each,  but  all 
to  no  purpose.  The  rioters  demanded,  and  declared  that  they 
would  have  the  Commune  of  Paris;  and  it  was  only  on  the 
Place  being  completely  occupied  b}r  the  National  Guards 
friendly  to  the  Provisional  Government,  and  who  pronounced 
emphatically  against  the  election  of  the  Commune,  that  the 
agitators  became  quiet.  The  members  of  the  Government 
then  passed  along  the  line  of  the  National  Guard,  and  were 
received  with  enthusiastic  cheers. 


588 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


October  9 l/i. — The  thanks  of  the  Government  tendered  to  the 
National  Guard  for  its  patriotic  conduct  yesterday  afternoon. 
General  Trochu  forbids  the  Parisians  from  promenading  on 
the  military  road  in  the  rear  of  the  ramparts,  as  the  crowds 
of  citizens  which  collect  there  interfere  with  the  movements 
of  the  troops. 

October  10th. — The  news  of  Gambetta’s  safe  arrival  within 
the  French  lines,  brought  to  Paris  by  a  carrier  pigeon.  In 
the  afternoon,  the  Mayor  of  Belleville  telegraphed  the  Govern¬ 
ment  that  Gustave  Flourens  had  ordered  the  rappel  to  be 
beaten,  with  the  intention  of  marching  the  men  under  his  com¬ 
mand  against  the  Hotel  de  Ville.  The  generate  was  at  once 
beaten  all  over  Paris,  and  the  Place  de  l’Hotel  de  Ville  was  oc¬ 
cupied  with  troops  for  the  protection  of  the  Government.  Flou¬ 
rens’  men  refused  to  follow  him,  and  the  danger  passed  by. 

October  11th. — Flourens,  having  resigned  his  command,  at¬ 
tempts  to  resume  it,  although  his  resignation  has  been  ac¬ 
cepted.  The  Government  warns  him  that  he  will  be  handed 
over  to  the  tender  mercies  of  a  court-martial  unless  he  remains 
quiet.  The  National  Guard  of  Belleville  are  visited  by  Jules 
Ferry.  They  declare  their  determination  to  support  the 
Government.  A  court-martial  meets  to  try  the  stragglers 
who  ran  from  the  field  in  the  fight  of  the  19th  of  September. 
Five  were  condemned  to  death.  Count  Keratry  resigns  his 
functions  as  Prefect  of  Police,  and  is  succeeded  by  M.  Edmond 
Adam. 

October  11th. — The  city  placarded  during  the  previous  night 
with  a  summons  to  the  women  of  Paris  to  form  themselves 
into  a  corps,  to  be  called  the  “Amazons  of  the  Seine.”  The 
corps  was  to  consist  of  ten  battalions.  The  members  were  to 
be  women  of  good  character,  and  were  to  be  distributed  in 
companies  among  the  National  Guard,  to  share  with  them 
the  duty  of  guarding  the  ramparts,  making  sorties,  etc.  Their 
officers  were  to  be  selected  from  the  wives  and  daughters  of 
officers  of  the  army.  Their  uniform  was  minutely  prescribed, 
and  their  weapon  was  to  be  a  light  rifle.  The  citizens  were 
much  amused  by  the  appeal,  but  a  number  of  women,  thinking 
it  serious,  enrolled  themselves  in  the  first  battalion. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


589 


Palace  of  St.  Cloud. 


October  13 th. — A  reconnoissance  in  force,  under  General 
Vinoy,  on  the  plateaux  of  Bagneux  and  Chutillon.  Fighting 
lasted  five  hours.  During  the  evening  the  Palace  of  St.  Cloud 
was  set  on  fire  by  shells  from  Mont  Valerien.  It  was  burned 
to  the  ground. 

October  14 th. — City  quiet.  Provisions  found  on  the  farms 
near  Creteil  sent  into  the  city. 

October  15 th. — Heavy  cannonade  from  the  forts.  Colonel 
Lloyd  Lindsay  arrives  in  Paris,  bringing  500,000  francs,  sub¬ 
scribed  in  England  for  the  relief  of  the  French  sick  and 
wounded.  The  meat  supply  of  the  city  has  been  confided  to 
the  different  Mayors,  who  give  great  dissatisfaction  by  their 
mode  of  issuing  it.  To  obtain  a  few  ounces  of  meat  at  a 
butcher’s  shop,  it  is  necessary  to  wait  from  three  to  six  hours. 
People  in  certain  districts  commence  to  assemble  in  front  of 
these  establishments  at  half-past  twelve  the  night  before,  and 
always  as  early  as  three  o’clock  the  same  morning. 

October  Kotli. — The  Tuileries  gardens  are  occupied  by  an 
artillery  camp.  Camps  are  forming  in  the  Champs  Elysees, 
and  huts  are  being  built  for  the  troops  along  the  outer  boule¬ 
vards. 


590 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


October  17 th. — Outpost  fighting  on  the  lines  of  the  army, 
and  sharp  cannonading  from  the  forts. 

October  1 8th. — The  French  had  collected  large  reservoirs  of 
petroleum  at  Buttes  Chaumont,  near  the  Strasbourg  railway 
station.  These  took  fire  and  burned  until  the  oil  was  ex¬ 
hausted. 

October  19 th. — Meat  is  scarce  but  not  dear,  the  price  being 
one  franc  twenty  cents  per  pound.  Bread  sells  for  ninety 
centimes  for  four  pounds.  Milk  is  scarcely  to  be  bought  at 
all  ;  eggs  are  eight  sous  a  piece ;  butter  six  francs  per 
pound ;  lard  two  francs  and  a  half ;  potatoes  five  francs  per 
bushel ;  a  cabbage  fifteen  sous  ;  a  turnip  five  sous. 

October  2 0th. — To  enable  the  Parisians  to  distinguish  friends 
from  foes,  the  Government  has  had  pictures  of  the  German 
uniforms  posted  about  the  city.  The  Ministers  of  Finance  and 
Marine  have  formed  their  Personnel  into  regiments  of  their 
own.  The  latter  corps  wear  an  anchor  embroidered  on  their 
kepi ,  and  are  armed  with  the  Remington  rifle. 

October  21st. — Within  the  city  by  day,  there  is  not  much 
appearance  of  a  siege,  except  that  the  greater  part  of  the 
males  are  in  uniform.  In  the  evening  the  change  is  more 
apparent.  The  brilliant  shops  along  the  boulevards  are  nearly 
all  closed  at  dusk,  and  the  few  remaining  are  lighted  by  a 
solitary  burner,  or  by  two  at  the  best.  The  cafes  are  as  full  as 
usual,  and  are  brightly  lighted.  From  time  to  time  ladies  and 
little  children  thread  their  way  amongst  the  crowd  of  idlers, 
soliciting  contributions  for  the  wounded.  Along  the  edge  of 
the  side  walks  are  stands  with  military  articles  or  grotesque 
figures  of  Prussian  celebrities  for  sale. 

October  22 d. — Food  still  plentiful,  but  horse-flesh  is  in 
demand.  It  is  difficult  to  find  forage  for  the  horses  and  cattle, 
and  many  animals  are  being  killed  and  salted  down.  Many 
shops  devote  themselves  entirely  to  the  sale  of  horse-flesh. 
Bullock’s  blood  mixed  with  pig’s  blood,  lard,  rice,  and  onions, 
is  approved  as  an  article  of  diet  by  the  Commission  d’Hy- 
gi&ne,  and  is  ordered  to  be  made  for  sale. 

October  23 d. — A  musical  matinee  given  to  day  (Sunday)  at  the 


591 


An  Encampment  of  National  Guards  in  the  Garden  of  the  Tuileries. 


692 


HISTORY  OP  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Cirque  Nationale  on  behalf  of  the  free  kitchens  for  providing 
the  poor  with  soup.  It  was  attended  by  a  large  audience. 

October  2-i^/i. — — A  private  bomb  factory  exploded,  killing 
several  people.  The  Government  announces  its  intention  of 
closing  all  private  establishments  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  explosive  materials.  Public  subscriptions  are  opened  all 
over  Paris  for  the  casting  of  1500  cannon  of  large  calibre. 
Open  air  stalls  set  up  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  decorated 
with  flags,  presided  over  by  municipal  deputies,  and  protected 
by  National  Guards,  for  the  receipt  of  subscriptions,  which  are 
made,  not  only  in  money,  but  also  in  jewelry  and  articles  of 
vertu,  which  are  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  passers-by. 

October  2 oth. — Arrival  of  carrier  pigeons  from  Tours.  Dis¬ 
patches  sent  by  means  of  these  pigeons,  are  reduced  by  pho¬ 
tography  to  the  smallest  possible  compass.  Upon  reaching 
their  destination,  they  are  enlarged  by  the  same  means.  A 
matinde  at  the  Comddie  Frangaise  was  attended  by  a  large 
audience. 

October  26th. — General  Trochu  visited  the  ambulance  in¬ 
stalled  at  the  Palace  of  Industry  in  the  Champs  Elysees,  dis¬ 
tributing  military  medals,  and  according  pensions  to  a  num¬ 
ber  of  the  wounded  soldiers. 

October  27th. — Heavy  cannonading  from  the  forts.  The 
Journal  Offidel  publishes  a  decree  of  the  Government  order¬ 
ing  the  numerous  refugees  from  the  environs  of  Paris  to  be 
supplied  gratuitously  with  bread  according  to  their  wants ; 
and  a  decree  of  General  Trochu  posted  up  prohibiting  the 
entrance  into  Paris  of  individuals  bringing  with  them  articles 
of  furniture  or  vegetable  produce,  unless  provided  with  a 
proper  certificate  of  their  ownership  of  the  property.  The 
object  of  the  decree  is  to  prevent  the  plundering  of  the 
abandoned  houses  and  crops  in  the  vicinity,  which  has  been 
carried  on  extensively  for  some  time  past.  Felix  Pyat’s 
journal,  Le  Combat ,  appeared  with  a  paragraph  entitled  “  Baz- 
aine’s  Plan,”  enclosed  in  a  deep  mourning  border.  The  article 
charged  that  Bazaine  had  sent  an  officer  to  the  Prussian 
headquarters  to  treat  for  the  surrender  of  Metz  and  the 


Hotel  de  Ville:  Paris. 


594 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


restoration  of  peace  in  the  name  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III. 
A  number  of  “  good  patriots  ”  at  once  repaired  to  the  office 
of  Le  Combat ,  and  finding  M.  Pyat  absent,  demanded  of  the 
editorial  secretary  the  authority  upon  which  the  announce¬ 
ment  had  been  made.  The  secretary  responded,  “generally 
on  that  of  the  Provisional  Government,”  whereupon  he  was 
invited  to  accompany  the  “good  patriots”  to  the  Hotel  de 
Ville.  Arriving  there,  his  statement  was  emphatically  denied 
by  MM.  Kochefort  and  Ferry,  who  denounced  Pyat  in  no 
measured  terms.  The  “  good  patriots  ”  then  returned  to  the 
office  of  Le  Combat ,  with  the  intention  of  smashing  the  types 
and  presses,  but  a  compromise  was  effected  through  the 
National  Guard,  who  seized  or  bought  up  all  the  copies  of 
the  paper  containing  the  objectionable  article,  and  burnt  them 
amidst  the  cheers  of  the  assembled  crowd. 

October  28 th. — The  Journal  OJficiel  emphatically  denies  the 
statement  in  yesterday’s  Combat  as  to  the  surrender  of  Metz. 
The  Mayor  of  Paris  decrees  that  twice  the  sum  devoted  by 
the  Empire  shall  now  be  appropriated  to  the  cause  of  educa¬ 
tion  in  the  Department  of  the  Seine.  A  demonstration  at  the 
Hotel  de  Ville  on  the  part  of  a  number  of  the  National 
Guard,  who  came  to  assure  the  Government  of  their  entire 
devotion  to  it,  and  to  ask  that  they  be  permitted  to  take  part 
in  the  sorties  against  the  enemy. 

October  29 th. — The  Government  decrees  that  in  future  the 
decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  shall  be  bestowed  only  on 
those  who  have  won  it  by  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in 
the  army. 

October  30 th. — M.  Thiers  arrives  from  Tours,  through  the 
German  lines,  with  proposals  for  an  Armistice.  Two  new 
bodies  have  been  formed  in  Paris — the  Guelteurs  de  Nuit} 
who,  with  a  uniform  of  blue  trousers,  blue  blouse,  and  blue 
lcepi ,  and  armed  with  a  lantern,  patrol  the  streets  at  night  in 
search  of  fires  ;  and  the  Francs- Mitrailleurs,  who  are  consti¬ 
tuted  on  the  same  principle  as  the  Francs-Tireurs,  and  are 
armed  with  the  American  Gatling  gun,  presented  to  them  by 
subscription.  Food  getting  scarce,  the  Government  allow- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE.. 


595 


ance  of  meat  being  one  and  a  half  ounces  per  day.  Horse, 
donkey,  and  cat  flesh  plentiful.  Kittens  preserved  for  future 
uses.  A  pair  of  rabbits  costs  35  francs  ;  a  brace  of  ducks  37 
francs  ;  and  a  small  fowl  12  francs.  A  number  of  Americans 
and  Russians  permitted  by  Count  Bismarck  to  leave  Paris. 

October  31  si. — To  day  was  made  memorable  by  a  desperate 
attempt  of  the  Red  Republicans  to  get  control  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  It  is  thus  described  in  a  letter  from  Paris: 

Rumors  of  the  arrival  of  M.  Thiers  to  negotiate  an  Armistice,  the  re¬ 
capture  of  Le  Bourget,  east  of  St.  Denis,  and  the  surrender  of  Metz,  had 
created  intense  agitation,  and  at  eleven  o’clock  a.  m.  about  200  people 
assembled  in  the  Place  de  l’Hotel  de  Ville.  The  members  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment  suspected  the  gathering  storm,  and  the  crowd  was  harangued  by 
M.  Arago,  M.  Jules  Favre,  and  finally  by  M.  Jules  Simon;  while  other 
members,  including  General  Trochu.  Picard,  and  Ferry,  remained  in  the 
Legislative  Chamber.  The  eloquence  of  Arago  and  the  venerable  pre¬ 
sence  of  Favre  quieted  the  crowd,  which  showed  signs  of  dispersing; 
but  at  two  o’clock,  Flourens,  Blanqui,  Pyat  and  others  of  the  factious 
party,  came  at  the  head  of  their  battalions,  entered  the  Hotel  de  Ville, 
and  took  forcible  possession  of  the  Council  Chamber.  As  soon  as  the 
Radical  mob  gained  possession  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  they  organized 
themselves  into  a  committee  of  defence,  throwing  their  bulletins  from 
the  windows  to  the  excited  crowd  below.  Their  proclamations  were  all 
different,  showing  no  accord  among  the  rioters.  Victor  Hugo,  Pyat, 
Ledru  Rollin,  Flourens,  Louis  Blanc,  Rochefort,  and  Dorian  were  among 
the  persons  named  as  directors.  The  name  of  Rochefort*  was  hooted, 
while  Dorian  refused  to  have  his  name  used.  While  those  elections 
were  going  on,  Picard  and  Ferry  managed  to  escape  from  the  Council 
Chamber,  and  flew  to  sound  the  alarm  and  organize  the  Gardes  Mobiles 
and  Gardes  Nationales,  for  the  relief  of  their  imprisoned  colleagues.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  mock  legislation  of  the  mob  headed  by  Flourens,  General  Tro¬ 
chu,  Jules  Simon,  Jules  Favre,  Gamier  Pag6s,  and  Arago  were  held 
prisoners  around  a  table,  and  were  momentarily  in  fear  of  being  assaulted. 

Jules  Simon  attempted  to  speak,  but  was  silenced  by  a  brutal  wretch, 
who  slapped  him  in  the  face.  Gamier  Pag6s  then  rose  and  endeavored 
to  speak,  but,  overcome  with  emotion,  he  fainted  away,  fell  on  the  floor, 
and  was  trampled  on  by  insurgents,  who  tore  General  Trochu’s  decora¬ 
tions  from  his  breast.  The  venerable  appearance  of  M.  Gamier  Pag6s 
would  have  imposed  silence  upon  any  but  a  ruffian  set,  respecting  noth- 

*  Rochefort  was  not  concerned  in  this  outrage,  and  his  name  was  used 
without  his  knowledge. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


596 

ing.  The  insurgents,  to  cries  of  Vive  la  Commune ,  Dtchiance,  “  Down 
with  Trochu,”  greeted  with  cheers  the  proclamation  of  acts  from  Blan- 
qui  and  Flourens,  while  M.  Pag6s  was  rescued,  and  carried  to  a  window 
under  the  care  of  Messrs.  Favre  and  Simon.  General  Trochu  retained 
his  place  in  an  arm-chair  near  the  table  while  all  this  indescribable 
tumult  continued. 

Pyat  and  Blanqui  now  sent  emissaries  to  the  Finance  Department, 
demanding  large  sums  of  money  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  new 
Government.  These  emissaries  M.  Picard  arrested,  and  gained  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  orders  as  evidence  against  Pyat  and  Blanqui.  Rochefort 
tried  to  address  the  mob  from  without,  but  his  voice  was  drowned  by 
loud  cries  of  Resistance  a  mort,  “  No  armistice,”  and  Vive  la  Republique  I 

This  imprisonment  of  the  members  of  the  Government  lasted  until 
six  o’clock  in  the  evening,  when  M.  Jules  Ferry,  who  had  come  to  the 
Hotel  de  Ville  with  an  immence  force,  demanded  their  release.  A  mes¬ 
senger  went  up  to  Flourens  to  demand  a  reply.  Ferry  waited  more  than 
two  hours  for  the  return,  rather  than  execute  any  violent  movement. 
In  fact,  it  was  distinctly  understood  that  at  the  sound  of  the  first  shot 
at  the  place,  Trochu,  Favre,  Simon,  Arago,  and  Pag6s  would  be  in¬ 
stantly  murdered.  In  the  meantime,  however,  the  National  Guard 
under  Ferry  had  succeeded  in  pushing  a  mass  of  men  up  the  stairs  and 
into  the  Council  Hall.  One  of  the  officers  of  the  106th  battalion,  a  co¬ 
lossal  fellow,  made  a  sign  to  General  'Trochu,  edged  his  way  round  the 
table,  and  at  a  favorable  moment,  when  protected  by  his  men,  seized 
the  General  in  his  arms,  lifted  him  out  of  his  chair  backwards,  and  with¬ 
out  a  word  conveyed  him  down  stairs.  On  the  grand  stairway  his  kepi 
(fatigue  cap)  was  recognized,  and  a  miscreant  took  deliberate  aim  at  the 
General,  fortunately  missing  him.  One  of  the  men  knocked  off  the 
General’s  cap,  and  replaced  it  with  his  own,  and  thus  saved  him  from 
further  attempts. 

Trochu  was  greeted  with  cheers  by  the  crowd  and  troops 
without.  He  returned  them  his  thanks  for  coming  to  the 
rescue  of  the  Government,  and  then  proceeded  to  take  meas¬ 
ures  for  clearing  the  halls  and  adjoining  streets  of  the  rioters. 
The  long  roll  was  sounded  throughout  the  city,  and  heavy 
columns  of  National  Guards  came  streaming  towards  the 
Hotel  de  Ville.  That  building  was  entered  by  means  of  a 
subterranean  passage  from  the  adjacent  barracks,  and  the 
Commune  party  were  driven  out.  Towards  three  o’clock 
A.  M.  on  the  1st  of  November,  order  was  reestablished.  Dur¬ 
ing  its  occupation  by  the  rioters,  the  Hotel  de  Ville  was  con- 


Invasion  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville. 


598 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


siderably  damaged.  Pictures,  mirrors,  and  furniture  were 
broken  and  destroyed.  Many  articles  were  stolen,  and  the 
stores  of  provisions  and  wine  collected  there  were  plundered. 

November  1st. — Notices  posted  up  through  the  cit}r,  informing 
the  people  that  they  will  soon  have  an  opportunity  of  choos¬ 
ing  between  the  Provisional  Government  and  the  Commune. 

November  2nd. — In  order  to  put  an  end  to  such  demonstra¬ 
tions  as  that  of  October  31st,  the  Government  appoints  the 
3d  of  November  for  taking  the  votes  of  the  citizens,  who  shall 
decide  by  their  ballots  whether  the  Government  of  the  Na¬ 
tional  Defence  shall  be  maintained.  The  5th  of  November 
appointed  for  the  election  of  the  Mayors  and  adjoints  of  the 
different  arrondissements  of  Paris.  The  Government  revokes 
the  commissions  of  the  chefs-de-bataillons  of  the  National 
Guard  concerned  in  the  recent  riot ;  and  announces  that  any 
battalion  going  out  armed  without  superior  orders  would  be 
disarmed,  and  disbanded,  and  its  commander  court-martialed. 
M.  Rochefort  resigns  his  position  as  a  member  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment. 

November  3d. — The  elections  were  held  to-day.  The  result 
was  an  overwhelming  majority  in  favor  of  upholding  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  of  the  National  Defence.  The  result  was  proclaimed 
from  Hotel  de  Ville  at  ten  o’clock,  p.m.  Large  crowds  of  citi¬ 
zens  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  General  Trochu,  and  ten¬ 
der  him  their  congratulations.  The  vote  was,  including  the 
vote  of  the  army  (which  was  Yes,  236,623,  No,  9053),  Yes, 
557,996,  No,  62,638. 

November  A.th. — A  number  of  the  leaders  of  the  recent  riot 
arrested  and  consigned  to  prison.  Felix  Pyat  was  among  the 
number.  Floarens  and  Blanqui  concealed  themselves.  Gen¬ 
eral  Tamisier  resigns  the  command  of  the  National  Guard, 
and  is  succeeded  by  General  Clement  Thomas. 

November  5th. — Elections  for  Mayors  of  the  various  arron¬ 
dissements  of  Paris  passed  off  quietly.  Three  Red  Republican 
candidates  elected.  More  arrests  of  persons  concerned  in  the 
recent  riots.  Matinees  at  two  of  the  theatres  for  charitable 
purposes. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


599 


The  Great  Sewer  of  Paris. 


November  fill). — The  failure  of  M.  Thiers’  efforts  to  negotiate 
an  Armistice  made  known  by  the  Journal  Officiel.  The  an¬ 
nouncement  is  as  follows:  “The  four  great  neutral  Powers, 
England,  Russia,  Austria  and  Italy,  had  taken  the  initiative 
in  proposing  an  Armistice  to  allow  of  the  election  of  a  National 
Assembly.  The  Government  of  the  National  Defence  made 
known  its  conditions,  which  were,  the  reprovisioning  of  Paris, 
and  the  voting  for  the  National  Assembly  by  the  entire  French 
population.  Prussia  has  expressly  refused  the  reprovisioning 
the  Capital,  and  only  admitted  the  voting  in  Alsace  and  Lor¬ 
raine  with  certain  restrictions.  The  Government  of  the  Na¬ 
tional  Defence  has  decided  unanimously  that  the  Armistice, 
thus  understood,  must  be  rejected.”  This  announcement 
causes  great  regret  in  the  city,  as  hopes  of  a  settlement  had 
been  entertained  since  M.  Thiers’  arrival  in  Paris. 

November  7th. — In  order  to  prevent  the  Germans  from  en¬ 
tering  the  city  by  the  large  subterranean  passage  used  for 
sewers,  etc.,  the  egoutiers,  or  laborers  employed  to  keep  the 
sewers  in  good  order,  are  stationed  in  them  with  arms,  for 
the  purpose  of  guarding  them.  The  engineers  of  the  Minis- 


600 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR. 


try  of  Public  Works  have  fortified  the  interior  both  of  the 
sewers  and  the  aqueducts  with  barricades,  to  prevent  the  en¬ 
trance  of  an  enemy  ;  and  have  blocked  up  the  shafts  entering 
the  catacombs  and  underground  quarries,  and  walled  up  every 
gallery  that  might  give  access  from  the  outside  to  the  inside 
of  the  circle  of  defences. 

November  8th. — A  number  of  foreigners — Englishmen,  Aus¬ 
trians,  and  Swiss,  left  the  city  to-day  for  their  own  countries 
by  the  permission  of  the  German  authorities.  The  railway 
stations  are  used  as  depots  for  the  reception  of  the  wounded 
from  the  lines  of  the  army.  They  are  supplied  with  a  full 
corps  of  nurses  and  attendants,  and  with  medicines,  etc. 

November  9th. — The  enrolment  of  volunteers  for  the  march¬ 
ing  battalions  of  the  National  Guard  continues.  A  large 
pavilion  is  erected  in  front  of  the  Pantheon,  or  Church  of  Ste. 
Genevieve.  It  is  adorned  with  a  black  banner,  in  mourning 
for  Strasbourg.  Metz  has  no  such  honor  paid  it,  as  its  surren¬ 
der  is  believed  to  be  the  work  of  treachery.  The  front  of  the 
pavilion  bears  the  dates  1792  and  1870,  and  the  inscription, 
‘  Citoyens ,  La  Palrieest  en  danger  !  ’  The  platform  is  occupied 
by  officers  of  the  National  Guard  and  the  Mayor  of  the  5th 
Arrondissement,  and  the  clerks  whose  business  it  is  to  enrol 
the  names  of  all  persons  willing  to  join  the  marching  battal¬ 
ions,  and  to  make  themselves  disposable  not  merely  for  local 
service,  but  for  any  duty  that  may  be  required  of  them.  The 
square  in  front  of  the  Church  is  occupied  by  the  wives, 
daughters,  sisters,  and  friends  of  the  volunteers,  who  testify 
their  approval  of  the  transaction  by  frequent  applause.  Many 
thousand  volunteers  have  been  obtained  in  this  way. 

November  10th. — A  Prussian  prisoner  is  a  rare  sight  in 
Paris.  A  few  are  occasionally  brought  in,  and  are  paraded 
through  the  streets  with  great  display. 

November  11th. — Wounded  men  continue  to  come  in.  The 
Grand  Hotel  is  fitted  up  as  a  hospital,  and  is  nearly  full.  The 
elevators  afford  the  best  possible  means  of  conveying  the  suf¬ 
ferers  from  floor  to  floor.  The  wounded  from  the  Palace  of 
Industry  have  been  transported  thither,  to  their  great  delight. 


% 


Wounded  Soldiers  at  a  Paris  Railway  Station. 


602 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  greater  part  of  the  wounded  men  are  brought  into  the 
city,  the  more  seriously  hurt  in  litters  or  carriages,  and  the 
slightly  wounded  on  mules,  two  men  being  placed  on  a  single 
animal  by  means  of  seats,  or  chairs,  one  swung  over  each  side 
of  the  animal’s  back.  They  are  greeted  by  crowds,  who  fol¬ 
low  them  with  cheers,  and  contribute  money  freely  to  their 
wants. 

November  12tli. — The  food  question  becomes  every  day  of 
greater  importance.  The  number  of  oxen  and  sheep  within 
the  city  walls  is  no  longer  officially  published  ;  but  it  is  com¬ 
monly  believed  that  the  stock  will  be  exhausted  by  the 
end  of  the  month.  The  animals  of  the  Jardin  d’Acclimata- 
tion  having  all  been  eaten  by  this  time,  recourse  is  now  had 
to  the  more  palatable  among  the  wild  animals  in  the  Jardin 
des  Plantes.  Only  those  with  an  abundance  of  money  can 
afford  to  purchase  the  better  classes  of  meat  diet.  Ass  flesh 
sells  for  five  francs  per  pound.  Black  puddings  made  of  bul¬ 
lock’s  blood  are  sold  in  great  numbers.  Butter,  cheese,  bacon, 
ham,  sardines,  and  potted  meats  cannot  be  bought  at  any  price. 

November  13 th. — The  Government  gives  notice  that  from 
to-day  it  will  purchase  mules  and  asses  as  food  for  the  citi¬ 
zens,  and  that  the  flesh  of  these  animals  will  be  rationed  out 
at  a  fixed  price,  as  butchers’  meat  and  horseflesh  now  are,  in 
the  different  arrondissements. 

November  14 th. — Great  rejoicings  in  Paris  over  a  dispatch 
from  Gambetta  to  Trochu,  announcing  the  recapture  of  Or¬ 
leans.  Trochu  informs  the  citizens  that  the  preparations  of 
the  army  are  nearly  completed,  and  that  the  garrison  will 
soon  assume  the  offensive.  Heavy  cannonading  along  the 
line  of  forts  south  of  the  Seine. 

November  15 th. — General  Trochu  has  issued  a  reproof  to  his 
troops  for  being  too  friendly  with  the  German  outposts. 
Strangers,  even  those  provided  with  safe  conducts  from  Count 
Bismarck,  will  not  be  allowed  to  quit  Paris  in  the  future. 
Rochefort,  who  some  time  ago  resigned  his  place  in  the  Gov¬ 
ernment,  has  enlisted  as  a  private  in  an  artillery  company. 
The  Committee  of  Barricades  has  beenRissolved  by  the  Gov- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


603 


ernment.  The  resignation  of  Etienne  Arago,  the  Mayor  of 
Paris,  is  announced  to-day.  M.  Jules  Ferry  succeeds  him. 
Arago  is  made  Director  of  the  Mint. 

November  1  Qlh. — It  is  announced  that  the  city  will  soon  be 
on  rations  of  salt  meat.  Gas  is  interdicted  in  the  cafes  after 
nine  o’clock  P.  M. 

November  17 Ik. — Letters  are  sent  out  of  Paris  by  means  of 
balloons,  and  replies  are  received  by  carrier  pigeons.  The 
balloon  system  is  becoming  quite  regular  and  reliable.  As¬ 
cents  are  made  now  mostly  after  dark,  as  several  balloons 
have  been  recently  captured  by  the  Germans. 

November  l%th. — The  marching  companies  of  the  National 
Guard  are  having  their  Snider  rifles  served  out  to  them. 

November  19 th. — The  cafes  and  shops  are  using  petroleum 
in  place  of  gas.  Cigars  are  scarce,  and  pipes  have  made  their 
appearance  in  the  Cafe  Riche. 

November  20 th. — Military  news,  except  such  as  is  furnished 
by  the  Government,  is  not  allowed  to  be  published. 

November  21  st. — The  manufacture  of  arms  and  ammunition 
goes  on  with  rapidity. 

“  The  most  wonderful  work  after  all  has  been  the  provision 
of  guns  and  small-arms  in  a  city  so  little  prepared  for  such 
work,  and  so  badly  off  as  it  is  for  materials.  Nothing  could 
be  more  difficult  than  the  task  to  be  performed,  more  critical 
than  the  situation  ;  yet,  in  spite  of  being  cut  off'  from  com¬ 
munication  with  the  manufacturing  centres,  Paris  has  pro¬ 
vided  herself  with  arms,  founded  guns,  built  carriages,  and 
armed  and  equipped  an  army  of  400,000  men.  This  fact, 
says  a  sensible  professional  writer  here,  is  an  unlooked-for 
revelation  of  the  powers  of  production  arrived  at  by  the 
manufacturers  of  Paris,  and  London  is  the  only  other  city  in 
the  world  that  could  have  accomplished  such  a  feat.  Not 
only  are  all  the  machine  shops  now  employed  in  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  arms,  but  they  had  to  create  the  special  machinery  for 
the  purpose,  and  it  is  now  a  question  whether  Paris  will  not 
continue  hereafter  to  be  a  great  armory,  thus  adding  another 
special  feature  to  its  industry. 


604 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


“  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,  and  the  story  of  the 
siege  will  contain  accounts  of  many  clever  adaptations  and 
expedients.  This,  of  course,  is  not  the  season  to  collect  in¬ 
formation  of  this  kind,  but  I  may  mention  that  the  use  of 
metal  instead  of  sand  moulds  has  been  found  to  save  much 
time  in  the  casting  of  cannon — seven  days,  in  fact,  out  of 
twenty.  Some  very  simple  American  rifling  machines  have 
been  employed  for  the  first  time  here;  the  breech-pieces  of  the 
gun  are  of  a  more  simple  model  than  formerly,  the  ingenuity 
of  private  engineers  and  mechanics  having  been  called  into 
play  for  the  first  time  in  that  direction. 

“  The  orders  for  breech-loading  field  guns  amount  to  1500. 
Of  these  more  than  one-half  have  been  delivered,  and  the  rest 
will  soon  all  be  finished.  Of  the  300  great  guns  ordered, 
seventy  were  turned  out  more  than  a  week  ago.  The  pro¬ 
portion  of  failures  is  said  to  be  about  one  in  six,  which  is  also 
that  of  the  State  factories.  Where  iron  moulds  are  used,  as 
at  St.  Denis,  it  is  said  that  the  failures  are  reduced  to  a  mini¬ 
mum,  nearly  every  casting  being  perfect.  It  must  be  stated, 
however,  that,  much  as  has  been  done,  it  is  complained  that 
the  guns  are  not  produced  fast  enough.  This  is  nonsense; 
there  is  little  doubt  that  the  Government  has  now  more  guns 
than  it  will  ever  use,  though  at  the  same  time  the  substitu¬ 
tion  of  all  the  rampart  guns  by  pieces  of  greater  calibre — 
substitution  already  carried  out  at  the  most  important  points 
of  the  enceinte — is  highly  important.  Probably  gunners  are 
more  difficult  to  be  found  than  guns  and  ammunition.” 

November  22d. — Coal  and  coke  are  very  scarce.  Charcoal 
is  being  made  in  quantities  by  order  of  the  Government;  the 
Bois  de  Boulogne  being  used  for  this  purpose. 

November  23 d. — The  citizens  are  notified  that  after  the  pres¬ 
ent  month  no  more  gas  will  be  supplied  to  public  or  private 
establishments,  or  to  private  houses,  and  that  in  a  short  time 
the  street  lamps  will  be  lighted  with  petroleum. 

November  2ilh. — The  Government  announces  its  intention 
to  seize  the  stock  of  potatoes  in  the  city,  and  ration  them  out 
to  the  citizens  at  moderate  prices.  The  Secretary  of  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


G05 


Horseflesh  Committee  announces  that  nearly  80,000  horses 
have  been  eaten  since  the  siege  began. 

November  2bth. — Three  days’  rations  of  salt  meat,  and  three 
days’  rations  of  fresh  meat,  are  issued  alternately  to  the  citi¬ 
zens.  The  edible  animals  in  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  and  the 
Jardin  d’Acclimatation  have  been  killed  and  sold  to  the 
butchers.  In  the  meat  shops  one  now  sees  dogs  and  cats  for 
sale,  and  a  rat  market  has  been  opened  under  the  very  shadow 
of  the  Hotel  de  Ville.  Rice,  sugar,  coffee,  bread,  and  wine 
are  still  plentiful. 

November  2 Qlh. — The  city  excited  by  a  heavy  night  cannon¬ 
ade  from  the  forts  south  of  the  Seine. 

November  21th. — No  one  allowed  to  go  beyond  the  walls 
without  passes  from  army  headquarters.  It  is  rumored  that 
a  sortie  in  force  is  to  be  made  by  General  Uucrot. 

November  28lh. — The  city  intensely  excited.  Heavy  col¬ 
umns  of  troops  marching  along  the  principal  thoroughfares, 
towards  the  lines  on  the  southeast  of  the  city.  A  proclama¬ 
tion  issued  late  in  the  afternoon  by  General  Trochu,  calling 
on  the  people  of  Paris  to  make  a  “supreme  effort.” 

November  29 th. — Trochu  begins  his  effort  to  break  out 
through  the  German  lines  and  join  the  Army  of  the  Loire. 
Heavy  fighting.  The  cannonade  keeps  the  city  in  the  most 
painful  excitement.  Wounded  constantly  arriving  from  the 
front.  The  Government  appeals  to  the  citizens  not  to  be  al¬ 
armed  ;  to  reject  all  alarming  reports,  and  to  bear  in  mind 
that  Trochu’s  plan  involved  alike  false  attacks  and  retreats. 
Great  despondency  in  the  city  at  night. 

November  30 th. — Heavy  cannonade  from  the  forts  began  at 
midnight  on  the  29th.  Renewed  fighting  to-day.  In  the 
evening  it  is  rumored  that  Ducrot  has  won  a  great  victory. 

December  ls£. — Continued  fighting.  Large  numbers  of 
wounded  brought  into  the  city.  It  is  stated  that  Ducrot  has 
forced  a  passage  of  the  Marne. 

December  2d. — Fighting  continues  through  the  day.  It  is 
stated  that  Ducrot  maintains  his  positions.  City  excited,  but 
hopeful. 


606 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


December  3 d. — City  quiet.  It  is  generally  believed  that  the 
sortie  has  not  been  successful ;  but  there  is  no  despondency. 
The  death  rate  in  the  city  has  increased.  *  The  privations  of 
the  people  are  beginning  to  have  their  effect,  particularly 
upon  young  children  and  infants.  The  consumption  of  fresh 
meat  had  become  greater  during  the  Empire  than  it  had  ever 
been  before,  its  use  being  more  general  among  the  poor  in 
particular.  Consequently,  a  larger  number  of  people  suffer 
from  the  deprivation  than  if  this  increase  had  not  taken  place. 

December  4zth. — It  is  announced  this  morning  by  the  Journal 
Officiel  that  the  army  under  General  Ducrot  recrossed  the 
Marne  last  night,  and  bivouacked  in  the  Bois  de  Vincennes. 
The  Government  announces  that  this  withdrawal  was  insti¬ 
tuted  in  order  to  give  effect  to  certain  future  operations.  The 
citizens  generally  accept  this  explanation.  Nevertheless, 
Paris  is  full  of  the  wildest  rumors.  It  was  reported  that  the 
Prussians  had  evacuated  Versailles ;  and,  in  spite  of  the  in 
tense  cold,  immense  crowds  assembled  in  the  caffs  and  around 
the  newspaper  kiosks,  in  the  hope  of  finding  the  information 
officially  confirmed  in  the  late  editions  of  the  evening  papers. 

An  official  decree  announces  that  a  credit  of  500,000  francs 
has  been  opened  in  the  Budget  of  the  city  of  Paris  to  establish 
additional  soup  kitchens  for  the  relief  of  the  indigent  popula¬ 
tion.  The  amount  of  misery  resulting  from  actual  want  and 
the  severity  of  the  weather  is  very  great.  No  one  complains, 
and  rich  and  poor  alike  express  their  willingness  to  bear  any 
hardship  or  privation  incident  to  a  successful  defence  of  the 
city,  or  a  defence  to  the  last  extremity. 

December  5th. — General  Ducrot  announces  that  he  withdrew 
his  army  across  the  Marne  because  “  the  enemy  had  had  time 
to  concentrate  his  forces  and  prepare  the  means  of  action,” 
and  that  a  further  persistence  on  the  part  of  the  French  would 
have  involved  the  useless  sacrifice  of  many  brave  men.  The 
conflict,  he  adds,  will  soon  be  resumed. 

More  balloons  leave  the  city.  At  the  present  time  the  de¬ 
parture  of  balloons  takes  place  at  night,  and  the  time  and  night 
fixed  on  are  kept  secret  from  all  but  those  who  are  to  take 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


607 


passage  in  the  balloon.  This  precaution  is  to  prevent  the 
Germans  from  being  on  the  look-out  for,  and  firing  rockets 
and  other  dangerous  projectiles  at,  the  balloon  as  it  passes 
over  their  lines.  As  in  the  days  before  the  war,  the  railway 
stations  are  still  the  places  from  which  passengers  and  letters 
take  their  departure  for  the  outside  world;  for  they  not  only 
offer  large  open  spaces  in  which  to  fill  the  balloons,  but,  being 
situated  away  from  the  centre  of  Paris,  there  is  less  risk  of 
these  in  their  ascent  coming  in  contact  with  buildings.  The 
balloons  usually  depart  about  midnight-:  the  depot  of  the 
Northern  Railway  being  a  favorite  starting  place.  They  start 
from  one  of  the  courtyards  of  the  station,  which  is  lighted  up 
with  the  lamps  belonging  to  the  now  disused  locomotives. 
Perfect  silence  is  maintained  whilst  the  necessary  preparations 
are  made,  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  M.  Dartois  directing  the 
sailors  engaged  in  performing  the  various  operations  is  the 


Bird  Market:  Paris. 


G08 


HISTORY  OF  TI1E  LATE  WAR 


only  sound  heard.  About  half  an  hour  previous  to  the  time 
fixed  for  the  departure,  a  post-office  van  arrives  with  the  sacks 
of  letters  and  copies  of  the  Journal  Offidel,  intended  to  serve 
as  ballast.  These  are  placed  in  the  car,  to  which  is  also  at¬ 
tached  a  basket  containing  pigeons,  and  addressed,  “  Pigeons  : 
to  be  immediately  forwarded  to  Tours.”  M.  Rampout  walks 
about  superintending  the  arrangements;  and  if  the  night 
should  be  foggy  and  the  wind  favorable,  the  countenance  of 
the  Director-General  of  the  Post-Office  is  beaming  with  satis¬ 
faction,  for  he  knows  that  the  balloon  will  both  leave  without 
being  perceived  by  the  enemy  and  will  fall  far  outside 
their  lines.  The  car  has  been  fixed  on,  the  aeronaut  and  his 
passengers  have  already  taken  their  places,  clad  in  thick 
clothing  to  shield  them  from  the  intense  cold  of  the  upper  re¬ 
gions  of  the  atmosphere,  when  an  aide-de-camp  of  General 
Trochu  arrives  out  of  breath.  His  dispatch  is  handed  to  the 
aeronaut,  the  command,  “Let  go!”  is  given,  and  the  balloon 
soars  majestically  into  the  air.  The  spectators  watch  it  clear 
the  glazed  roof  of  the  station,  and  it  disappears  into  the  night ; 
but  for  a  few  moments  after  they  can  still  hear  the  adieux  of 
the  travellers,  who  are  carrying  with  them  into  the  outer  world 
so  many  messages  of  love  and  hope  from  the  sorrowful  in¬ 
habitants  of  the  beleaguered  city. 

December  Qlh. — A  correspondence  between  Generals  Von 
Moltke  and  Trochu  was  made  public  to-day.  The  Prussian 
Commander  informed  his  adversary  that  the  French  Army  of 
the  Loire  was  defeated  near  Orleans  on  Sunday  last  (4th), 
and  that  Orleans  itself  had  been  reoccupied  by  the  German 
troops.  This  news  has  created  a  profound  impression  through¬ 
out  the  city.  Many  people  disbelieve  it :  many  try  to  explain 
it  away;  but  the  mass  of  the  people  are  rendered  very  uneasy 
by  it.  As  usual,  the  boulevards  and  the  cafes  were  crowded 
to-night,  in  spite  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  excited 
discussions  ensued,  both  within  and  without  doors,  from  which 
people  retired  not  a  whit  wiser,  but  for  the  most  part  with 
sad  misgivings  as  to  whether  it  were  now  at  all  possible  to 
save  Paris  from  falling. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


609 


December  7th. — Gustave  Flourens,  who  was  degraded  from 
his  military  rank  after  his  recent  attack  on  the  Government, 
rejoined  his  battalion  of  the  National  Guard  in  its  cantonment, 
and  attempted  to  resume  his  command.  He  was  at  once  ar¬ 
rested,  and  is  now  confined  in  the  Mazas  Prison.  The  Ultra 
Republicans  affirm  that  police  spies,  instructed  to  run  away 
from  the  enemy,  have  been  scattered  through  the  battalion 
referred  to,  in  order  to  furnish  the  Government  with  an  ex¬ 
cuse  for  disbanding  and  disarming  the  “  Republican  patriots.” 
Blanqui’s  violent  journal,  La  Patrie  en  Danger ,  has  suspended 
publication  for  want  of  patronage. 

December  8th. — The  magnificent  bridge  and  railway  viaduct 
across  the  Seine  at  Auteuil  is  very  much  changed  in  appear¬ 
ance  since  the  beginning  of  the  siege.  The  upper  tier  of 
arches  has  been  walled  up  on  the  side  facing  St.  Cloud,  loop¬ 
holes  being  left  in  them  for  musketry  in  case  the  Germans 
should  attempt  to  force  the  passage  of  the  Seine.  Some  few 
of  the  arches  have  been  turned  into  store  places  for  hay*  and 
straw,  while  the  remainder  serve  as  barracks  for  the  Gardes 
Mobiles,  who  are  thus  sheltered  alike  from  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  and  in  a  less  degree  from  the  severity  of  the  weather. 

December  9th. — General  Renault,  who  was  fatally  wounded 
in  the  recent  battles  on  the  Marne,  and  who  died  on, the  6th, 
was  buried  to-day  in  the  Marshals’  vault  at  the  Invalides ,  in 
presence  of  several  members  of  the  Government,  and  a  con¬ 
siderable  assemblage  of  officers,  civic  functionaries,  and 
private  friends. 

The  Archbishop  of  Paris  paid  a  visit  to  the  Breton  ambu¬ 
lance,  to  urge  the  less  seriously  wounded  to  rejoin  their  regi¬ 
ments  as  soon  as  they  are  sufficiently  recovered.  He  urged 
them  never  to  think  of  surrendering,  adding  that  it  was  a 
deep  regret  to  him  that  his  holy  calling  did  not  permit  him 
to  shoulder  his  musket  and  go  with  them  to  the  battle-field. 
The  Bretons  are  regarded  as  the  best  fighters  in  the  army, 
and  are  moreover  thoroughly  devoted  and  obedient  to  the 
clergy.  Reports  are  current  in  the  evening  of  the  near  and 
successful  approach  of  Bourbaki’s  and  De  Paladines’  army. 

39 


610 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TFAR 


December  10i/i. — The  city  in  great  agitation,  caused  by  the 
arrival  of  a  carrier  pigeon  with  a  dispatch  purporting  to  have 
been  sent  from  Rouen,  announcing  that  that  city  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Germans,  who  were  marching  on  Cherbourg, 
everywhere  received  with  acclamations  by  the  peasantry  ;  and 
announcing  other  overwhelming  defeats.  It  was  later  in  the 
day  proven  that  the  dispatch  was  sent  by  the  Germans,  the 
pigeon  having  been  ,  recently  taken  by  them  in  a  balloon 
which  fell  into  their  hands. 

Fresh  meat  has  now  become  extremely  rare,  and  the  only 
kind  regularly  rationed  out  is  horse-flesh.  The  Jockey  Club 
have  lately  been  partaking  of  a  diner  du  siitge,  as  it  was  styled, 
which  comprised  carp,  gudgeon,  and  eels  from  the  Seine ; 
bloaters,  horse,  ass  and  mule,  dog,  rat  pie,  Dutch  cheese, 
mushrooms,  celery,  salad,  apples  and  pears.  Beef  is  still  to 
be  procured  at  the  better  class  restaurants  at  very  high  prices, 
and  even  veal  can,  on  rare  occasions,  be  obtained.  Hams  are 
also  to  be  had  at  fifteen  francs  the  pound.  A  few  weeks  ago, 
the  Government  took  possession  of  a  lot  of  Dutch  cheeses,  and 
as  no  owner  has  ever  appeared  to  claim  them,  it  has  dis¬ 
tributed  them  amongst  the  Mairies  of  the  various  arrondisse- 
ments,  which  have  rationed  them  out,  in  lieu  of  salt  meat  or 
horse-flesh,  in  proportions  of  about  one  ounce  and  two-thirds, 
at  a  rate  of  nearly  two  francs  and  a  half  per  pound. 

December  11th. — The  citizens  were  greatly  depressed  to-day 
at  finding  that  the  bakers’  shops  had  been  forced  to  close,  one 
after  another,  early  in  the  afternoon,  through  their  stock  of 
bread  becoming  exhausted.  This  arose,  no  doubt,  from  the 
recent  Government  decree,  intimating  an  intention  to  take 
possession  of  all  stocks  of  corn  and  flour,  which  produced  a 
kind  of  panic,  followed  by  a  run  on  the  bakers’  shops,  which 
soon  emptied  them  of  their  contents.  The  scarcity  is  no 
doubt  due  also  to  the  fact  that  the  city  mills  are  inadequate 
to  the  task  of  grinding  flour  enough  for  the  population. 
The  closing  of  the  shops  to-day  brought  the  possibility  of 
famine  painfully  before  the  citizens. 

December  12th. — The  walls  are  covered  this  morning  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


611 


a  proclamation  from  the  Government,  urging  the  citizens  not 
to  give  way  to  panics,  and  assuring  them  that  there  is  bread 
enough  in  Paris  to  last  till  the  end  of  March.  When  the 
white  flour  is  exhausted,  brown  bread  will  be  sold,  and  this  the 
proclamation  declares  is  nourishing,  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and 
wholesome,  being  in  fact  the  bread  eaten  by  the  majority  of 
the  peasants  in  the  Departments.  The  manufacture  of  biscuits 
is  interdicted;  and  the  sale  of  flour  is  prohibited  under  a 
heavy  penalty.  The  meat  supply,  derived  from  the  slaughter 
of  500  horses  per  day,  is  to  undergo  no  diminution,  it  is  said. 
The  Government  intimates  its  intention  to  take  possession  of 
coals,  coke,  and  fire- wood  at  rates  to  be  fixed  by  appointed 
factors.  The  prices  of  these  articles  are  rising  rapidly. 

December  13 th. — The  principal  streets  are  still  lighted  with 
indifferent  gas  ;  but  the  edifices  of  the  city,  both  public  and 
private,  are  obliged  to  use  petroleum. 

December  lD/t. —  A  battalion  of  the  National  Guard,  known 
as  the  volunteers  of  the  147th,  was  to-day  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Eosny.  When  the  ranks  was  formed  only  one  hundred  men 
presented  themselves,  and  half  of  these  were  without  arms. 
The  battalion  refused  to  march,  on  the  plea  that  the  wives  of 
the  men  comprising  it  had  not  been  paid  the  seventy-five 
centimes  per  day  to  which  they  are  entitled  by  a  Govern¬ 
ment  decree  when  their  husbands  are  called  on  to  do  duty  in 
the  field. 

December  15 th. — General  Clement  Thomas,  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  National  Guard,  has  issued  an  order  disband¬ 
ing  the  battalion  known  as  the  volunteers  of  the  147th.  To¬ 
day  the  first  German  shell  fell  within  the  ramparts  of  Paris. 
It  fell  near  the  bastion  No.  72  at  the  Point  du  Jour.  It  is 
known  in  the  city  that  Orleans  has  been  retaken  by  the 
Prussians,  and  that  10,000  Frenchmen  have  been  made 
prisoners. 

December  16 th. —  A  courier  from  Tours  arrived  in  Paris  to¬ 
day  with  dispatches  for  the  Government,  having  successfully 
traversed  the  Prussian  lines.  The  Palrie  of  this  evening  says 
that  both  mules’  and  asses’  flesh  may  still  be  purchased,  and 


612 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


even  small  legs  of  mutton  are  to  be  bad  at  twelve  francs. 
Mutton  chops  bring  one  and  a  half  francs;  sheep’s  kindeys 
two  francs  each;  geese  forty  francs;  turkeys  thirty  francs  ; 
ducks  twenty  francs;  chickens  fifteen  francs;  dogs  ten  francs; 
and  cats  eight  francs  each.  A  pike  was  sold  to-day  at  twenty- 
five  francs;  eggs  one  franc,  sausages  at  fifty  centimes  each. 
Butter  is  from  fifteen  to  twenty  francs  per  pound  ;  and  salt 
one  and  a  half  francs  per  pound.  The  consumption  of  dogs, 
cats,  and  rats  is  considerable.  A  census  is  now  being  taken 
for  the  double  purpose  of  ascertaining  how  many  persons  are 
entitled  to  receive  ration  cards,  and  how  many  men  have 
evaded  the  performance  of  military  duty. 

December  11th.— It  is  believed  that  the  reorganization  of  the 
army  is  complete,  and  a  resumption  of  the  fighting  around 
the  city  is  looked  for  daily  by  the  citizens. 

December  18 th. — The  city  very  much  depressed  by  the  in¬ 
action  of  the  Government.  The  journals  bitterly  reproach 
the  authorities  for  their  tardiness.  They  ask  if  the  Govern¬ 
ment  is  collecting  men,  arms,  and  munitions  in  Paris  to  offer 
them  to  the  Prussians  on  the  day  on  which  hunger  forces  the 
city  to  surrender.  General  Trochu  is  not  openly  named,  but 
it  is  understood  that  the  reproches  are  aimed  at  him. 

December  19 th. — The  Journal  Officiel  endeavors,  but  un¬ 
successfully,  to  raise  the  spirits  of  the  people,  by  assuring  them 
that  the  Government  policy  is  to  fight,  but  to  do  so  in  con¬ 
cert  with  the  movements  in  other  parts  of  France. 

The  distress  in  the  city  is  now  very  great,  and  the  poorer 
classes  suffer  more  from  cold  than  from  hunger.  Madame 
Hamelin,  widow  of  a  former  ambassador  to  Constantinople, 
was  recently  found  dead  in  her  bed  at  Belleville,  the  victim 
of  cold  and  starvation.  There  were  2728  deaths  in  the  city 
last  week,  or  273  more  than  during  the  previous  week. 

December  2 Oth. — The  air  is  full  of  rumors  of  a  battle.  Or¬ 
ders  have  been  issued  to  close  all  the  gates  of  the  city.  The 
National  Guards  have  had  their  places  assigned  them,  and 
120  rounds  of  cartridges  per  man,  have  been  served  out. 
Trains  of  artillery  wagons  and  ambulances  have  been  mov- 


$ 


Disembarking  wounded  Soldiers  at  the  Quai  de  la  M6gisserie  :  Paris. 


614 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


ing  through  the  city  all  day;  also  many  carts  laden  with 
Christmas  trees.  The  wooden  stalls,  so  well  known  here  in 
the  holiday  season,  are  in  course  of  erection  on  the  boule¬ 
vards  in  anticipation  of  New  Year’s  Day. 

December  21s;!. — The  expected  sortie  took  place  to-day. 
There  was  heavy  fighting  at  La  Bourget  east  of  St.  Denis, 
and  towards  Gagny  and  Bondy.  The  city  painfully  excited 
by  the  distant  firing. 

December  22 cl. — No  fighting  to-day.  The  wounded  coming 
in  considerable  numbers. 

December  22>d. — The  cold — 12  degrees  below  the  freezing 
point — is  very  severe.  The  general  belief  is  that  the  fighting 
will  be  renewed  ;  and  the  people  are  hopeful.  Eggs  sold  to¬ 
day  for  one  franc  apiece. 

December  24 th. — The  National  Guards  have  expressed  so 
much  disgust  at  not  being  permitted  to  take  part  in  the  re¬ 
cent  battles,  that  the  Temps  to-day  publishes  an  article  ex¬ 
plaining  to  them  that  in  every  engagement  some  of  the  troops 
must  necessarily  remain  in  a  state  of  greater  or  less  inactivity; 
but  that  their  presence  on  the  field  as  reserves  neutralizes 
and  renders  inactive  a  corresponding  force  of  the  enemy. 

The  wounded  are  still  coming  in.  Many  of  them  are  brought 
in  by  the  little  steamers  which  formerly  served  as  ‘‘steam¬ 
boat  omnibuses  ”  on  the  Seine.  These  little  boats,  flying 
the  red  cross  flag  of  the  Geneva  Convention,  proceed  by  the 
Canal  de  la  Marne,  beyond  the  fortifications,  and  receive 
their  supplies  of  wounded  men  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  battle-fields.  These  they  transport  swiftly  and  comforta¬ 
bly  to  the  city,  where  ambulances  are  in  waiting  to  convey 
the  sufferers  to  the  hospitals. 

December  loth. — Christmas  Day.  In  honor  of  the  occasion, 
rations  of  fresh  beef  were  issued  instead  of  horse  flesh — an 
agreeable  surprise  to  the  citizens.  About  an  ounce  of  butter 
— which  has  not  been  tasted  since  the  last  of  September — was 
issued  to  each  person. 

“  A  sort  of  bazaar  was  opened  to-day  at  the  Ministry  of 
Public  Instruction,  for  the  benefit  of  the  victims  of  the  war, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


615 


at  which  the  simplest  articles  of  food  were  exposed  for  sale 
side  by  side  with  objects  of  taste  and  luxury,  and,  what  is  not 
at  all  surprising,  commanded  hardly  inferior  prices.  One 
hears  of  a  turkey — set  off  on  a  couch  of  velvet,  it  is  true — 
realizing  a  couple  of  hundred  francs;  and  of  bonbonnieres, 
containing  fine  flour  in  lieu  of  sweetmeats,  being  sold  for 
half  this  amount;  of  potatoes  prized  as  high  as  the  choicest 
truffles;  of  celery  fetching  almost  its  weight  in  silver;  and 
radishes  realizing  ten  francs,  in  place  of  ten  centimes  per 
bunch.  Books  and  pamphlets  bearing  the  autograph  of 
Victor  Hugo  commanded  extravagant  sums  ;  bottles  of  cham 
pagne  from  the  cellars  of  the  Tuileries  were  broached  at  five 
francs  the  glass;  and  M.  Dorian,  the  Minister  of  Public 
Works,  is  reported  to  have  paid  a  thousand  francs  for  a  box 
of  ordinary  cigars — being,  however,  ten  times  the  amount 
which  Madame  Jules  Simon  had  demanded  for  it.  We  had 
also  a  matinee  at  the  Conservatoire,  with  a  like  object,  the 
main  attraction  of  which  was  a  “conference”  by  M.  Louis 
Katisbonne,  instituting  a  comparison  between  Christmas  in 
Paris  and  in  Germany  at  the  present  moment ;  and  a  re¬ 
presentation  at  the  Comcdie  Frangaise,  in  the  course  of 
which  it  was  sought  to  excite  renewed  indignation  against 
our  betes  noires  the  Prussians  by  the  recital  of  the  woes  of  some 
Alsatian  pedagogue  who  had  dared  to  espouse  a  Baden  wife.” 

December  2 tith. — The  weather  is  intensely  cold — the  mer¬ 
cury  standing  at  12  degrees  below  zero.  Several  men  are 
said  to  have  been  frozen  to  death  on  the  outposts  of  both 
armies  during  the  past  few  nights,  and  cases  of  frost-bite  are 
numerous. 

December  27 th. — The  belief  is  becoming  general  throughout 
the  city,  that  the  Government  has  little  hope  of  conducting  a 
successful  sortie.  The  depression  is  great  in  consequence. 
The  official  report  of  the  last  sortie  is  received  with  distrust, 
and  it  is  plain  that  Trochu  is  losing  his  popularity.  A  heavy 
fire  maintained  upon  the  forts  by  the  German  siege  batteries 
all  day.  Several  shells  are  reported  to  have  fallen  within  the 
enceinte  at  Belleville.  The  Government  has  now  seized  all 


616 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Principal  Market :  Paris. 


the  coal,  which  is  used  for  making  gas  for  the  balloons  and 
for  the  cannon  foundries,  and  all  the  coke.  There  is  a  great 
demand  for  wood  for  fuel.  Six  francs  per  hundred  pounds 
(exclusive  of  carriage  and  delivery,  which  are  nearly  twice 
as  much  more)  is  now  the  market  price.  The  demand  has 
been  so  heavy,  and  those  who  could  afford  it  have  bought  up 
such  quantities  to  hold  in  reserve,  that  the  supply  in  the 
market  came  near  being  exhausted.  To  meet  the  wants  of 
those  who  could  afford  to  buy  in  quantities,  the  Government 
ordered  about  six  square  miles  of  timber  in  the  Bois  de  Bou¬ 
logne  and  the  Bois  de  Vincennes,  and  also  the  trees  along  the 
principal  roads  leading  out  of  Paris,  and  the  larger  trees  along 
the  boulevards,  to  be  cut  down.  Depots  of  firewood  were  also 
established  for  making  gratuitous  distributions  of  fuel  to  the 
poor.  To-day,  however,  several  of  these  depots  were  attacked 
by  bands  of  shivering  men  and  women,  and  the  wood  stored 
there  carried  away  by  force.  They  also  pulled  down  fences 
and  palings,  and  tore  up  benches  and  even  demolished  scaf¬ 
foldings  used  for  the  erection  of  buildings  in  various  quarters 
of  the  city,  to  obtain  fuel.  Even  a  number  of  telegraph  poles 
were  carried  off  for  the  same  purpose. 

December  28 th. — The  Government  published  a  proclamation 
this  morning,  explaining  the  measures  it  had  taken  to  provide 
Paris  with  fuel,  and  calling  on  the  National  Guards  and  all 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


617 


honest  men  to  arrest  all  persons  found  injuring  or  plundering 
private  or  public  property. 

December  29^/i. — It  is  announced  that  the  plateau  of  Avron 
was  abandoned  by  the  French  yesterday,  being  rendered 
untenable  by  the  German  artillery.  The  announcement  pro¬ 
duces  considerable  despondency,  as  the  citizens  are  now  con¬ 
vinced  that  their  defenders  have  no  artillery  capable  of  con¬ 
tending  successfully  with  Krupp’s  guns.  The  Germans 
maintained  a  heavy  fire  on  Forts  Noisy,  Nogent,  and  Rosny 
all  day. 

The  journal  La  Verite ,  which  for  some  days  has  been  advis¬ 
ing  peace,  and  expressing  doubts  as  to  the  efficacy  of  General 
Trochu’s  plan,  states  to-day  that  M.  Jures  Ferry  had  advised 
the  Government  to  require  Trochu’s  resignation,  but  that 
Jures  Favre  and  Ernest  Picard  were  opposed  to  the  step, 
and  that  Trochu  refused  to  profit  by  the  hint  thus  given  him. 

December  30 ih. — M.  Picard’s  paper,  the  Electeur  Libre ,  of 
last  night,  denied  the  statement  of  La  Verite  given  above.  This 
statement  has  drawn  out  all  the  papers  of  Paris  to-day,  and 
the  majority  comment  unfavorably  upon  Trochu’s  course. 
Altogether  popular  feeling  is  setting  strongly  against  him, 
the  people  asserting  that  he  has  succeeded  in  nothing  he  has 
attempted.  All  classes  doubt,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  his 
capacity  for  the  task  before  him.  Le  Temps  of  to-day  says, 
as  though  a  capitulation  were  in  contemplation,  that  “in  the 
event  of  a  final  disaster,  the  Government  have  come  to  the 
resolution  either  of  resigning  or  retiring  into  one  of  the  forts, 
being  determined  never  to  submit  to  the  humiliation  of  a  sur¬ 
render.”  This  announcement  has  awakened  a  complete -storm, 
and  the  members  of  the  Government  are  plainly  told  that 
“  their  movements  are  watched,  and  that  they  will  never  be 
permitted  to  desert  the  posts  they  so  audaciously  usurped.” 

The  Minister  of  Agriculture  announces  that  one  hundred 
tons  of  preserved  beef,  and  twenty-five  tons  each  of  dried 
beans,  coffee  and  chocolate,  together  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  olive  oil  will  be  rationed  out  to  the  citizens  on 
New  Year’s  Day. 


618 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


December  31s/. — A  proclamation  from  General  Trochu,  an¬ 
nouncing  that  the  Government  means  to  oppose  an  active  re¬ 
sistance  to  the  Germans,  and  adds  that  “  the  enemy,  in  despair 
at  not  being  able  to  present  Paris  as  a  Christmas  gift  to  Ger¬ 
many,  adds  the  bombardment  of  our  forts  to  the  various  pro¬ 
cesses  of  intimidation  he  has  already  employed  to  weaken  the 
defence.”  He  concludes  by  saying  that  the  Government  is  a 
unit  with  respect  to  its  policy,  and  that  the  army  is  preparing 
for  action.  Meanwhile  the  heavy  bombardment  of  the  forts 
continues,  and  the  citizens  are  dreading  a  bombardment  of 
the  city  itself.  They  are  losing  all  hope  that  the  Germans 
will  ever  be  driven  off. 

January  Is/,  187 1. — A  gloomy  New  Year’s  Day — the  gloom¬ 
iest  perhaps'  within  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant. 
The  boulevards  were  crowded  as  usual  on  this  day,  but  the 
people  were  sad  and  gloomy.  The  heavy  thud  of  the  can¬ 
nonade  was  almost  incessant,  and  the  sky  was  overcast  with 
heavy  clouds.  The  contrast  between  the  last  Jour  de  V An 
and  the  present  was  painfully  felt  by  the  whole  city.  In  the 
evening  excited  groups  collected  on  the  boulevards,  regard¬ 
less  of  the  cold,  and  eagerly  discussed  the  situation.  Con¬ 
siderable  ill-feeling  was  manifested  towards  General  Trochu. 
Exclamations  of  “A  has  Trochu!1'  were  even  heard. 

January  2 cl. — During  the  last  week  of  the  old  year  there 
were  3280  deaths  in  the  city.  This  does  not  include  the 
deaths  in  the  hospitals  and  other  public  institutions.  It  is 
thought  that  these  would  bring  the  full  total  to  nearly  4000. 
Small  pox  produces  from  400  to  500  deaths  per  week,  and 
typhoid  fever  and  bronchitis  between  them  as  many  more. 
The  bombardment  of  the  forts  still  continues  with  great  se¬ 
verity.  This  morning  the  Journal  Officiel  declares  that  the 
citizens  are  unanimous  in  supporting  the  Government  in  its 
determination  to  resist  to  the  last.  It  is  believed,  however, 
that  a  very  large  part  of  the  population  would  welcome  a 
surrender. 

January  M. — Food  is  getting  scarcer.  Large  dogs  are 
bought  by  the  butchers  at  from  200  to  300  francs,  but  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


619 


small  ones  bring  but  twelve,  twenty,  or  thirty  francs,  accord¬ 
ing  to  size.  Cats  vary  from  nine  to  twenty-five  francs.  A 
few  days  ago  a  butcher  paid  4000  francs  for  two  camels, 
which  he  killed  and  offered  for  sale. 

January  ith. — The  dissatisfaction  with  the  Government  is 
increasing.  La  Patrie  of  this  evening  contains  a  serious  article, 
suggesting  that  the  recent  councils  of  war  seem  to  prove  that 
the  Government  is  subjecting  itself  to  an  examination  with 
regard  to  its  shortcomings  during  the  past  four  months,  and 
demands  why,  with  all  the  sacrifices  Paris  has  made,  so  little 
has  been  done. 

January  5th. — The  prospect  is  black  enough ;  disease, 
scarcity  of  food,  and  the  extreme  cold  are  making  havoc 
among  the  poorer  classes,  and  now  the  horrors  of  a  bombard¬ 
ment  of  Paris  itself  have  been  added.  The  fire  of  the  Prussian 
batteries  has  been  directed  to-day  against  Forts  Ivry,  Bicetre, 
Montrouge,  Vanves,  and  Issy,  and  shells  have  been  thrown 
into  the  quarters  of  Grenelle,  Yaugirard,  and  Montrouge, 
where  they  have  killed  a  few  persons — principally  women 
and  children.  One  or  two  shells  have  been  thrown  as  far  as 
the  Boulevard  St.  Michel,  near  the  Luxembourg  Gardens, 
causing  many  of  the  families  who  inhabit  this  quarter  to  re¬ 
move  precipitately  to  other  parts  of  the  city.  There  has  been 
an  attempt  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  Mayors  and  their  ad- 
joints  to  form  themselves  into  a  Council  of  Advice  to  the 
Government,  but  it  has  met  with  no  success,  the  meeting 
called  together  with  this  object  having  declined,  by  a  majority, 
to  pass  the  resolutions  proposed.  The  Reveil  was  one  of  the 
chief  promoters  of  the  movement,  which  it  terms  the  “Petite 
Commune,”  and  the  only  result  of  which  has  been  the  carry¬ 
ing  of  a  motion  inviting  the  Government  to  name  a  supreme 
Council  of  Defence  to  assist  in  its  duties.  A  sort  of  appeal  to 
the  people  against  the  inaction  of  the  Government  was  pla¬ 
carded  to-day. 

January  6th. — The  bombardment  of  the  city  was  continued 
throughout  the  day.  A  large  number  of  shells  fell  within 
the  ramparts,  more  than  fifty  exploding  near  the  Luxembourg 


620 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  TFAR. 


Hospital  of  La  Pitie  :  Paris. 


and  the  Pantheon.  Very  little  damage  was  done,  however, 
to  life  or  property.  General  Trochu  issued  a  proclamation  in 
reply  to  the  placard  of  yesterday,  assuring  the  people  that  he 
had  no  intention  of  capitulating.  The  Government  brings 
out  an  address  to  the  people,  declaring  that  in  spite  of  the 
sufferings  to  which  Paris  is  subjected,  it  will  show  itself 
worthy  of  the  country  and  of  the  armies  marching  to  its 
relief. 

January  7th. — The  bombardment  of  the  city  becomes 
heavier.  The  Luxembourg  quarter  suffered  considerably  to¬ 
day,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  remove  the  ambulances 
established  in  the  gardens  of  the  Palace  to  a  safer  position. 
The  Belt  Railway  has  interrupted  its  traffic  between  Mont- 
rouge  and  Auteuil,  as  a  measure  of  precaution  ;  but  no  part 
of  the  line  has  been  damaged.  Rumors  are  thick  in  the  city 
of  the  victorious  approach  of  an  army  from  the  provinces  un¬ 
der  General  Faidherbe. 

January  8th. — In  spite  of  the  bombardment,  the  churches 
were  well  attended  to-day.  The  shrine  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  in 
the  church  of  St.  Etienne  du  Mont,  has  been  thronged  with 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


621 


devout  people  praying  the  patroness  of  the  city  to  shield  her 
beloved  Paris  from  the  horrors  of  the  cannonade.  The  shells 
fell  thickly  in  the  Latin  quarter  all  the  while.  They  struck 
tbe  Hospice  de  la  Pitie,  and  killed  oDe  woman  there.  Several 
men  were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  military  hospital  of  the 
Yal  de  Grace;  and  five  poor  children  asleep  in  their  beds 
were  killed  at  the  school  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  severp.1  were 
wounded. 

January  9th. — The  Government  has  addressed  a  protest 
to  the  representatives  of  the  foreign  Powers  against  the  bom¬ 
bardment  of  Paris,  in  which  they  say  that  “  Prussian  shells 
have  been  wantonly  launched  against  hospitals,  ambulances, 
churches,  schools,  and  prisons,  and  that  the  exigencies  of  war 
can  never  be  an  excuse  for  the  shelling  of  private  buildings, 
the  massacre  of  peaceful  citizens,  and  the  destruction  of  hos¬ 
pitals  and  asylums.  The  Government  of  the  National  De¬ 
fence,  therefore,  protests  loudly,  in  the  face  of  the  whole  world, 
against  this  useless  act  of  barbarism.” 

The  hospital  of  La  Salpetri^re  was  struck  last  night.  To¬ 
day  four  of  the  five  children  killed  at  the  school  of  St.  Nicho¬ 
las  were  publicly  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Mont  Parnasse, 
after  the  performance  of  a  funeral  ceremony  at  the  church  of 
Notre  Dame  des  Champs.  An  immense  crowd  was  present, 
and  M.  Jules  Favre  delivered  a  brief  address  at  the  grave. 

January  10th. — The  physicians  of  the  Hospital  of  the  In¬ 
fant  Jesus  publish  a  protest  against  the  bombardment,  five 
shells  having  struck  the  building  last  night.  The  hospital 
shelters  600  sick  children. 

January  lltli. — The  bombardment  continues.  The  Silcle 
this  morning  stated  that  a  sortie  which  had  been  planned  for 
a  day  or  two  ago  had  to  be  abandoned,  it  being  found  that 
the  enemy  had  massed  their  troops  at  the  proposed  point  of 
attack.  It  stated  that  only  four  Generals — viz.,  Trochu,  Du- 
crot,  Yinoy,  and  Schmitz — were  in  the  secret,  and  asks  which 
of  the  four  is  the  traitor.  The  Reveil  accuses  General  Schmitz. 
The  Soir  says  that  a  Prussian  femme  de  chambre  married  to 
the  valet  of  a  staff  officer,  meaning  Schmitz,  is  implicated  in 
the  affair,  and  has  been  arrested. 


622 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  "WAR. 


Hospital  of  the  Hotel  Dien :  Paris. 

January  12th. — B  -tween  midnight  and  two  o’clock  this 
morning,  the  bombardment  was  severer  than  it  lias  yet  been. 
It  is  said  that  a  shell  per  minute  fell  in  the  St.  Sulpice  quar¬ 
ter  alone.  The  forts  on  the  south  side  were  also  sharply 
cannonaded.  An  official  decree,  published  to-day,  announces 
that  all  citizens  killed  b}r  the  German  fire  will  be  regarded 
*  in  the  light  of  soldiers  falling  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  that 
their  families  will  receive  the  same  provision.  A  shell  car¬ 
ried  away  one  of  the  pinnacles  of  the  church  of  St.  Etienne 
d.u  Mont  last  night.  A  crowd  collected  there  to  gaze  at  the 
huge  mass  which  had  fallen  into  an  adjoining  street.  General 
Trochu  indignantly  denies  that  any  general  officer  has  been 
arrested  for  revealing  Government  military  secrets. 

January  13 tli. — A  new  Red  Republican  Club,  called  the 
Marseillaise,  was  organized  at  Belleville  last  night.  The 
speakers  indulged  in  the  most  violent  denunciations  of  the 
Government  of  the  National  Defence.  The  citizens  regard 
the  inhabitants  of  Belleville  with  distrust,  as  it  is  by  no  means 
uncertain  that  they  will  make  a  serious  assault  upon  the 
Government. 


\ 


Prussian  shells  fulling  near  Mont  Parnusse  Cemetery  :  Paris. 


624 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


January  14 th. — The  bombardment  has  caused  several  fires 
in  the  city,  but  these  have  been  so  promptly  extinguished 
that  no  serious  damage  has  been  done.  The  Government  re¬ 
quires  all  the  horses  in  the  city  to  be  surrendered  to  its 
agents.  It  is  said  that  200  will  be  reserved  for  general  use, 
and  distributed  among  the  various  arrondissements  in  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  one  to  every  1000  inhabitants ;  and  that  the  rest 
will  be  slaughtered  for  food.  All  the  cows  in  the  city  must 
likewise  be  given  up.  Three  thousand  will  be  retained  and 
distributed  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  horses,  in  order  to 
furnish  milk  for  invalids  and  infants,  and  the  rest  will  be 
killed  and  rationed  out.  A  shell  struck  the  dome  of  the 
Pantheon  to-day,  and  one  fell  close  by  the  Institute  de  France, 
but  did  not  explode. 

January  loth. — It  is  stated  that  the  American  and  Swiss 
Ministers  and  other  foreign  representatives  addressed  a  protest 
to  Count  Bismarck,  complaining  that  no  notice  of  the  intended 
bombardment  was  given,  and  requesting  that  their  com¬ 
patriots  be  allowed  to  leave  Paris.  General  Trochu  sent  a 
parlementaire  to-day  to  General  Yon  Moltke  complaining  of 
the  damage  inflicted  upon  Paris  by  the  German  fire,  and 
stating  that  the  schools  and  hospitals  of  the  city  have  been  so 
frequently  struck  that  it  would  seem  they  had  been  especially 
aimed  at.  The  Journal  Officiel  states  that,  up  to  the  13th,  the 
number  of  inhabitants  killed  by  the  bombardment  was  fifty- 
one,  including  eighteen  children  and  twelve  women.  One 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  persons  had  been  wounded,  forty- 
five  being  women  and  twenty-one  children. 

The  bombardment  is  causing  throngs  of  people  to  change 
their  residences  from  the  left  to  the  right  bank  of  the  Seine. 
To-day  the  bakers  are  ordered  to  sell  bread  to  none  but  their 
regular  customers,  and  then  only  on  the  presentation  of  their 
butchers’  ration  cards. 

January  1 6th. — General  Yon  Moltke  replies  to-day  to 
Trochu’s  parlementaire  of  yesterday,  saying  that  the  hitting 
of  the  hospitals  and  ambulances  by  the  German  shells  was 
purely  an  accident,  owing  principally  to  the  long  range  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


625 


the  fog ;  and  intimates  that  when  the  batteries  are  advanced 
closer  to  the  city,  the  gunners  will  be  able  to  aim  more 
accurately. 

January  17th. — Still  the  shelling  of  the  city  goes  on.  A 
letter  from  Paris — although  sensational  in  its  style — gives  a 
fair  idea  of  the  feelings  of  the  dwellers  in  the  Latin  quarter, 
and  of  some  of  the  scenes  in  that  section.  It  is  as  follows  : 

I  am  writing  this  from  a  wine  cellar  in  the  yard  of  one  of  the  houses 
of  the  Quartier  Latin.  I  know  not  if  it  may  ever  reach  you,  for  if  1 
perish  my  poor  record  of  the  last  days  of  this  cruel  siege  must  perish 
with  me.  I  care  not,  I  am  doing  the  duty  that  lies  nearest  to  me,  and 
if  I  am  to  die  I  had  rather  a  thousand  times  fall  at  my  post  than  away 
from  it;  besides  I  cannot  take  any  lofty  ground  of  principle  in  the 
matter.  I  am  writing  because  without  some  strong  preoccupation  I 
should  go  mad.  If  I  were  to  sit  still  and  look  about  me  and  meditate  on 
what  I  see,  I  feel  that  my  reason  must  give  way;  the  very  associations 
of  this  dismal  cavern  would  bring  about  that  result.  Four  men  are  my 
companions,  one  of  them  a  convicted  thief,  one  an  aged  judge,  who,  for 
aught  I  know,  may  have  condemned  the  other,  and  whose  white  hairs 
are  now  marked  with  his  own  blood.  Yet  he  calls  the  thief  brother  and 
friend ;  for  in  the  state  to  which  this  proud  population  of  the  proudest 
city  in  the  world  is  now  brought,  such  a  distinction  as  that  between 
rogue  and  honest  man  seems  altogether  too  puerile  for  serious  notice. 
We  are  crouching  together  in  the  thick  darkness,  for  the  lantern  light 
which  falls  upon  this  paper  scarcely  carries  its  feeble  rays  so  far  as  the 
edges  of  the  table  on  which  it  shines.  We  have  improvised  a  weak  bomb¬ 
proof,  by  pulling  sacks  upon  sacks,  already  filled  with  earth  some  weeks 
ago,  upon  the  pavement  above  the  arches  of  the  cellar.  Two  shells  our 
poor  covering  might,  perhaps,  resist,  a  third  would  simply  scatter  it  to 
the  winds,  and  bring  the  arch  in  hideous  ruin  down  upon  our  heads.  We 
have  not  had  so  much  as  a  first  one  yet,  but  even  if  that  should  come, 
God,  in  His  infinite  mercy,  grant  that  a  third  may  never  fall.  Amen. 

It  is  Sunday  night.  Shall  I  go  on  to  tell  you  about  myself,  about  my 
own  experiences,  terrors,  hopes  ;  or  shall  I  attempt  to  give  you  some 
general  description  of  the  bombardment  throughout  the  city?  Iam 
decided — I  will  tell  you  about  myself.  Set  fire  to  an  ants’  nest  and  each 
ant’s  agony  is  the  agony  of  the  whole  swarm.  Destroy  Paris,  and  any  dead 
rag-picker’s  story  being  told  would  epitomize  the  entire  situation  for  you. 
Let  me  set  down  for  you  simply  what  I  have  seen  and  heard,  said  and  done, 
during  the  past  few  days.  Multiply  every  incident  in  that  narration  a 
million  times,  and  the  product  of  it  will  be  the  experience  of  Paris. 

I  had  just  come  from  seeing  the  reception  of  the  dead  grocer  when  the 
40 


626 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


butchery  began.  The  reception  of  the  dead  grocer  is  held  in  this  wise : 
You  make  your  way  to  a  little  street  turning  out  of  the  Rue  Grenelle, 
and  in  a  house  there  yon  find  the  body  of  a  man  laid  out  decently  for 
burial,  and  surrounded  by  a  crowd  composed  of  stray  passers  by,  who 
have  been  invited  to  assist  at  the  “  reception.”  You  find  every  proper 
accessory  of  a  funereal  scene  in  candles,  flowers,  holy  images,  and  weep¬ 
ing  friends.  But  there  is  a  note  of  rage  in  the  lament  which  seems  to 
betoken  that  the  man  is  felt  to  have  come  to  death  by  foul  means  ;  just 
such  a  wail,  for  instance,  as  I  should  imagine  is  common  to  savages  in 
warfare,  whose  sorrow  for  a  slain  companion  takes  in  great  measure  the 
form  of  a  remembrance  of  a  debt  of  vengeance  to  be  paid  to  a  living  foe. 
They  will  even  laugh  bitterly  in  the  midst  of  their  wailing,  these  mourn¬ 
ing  friends  ;  and  the  fierce  fire  of  rage  and  hatred  in  their  eyes  seems 
almost  to  dry  up  their  tears  before  they  are  shed.  The  cause  of  these 
extraordinary  appearances  manifests  itself  in  due  time,  for  being  pressed 
as  to  the  manner  of  death  of  the  person  so  strangly  mourned,  the  nearest 
relation  of  the  deceased,  namely,  his  brother,  makes  nothing  of  lifting  up 
the  body  and  showing  you  behind  the  calm,  almost  smiling  face,  the 
entire  back  part  of  the  skull  blown  away  by  a  Prussian  shell. 

The  grocer  was,  in  fact,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  very  first 
civilian  killed  by  the  bombardment  of  the  city  of  Paris.  He  was  in 
front  of  his  little  store,  preparing  to  close  it,  when  an  announcement 
that  the  Prussians  had  definitely  parted  company  with  the  genius  of  the 
nineteenth  century  came  into  Paris  in  the  shape  of  a  huge  shell,  which 
plumped  down  upon  the  pavement  and  incontinently  blew  off  half  the 
grocer’s  head.  He  was  at  once  dressed  out  for  burial,  as  I  have  said, 
and  it  was  announced  by  word  of  month  everywhere  that  he  would  be 
at  home  to  receive  visitors  at  any  hour  between  the  day  of  his  death  and 
that  of  his  burial,  which  has  since  taken  place.  The  grocer,  in  fact,  was 
displayed  for  the  especial  benefit  of  any  of  us  who,  after  a  hundred  days’ 
starvation,  might  still  lack  gall  enough  to  make  oppression  bitter.  He 
was  useful  to  that  end.  But  that  I  am  afraid  of  disgusting  you  utterly, 
I  could  tell  you  of  scenes  of  real  devilment  that  took  place  in  that  cham¬ 
ber  in  the  Rue  Grenelle,  of  hungry  wretches,  drunk  with  fury  and  with 
wine,  whirling  in  dances  of  vengeance  and  of  despair,  more  awful  than 
could  be  any  realization  of  the  pictured  Dance  of  Death.  Blame  me  if 
you  like  for  writing  to  you  about  these  things,  but  still  try,  before  you 
condemn  me  utterly,  to  put  yourself  in  my  position.  Until  I  had  written 
all  this,  it  seemed  to  me  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  that  I  should 
be  so  occupied.  A  momentary  gleam  of  what — well  reason  if  you  like 

_ tells  me  that  the  easy,  gentle,  soft-sleeping,  fat-feeding  world  must  not 

have  the  course  of  its  digestion  interfered  with  by  stories  of  the  charnel- 
house.  But  what  will  you  have  ?  We  are  all  going— if  we  have  not 
already  gone — mad  here  ;  and  if  I  am  to  say  anything  at  all  I  must  be 


027 


Boulevard  Sebastopol,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Seine  :  Paris. 


628 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR 


allowed  to  speak  my  mind.  Besides,  I  am  the  less  concerned  about  any 
faults  of  taste  in  this  writing,  since  I  feel  that  it  may  never  reach  you, 
and  that  if  it  do  I  may  be  insensible  to  either  your  praise  or  blame,  long 
before  it  meets  your  eyes. 

Yes,  the  bombardment  of  Paris  has  begun ;  it  is  going  on  now  at  the 
time  of  this  writing.  I  believe  the  devils  have  just  smashed  a  house  to 
atoms  in  the  Boulevard  St.  Michel  at  the  back  of  this  place,  for  I  hear  a 
clattering  as  if  the  vault  of  heaven  had  come  down,  and  I  hear  also 
shrieks  and  groans.  I  shall  not  go  out  to  see,  for  another  shell  might 
fall  and  kill  me,  and  I  want  to  live — far  more  now,  and  I  don’t  know  why 
it  should  be  so,  than  I  did  at  the  beginning  of  the  siege.  What  is  the 
reason  of  this?  Is  it  that  men  become  less  able  to  face  danger  and 
death  the  more  they  have  the  possibility  of  them  before  their  eyes,  and 
that  another  of  our  most  respectable  truisms  is  going  to  be  proved  no 
better  than  a  lie  ? 

The  thief,  my  fellow-lodger,  cannot  keep  himself  so  well  in  hand  as  I. 
The  fool  has  been  fidgetting  about  this  half  hour  to  learn  what  has  hap¬ 
pened  in  the  next  street.  If  he  had  set  himself  a  task  as  I  have,  instead 
of  hunting  for  his  own  image  in  his  finger-nails,  he  would  have  been  able 
to  stay  in  the  cellar.  As  it  is,  he  must  needs  crawl  forth,  “just  for  a 
minute,”  to  see  what  is  going  on.  He  lias  been  gone  over  half  an  hour, 
and  certainly  some  five-and-thirty  shells  must  have  fallen  since  that 
time.  The  boulevard  is  probably  a  mass  of  flying  iron  and  falling  bits 
of  houses.  Between  the  two  he  has  probably  got  himself  killed  long 
since.  N'importe,  he  will  have  many  a  brave  fellow  to  keep  him  in  coun¬ 
tenance  before  this  devil’s  down-pour  is  over.  He  was  a  fool,  though,  all 
the  same. 

Whiz — crash — whiz — crash — whiz — -crash  !  and  then  a  murmur  of 
human  rage  and  agony,  that  would  be  shouting,  I  suppose,  if  you  were 
near  enough,  Oh.  God  !  Oh,  God!  May  this  end  soon  in  death,  or  in 
a  fair  grapple  in  the  open  with  the  murderers  skulking  behind  their 
walls.  What  have  ive  done  ?  What  could  we  have  done  if  we  had  sinned 
all  the  sins  of  the  world,  to  deserve  this  anticipation  of  the  horrors  and 
the  terrors  of  the  last  day  ? 

A  mud-stained,  dust-begrimed  man,  with  a  gash  in  his  head,  got  from 
the  splinter  of  a  lamp,  staggers  into  the  place  and  tells  me  that  he  has 
just  come  from  the  St.  Germain  quarter,  and  the  shells  are  falling  at  an 
average  of  at  least  one  and  a  half  to  the  minute  there.  I  met  this  man 
less  than  a  year  ago  at  a  ball  in  the  Tuileries,  where  he  was  one  of  the 
honored  guests,  his  opulence  having  procured  him  one  of  the  noblest 
brides  in  Paris.  How  do  I  meet  him  now?  He  tells  me  that  he  dined 
yesterday  on  sheer  garbage,  such  was  his  craving  for  vegetable  food. 
But  what  docs  that  matter?  All  such  stories  have  grown  commonplace. 
What  has  he  to  tell  me  about  the  murder  now  being  done  on  Paris  ? 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


629 


Much.  Firstly,  as  he  came  hither  he  witnessed  the  entire  destruction 
of  a  house  in  the  old  faubourg,  inhabited  by  the  late  Marquise  de  Ba- 
pelle.  Now,  this  is  a  tragedy  in  itself  almost  as  great  as  the  taking  of  a 
human  life.  I  knew  that  house  well.  Many  people  knew  it  beside  me. 
It  was  the  scene  of  the  ancient  “interior”  that  appears  so  often  in  the 
cabinet  pictures  of  Frere.  Luxury,  elegance,  refinement  of  taste  had 
found  their  limits  in  the  building  and  the  furnishing  of  it.  Louis  XIV. 
designed  it  for  one  of  his  mistresses,  but  she  died  before  its  completion, 
and  redeemed  thenceforth  from  all  foul  uses,  it  sheltered  only  virtue, 
honor,  chivalry  and  birth.  Its  very  atmosphere  was  that  of  an  enchanted 
palace.  The  staircase  was  of  cedar  wood,  and  sweet  purifying  incense 
went  up  from  it  to  the  farthest  corner  of  the  house.  The  floors  were 
of  American  hickory  wood,  the  very  first  specimens  brought  to  this 
country,  or,  as  some  say,  to  Europe.  The  marble  chimney-pieces,  yellow 
with  age,  were  nobly  carved  with  every  imaginable  device  of  beauty  and 
of  grace.  Le  Male  had  painted  the  ceilings  ;  a  hundred  cunning  artificers 
in  ivory,  in  silver,  in  bronze,  in  ormolu  and  in  inlaid  wood,  had  contri¬ 
buted  in  the  course  of  generations  to  the  furnishing  of  the  stately  apart¬ 
ments — the  effigies  of  long  lines,  direct  and  collateral,  of  illustrious  an¬ 
cestors  hung  from  the  walls.  All  that  was  worth  preserving  of  a  state 
of  things  long  since  passed  away  in  France  found  its  memento  there. 
Connoisseurs  went  there  to  complete  their  studies ;  wits  and  orators  to 
perfect  their  style ;  monarchs  intrigued,  and  often  in  vain,  for  admission 
to  its  circles  of  that  highest  fashion  of  all — the  fashion  of  intelligence  and 
cultivation.  The  ancient  court  and  the  ancient  stately  manners  were 
embalmed  there ;  it  was  a  very  temple  of  the  old  sweet  and  lovely  social 
faiths.  Yes,  messieurs,  it  was  a  temple  say  five-and-thirty  minutes  ago, 
and  it  is  now  a  tomb,  or  the  ruin  of  a  tomb,  for  as  the  grimy  man  was 
passing  it  on  his  way  hither,  another  Prussian  announcement  in  iron 
dropped  plump  into  its  midst,  and  in  two  seconds  reduced  it  to  fine 
powder,  killing  one  person  outright  in  the  process,  and  it  is  to  be  feared 
burying  in  the  ruins  two  others — an  old  servant  and  his  wife,  left  in 
charge  since  the  beginning  of  the  siege. 

Secondly,  the  grimy  man  has  strange  things  to  tell  of  the  demeanor 
of  the  population.  1  have  already  told  you  that  we  are  all  going  mad, 
and  he  confirms  me.  They  are  bombarding  the  Boulevard  St.  Michel, 
as  you  know.  Well,  will  it  be  believed  that  the  boulevard  is  nearly  as 
crowded  now  as  it  has  been  any  day  since  the  siege.  Men  with  their 
eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  muttering  to  themselves,  sheer  mono¬ 
maniacs,  and  walking  to  and  fro  like  caged  tigers  from  the  bridge  to  the 
Luxembourg  Garden,  only  pausing  every  now  and  then  to  shake  their 
fist  at  the  stars.  It  is  very  droll,  I  know,  all  this,  but  I  again  entreat 
you  of  your  charity,  you  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  are  some  thousands 
of  miles  away,  to  have  pity  on  us  poor  devils  who  are  “  within  range.” 


630 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  W AR 


Ever  and  anon  a  splinter  strikes  a  madman,  and  his  corpse  lies  there  for 
the  living  to  stumble  over  till  it  comes  to  their  turn.  Madness  has 
brought  these  wretches  out  of  their  cellars,  and  it  will  keep  most  of 
them  there  in  the  open  until  they  die.  Death  shirks  some  of  them,  or 
dallies  with  them  cat-fashion  by  sending  them,  as  a  preparatory  to  its 
summons,  some  frightful  and  tormenting  wound.  One  fellow  was  within 
four  feet  of  a  shell  when  it  burst,  and  when  the  bustle  of  it  was  over  he 
was  still  seen  standing  erect.  In  point  of  fact  no  single  scrap  of  iron 
had  touched  him,  but  the  flame  had  simply  burned  his  eyes  out,  and  he 
stood  sightless  and  flayed.  There  arose,  when  this  was  seen,  a  great 
cry  of  wildest  despair  from  the  crowd,  whom  horror  had  at  first  frozen 
into  statues,  but  a  greater  horror  had  congealed  into  men.  Some  would 
have  it  that  we  were  betrayed,  and  they  were  for  a  swift  march  across 
the  bridge  and  short  shrift  for  Ducrot  and  Schmidt.  Nay,  Trochn  him¬ 
self  was  to  be  torn  to  pieces,  and  the  remains  of  him  to  be  flung  over 
the  walls  to  make  a  banquet  for  the  Prussian  dogs.  A  good  twenty 
stood  forth  in  a  twinkling  ready  for  the  work,  and  went  about  begging 
of  the  bystanders  a  pocket-knife  or  anything  with  which  a  life  could  be 
taken.  They  were  soon  weaponed  for  the  work  and  were  tearing  off  to 
do  it — maddest  of  all  mad  works  surely,  for,  although  this  may  be  my 
dying  declaration,  I  repeat  it,  our  leaders  are  as  true  as  steel — when  sud¬ 
denly  a  little  girl  stepped  forth  and  rooted  them  all  to  the  spot  by  sup¬ 
plicating  them  with  a  face  distorted  by  agony,  but  with  tearless  eyes,  to 
tell  her  “  why  father  was  killed.” 

The  man  it  turned  out  had  been  carried  dead  into  the  bookshop  at  the 
corner  of  the  Pantheon  Hill  but  half  an  hour  before.  None  could  tell, 
indeed,  till  some  one  opined  that  it  was  perhaps  because  M.  de  Bismarck 
had  willed  it.  “And  where  does  M.  de  Bismarck  live?”  said  the  child. 
“Just  behind  the  hill  there,”  said  another,  pointing  towards  the  eastern 
batteries  out  in  the  black  night.  “  I  shall  go  and  say  my  prayers  to  him,” 
cried  the  poor  baby,  and  away  she  fled,  God  alone  knows  where.  But 
this  stopped  the  assassination  scheme  for  the  time. 

More  strange  revelations  from  the  fugitive  to  my  cellar.  The  reds 
are  madder  than  the  maddest,  and  at  this  supreme  moment  are  almost 
openly  plotting  a  new  coup  d’etat,  to  wit,  the  seizure  and  instant  execu¬ 
tion  of  the  principal  members  of  the  government,  and  the  guillotine  for 
every  man  who  refuses  to  fall  into  the  ranks  with  the  first  dawn  of  morn¬ 
ing  to-morrow  for  a  wild,  despairing  spring,  at  the  Prussian  throat.  Fav- 
rolles  and  Raoul  and  some,  to  me  unknown,  creature  named  Duroi,  who 
seems,  however,  to  exercise  boundless  influence  over  them,  are  at  the 
head  of  the  movement.  They  have  their  headquarters  in  the  very  thick 
of  the  bombardment,  namely,  in  that  network  of  narrow  streets  behind 
the  Sorbonne  which  constitute  all  that  Haussmann  left  of  the  old  Latin 
quarter.  My  man  was  caught  by  one  of  their  sentinels  just  as  he  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


631 


entering  the  Passage  de  la  Sorbonne  to  come  to  me,  and  was  asked  in  a 
manner  that  he  could  see  meant  mischief  whether  he  loved  traitors  or 
the  republic  best.  There  was  but  one  reply  possible,  and  he  had  no 
sooner  made  it  than  he  was  hurried  off  across  the  broad  Place  de  la 
Sorbonne — where,  amid  the  falling  projectiles,  a  poor  woman  knelt  with 
uplifted  hands  and  eyes  before  the  cross  on  the  portico  of  the  ancient 
church — to  a  rendezvous  in  a  noisome  alley,  reeking  of  pestilence  and 
death.  A  tap  at  one  of  the  doors  here  and  a  hasty  exchange  of  pass¬ 
words  admitted  him  to  a  small  cabaret  filled  with  a  most  desperate- 
looking  set  of  ruffians  in  conclave,  and  dignified  for  the  nonce  with  the 
title  of  the  new  Ilall  of  the  Convention — with  how  much  appropriate¬ 
ness,  considering  the  purposes  of  the  men  who  occupied  it,  I  fail  to  per¬ 
ceive.  The  president — Duroi — -sat  upon  the  counter,  and  repeated  to  the 
new-comer  the  absurd  question  he  had  previously  heard.  Of  course  he 
could  not  but  declare  in  all  sincerity  that  he  loved  the  republic  better 
than  all  the  traitors  in  the  world.  The  president  then  deigned  to  infer 
by  a  somewhat  summary  process  of  logic,  that  by  that  declaration  he  had 
intimated  his  willingness  to  sign  the  death-warrant  of  the  men  at  pres¬ 
ent  at  the  head  of  affairs.  He  was  about  to  dispute  this  proposition  when 
a  greasy  roll  of  paper  was  thrust  towards  him,  and  a  space  underneath 
the  last  signature  was  indicated  with  the  point  of  a  dagger,  with  an  in¬ 
timation  that  he  must  “sign  there.”  He  signed  ;  but  of  what  he  signed 
he  is  absolutely  ignorant,  and  he  was  then  told  that  he  might  go  away 
if  he  chose,  but  that  he  must  turn  out  in  the  morning,  on  pain  of  death, 
the  moment  he  heard  the  beat  of  the  drum.  So  the  matter  stands,  lie 
is  wholly  unwilling  to  go,  of  course,  but  he  is  half  afraid  to  stay,  for  the 
very  looks  of  the  scoundrels  were  a  threat  to  any  one  venturing  to  diso¬ 
bey  their  commands.  My  advice  to  him  is  to  stay,  but  much  will  depend 
upon  the  precise  degree  of  dejection  to  which  he  is  reduced  at  the  time 
the  signal  is  given.  If  the  bombardment  continue  all  night  I  think  he 
will  go. 

January  18 tli. — Troops  Lave  been  moving  through  the  city 
all  day  towards  the  Porte  de  Neuilly  and  Porte  d’Auteuil,  in 
order  to  take  part  in  another  sortie,  it  is  said.  They  were 
singing  merrily,  and  many  of  them  were  accompanied  by 
their  wives,  carrying  their  guns  or  marching  in  the  ranks 
beside  them.  Great  crowds  assembled  in  the  Champs  Elysees 
and  other  principal  thoroughfares  to  see  them  pass,  and  con¬ 
siderable  excitement  prevails  in  the  city. 

January  19 th. — A  great  sortie  was  made  to-day  towards 
Montretout,  Garches,  and  the  heights  of  Buzenval,  on  the 


632 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


left,  and  Reuil  and  La  Malmaison  on  the  right.  It  was  un¬ 
successful,  and  the  French  were  forced  to  retire  with  heavy 
loss. 

During  the  sortie  crowds  of  citizens  collected  about  the 
Arc  de  Triomphe,  on  the  Trocadero,  and  at  the  Porte  Maillot, 
to  hear  the  news.  When  the  failure  of  the  movement  became 
known,  a  profound  depression  fell  upon  the  throngs,  and 
there  was  much  talk  of  displacing  Trochu,  under  whose  com¬ 
mand  the  effort  had  been  made. 

The  Government  to-day  orders  bread  to  be  rationed  out. 
The  ration  for  an  adult  is  300  grammes,  or  about  10 \  ounces 
avoirdupois,  and  the  ration  for  a  child  at  half  that  quantity. 
No  one  is  to  be  permitted  to  purchase  any  more.  This  bread 
is  made  one  half  of  white  flour,  the  other  half  of  oatmeal  and 
rice  in  proportions  fixed  by  law. 

January  20 th. — Last  night,  after  the  failure  of  the  sortie 
was  made  known,  the  generate  was  beaten,  at  eleven  o’clock, 
in  the  Belleville  and  Menilmontant  quarters,  to  call  the  Na¬ 
tional  Guard  to  arms  for  an  attack  upon  the  Hotel  de  Ville. 
Only  a  few  hundred  men  responded  to  the  call,  however,  and 
the  attempt  was  abandoned.  To-day  the  municipal  authori¬ 
ties  caused  several  regiments  of  National  Guards  to  be  sta¬ 
tioned  about  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  and  mitrailleuses  have  been 
posted  to  command  the  approaches  to  the  edifice. 

.This  morning  additional  troops  marched  out  of  the  city  to 
Mont  Valerien.  Large  crowds  collected  around  the  Porte 
Maillot  and  in  the  adjacent  avenues  to  learn  the  news.  In 
the  afternoon  the  troops  came  back  considerably  downcast. 
It  was  only  then  that  the  full  truth  as  to  the  result  of  yes¬ 
terday’s  movement  became  known.  The  despair  of  the  people 
was  fearful  to  witness.  A  meeting  of  the  Mayors  of  the  vari¬ 
ous  arrondissements  was  held  at  three  o’clock.  It  is  said  in 
the  city  that  the  members  of  the  Government  were  present, 
and  that  the  meeting  was  a  stormy  one.  A  heavy  rain  kept 
people  out  of  the  streets  at  night.  At  the  clubs  violent 
speeches  were  made,  and  everywhere  Trochu  was  bitterly  de¬ 
nounced 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


Mazas  Prison :  Paris. 


January  21st. — On  the  streets  to  day  it  is  rumored  that 
Trochu  has  resigned,  and  it  is  said  that  Yinoy  is  to  succeed 
him. 

This  evening  there  were  stormy  meetings  of  the  Belleville 
clubs.  About  800  rioters  assembled  and  marched  to  the 
Mazas  Prison,  where  Gustave  Flourens  has  been  confined 
ever  since  his  effort  to  upset  the  Government  in  November. 
They  reached  the  prison  about  midnight,  many  armed 
National  Guards  being  amongst  the  rioters.  Three  delegates 
were  sent  in  to  demand  of  M.  Bayet,  the  superintendent  of  the 
prison,  the  release  of  Flourens,  and  to  inform  that  official  that 
the  rioters  would  force  the  gates  of  the  prison  if  their  de¬ 
mands  were  not  complied  with.  M.  Bayet,  instead  of  calling 
to  his  aid  a  company  of  soldiers  stationed  in  the  prison,  went 
out  to  parley  with  the  mob.  A  rush  was  then  made,  the 
gates  were  forced  open,  and  the  mob  rushed  in.  Flourens 
and  five  of  his  political  friends  were  liberated,  and  conducted 
in  triumph,  the  drums  beating  a  march;  back  to  Belleville. 
Upon  reaching  Belleville,  the  mob  forced  the  doors  of  the 
Mairie,  intending  to  make  it  the  headquarters  of  the  insur¬ 
rection.  After  seizing  about  2000  rations  of  bread,  they 
abandoned  the  building,  not  being  joined  by  their  friends. 

January  22 d. — The  city  was  very  quiet  this  morning,  and 


634 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


it  seemed  that  the  rioters  of  last  night  had  abandoned  all  hope 
of  creating  a  disturbance. 

This  morning  the  Journal  Officiel  announced  that  it  has 
been  determined  by  the  Government  that  the  supreme  com¬ 
mand  in  chief  of  the  army  of  Paris  should  be  separated  from 
the  office  of  President  of  the  Government,  and  that  General 
Vinoy  is  appointed  Commander-in-Chief.  The  same  decree 
suppresses  the  title  and  functions  of  Governor  of  Paris.  This 
puts  an  end  to  Trochu’s  military  career,  and  leaves  him  merely 
the  position  of  President  of  the  Government. 

The  announcement  induced  the  belief  on  the  part  of 
Flourens  and  his  friends  that  the  Government  was  being 
weakened  by  dissensions  between  the  members.  At  noon  the 
square  in  front  of  the  Hotel  de  Yille  was  thronged  with  an 
excited  crowd.  Two  deputations  were  admitted  successively 
from  the  throng  to  state  their  complaints  to  the  Government. 
As  they  were  returning,  escorted  by  Colonel  Vabre,  the 
Commandant  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  about  150  National 
Guards,  almost  all  belonging  to  the  101st  Battalion  de  Marche, 
with  officers  and  drums,  appeared  in  the  square.  The  Finis- 
tere  Mobiles,  who  guarded  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  were  drawn 
up  inside  the  railing  which  separates  the  building  from  the 
square,  but  their  officers,  with  Colonel  Vabre,  remained  out¬ 
side,  urging  the  people  to  be  calm.  Suddenly  the  National 
Guards,  who  had  dispersed  themselves  in  little  groups 
throughout  the  square,  in  obedience  to  instructions,  opened 
fire  upon  the  Mobile  officers  who  stood  in  front  of  the  princi¬ 
pal  entrance,  but  happily  without  touching  them.  Colonel 
Vabre,  who  was  standing  in  front  of  another  gate,  indignantly 
called  upon  the  rioters  to  cease,  whereupon  a  civilian,  who 
appeared  to  be  giving  them  orders,  and  who  boasted  of  being 
a  revoked  Commandant,  directed  them  to  fire  upon  the  Colonel. 
The  discharge  which  followed  gravely  wounded  an  adjutant 
of  the  Mobiles  named  Bernard,  and,  upon  seeing  him  fall,  his 
men  returned  the  fire  of  the  rioters,  killing  and  wounding 
several  of  the  crowd.  The  square  was  quickly  emptied,  men, 
women,  and  children  rushing  pell  mell  into  the  adjoining 


635 


Attack  on  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  Pans,  by  the  Red  Republican  Insurgents,  January  22d. 


636 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


streets,  hundreds  being  knocked  down  and  trampled  on  in 
their  precipitate  flight. 

A  couple  of  houses  on  the  east  side  of  the  square,  and  the 
door-ways  and  street-corners  leading  to  it,  were  occupied  by 
rioters,  who  for  some  time  interchanged  an  intermittent  fire 
with  the  Mobiles  in  the  Hotel  de  Ville.  Several  shots  passed 
through  the  windows  of  the  Hotel,  but  no  one  within  was 
injured.  A  little  later  the  Republican  Guard  arrived,  and 
captured  twelve  of  the  rioters  in  the  houses,  an  officer  who 
had  hidden  himself  in  a  house,  and  the  captain  commanding 
the  detachment  of  the  101st  Battalion.  Later  in  the  day  the 
Government  announced  its  intention  to  maintain  order  in  the 
city.  In  the  evening  crowds  of  people  thronged  the  boule¬ 
vards,  discussing  the  affair. 

January  23t l. — The  Government  issued  three  decrees  of  a 
decided  character  to-day.  The  first  suppressed  the  clubs  until 
the  end  of  the  siege ;  the  second  increased  the  number  of 
councils  of  war  from  two  to  four ;  and  the  third  suppressed 
the  Reveil  and  the  Combat ,  two  of  the  most  violent  Red  Re¬ 
publican  organs  published  in  the  city.  General  Vinoy  issues 
an  order  of  the  day,  taking  command  of  the  army. 

January  2 HA. — A  dense  fog  covers  the  city  and  surround¬ 
ing  country,  causing  an  almost  total  suspension  of  the  bom¬ 
bardment.  A  commission  appointed  by  the  Maires  of  Paris, 
to  regulate  the  distribution  of  wine  and  other  provisions  to 
be  given  in  compensation  for  the  small  bread  allowance,  has 
decided  that  the  wine  shall  be  distributed  by  the  bakers.  To 
every  needy  person  who  presents  an  order  for  bread,  one- 
fifth  of  a  litre,  nearly  three-eighths  of  a  pint,  of  wine  will  be 
given. 

January  25th. — The  bombardment  last  night  was  rather 
more  leisurely  than  usual.  The  quarter  of  the  Petit  Mont- 
rouge  suffered  considerably,  however.  The  Sainte  Anne 
Asylum  was  struck  sixty-nine  times,  and  forty-nine  private 
buildings  were  struck.  The  town  of  St.  Denis  was  cannon¬ 
aded  during  last  night  and  to-day,  and  was  terribly  damaged. 
Several  lives  were  lost. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


637 


January  26th. — It  is  known  in  Paris  that  negotiations  are 
in  progress  between  the  Government  and  the  Germans  for  an 
Armistice  with  a  view  to  ending  the  war.  Great  anxiety  is 
everywhere  manifested  to  learn  the  result.  The  bombard¬ 
ment  continued  through  the  day.  The  church  of  St.  Sulpice 
was  struck  twice,  and  the  military  hospital  of  the  Yal  de 
Grace  was  set  on  fire.  The  flames  were  extinguished  before 
much  damage  was  done. 

January  27th. — The  bombardment  ceased  last  night,  and 
not  a  single  gun  has  been  heard  since  midnight. 

The  anxiety  of  the  citizens  to  know  their  fate  is  to-day 
gratified  by  the  announcement  in  the  Journal  Official  that  the 
city  and  its  defences  are  to  be  surrendered  to  the  enemy  and 
an  Armistice  concluded,  the  conditions  of  which  it  sets  forth. 
The  city  is  to  be  revictualled. 

January  28th. — The  surrender  of  the  city  and  army,  and 
the  terms  of  the  convention  between  the  Government  and  the 
Germans,  are  announced  to  the  citizens  to-day.  Paris  may 
be  said  to  be  perfectly  calm  ;  the  only  violence  has  been  that 
of  language,  and  some  of  the  speeches  pronounced  on  the 
boulevards  and  at  the  street  corners  are  certainly  most  ener¬ 
getic  in  denunciations  of  the  Government,  which  is  not  even 
as  popular  as  it  was  on  yesterday.  The  Armistice  will  be 
carried  into  effect  to-morrow.  The  spirit  of  the  population, 
although  sad  and  gloomy,  is  too  broken  to  lead  one  to  expect 
any  disturbance.  The  Parisians  generally  are  convinced  that 
the  state  of  food  supplies  rendered  it  impossible  for  them  to 
hold  out  any  longer;  still  they  are  angry  with  the  Govern¬ 
ment  for  having  deceived  them,  as  they  now  maintain  it  has 
done,  throughout  the  entire  course  of  the  siege.  * 


*  This  diary  is  based  principally  upon  the  diary  of  an  English  gentleman 
residing  in  Paris  during  the  siege,  published  from  time  to  time  in  the  Illus¬ 
trated  London  Hews. 


638 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Progress  cf  the  efforts  for  the  union  of  the  german  states— 

MEETING  OF  THE  NORTH  GERMAN  PARLIAMENT — ACTION  OF  THE  SOUTH 
GERMAN  STATES — BAVARIA  HESITATES — THE  PEOPLE  TRIUMPHANT- 
FORMATION  OF  THE  GERMAN  EMPIRE  — SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION- 
STATEMENT  OF  THE  AREA  AND  POPULATION  OF  THE  EMPIRE — THE  IM¬ 
PERIAL  CROWN  OFFERED  TO  THE  KING  OF  PRUSSIA — THE  KING’S  REPLY 
— THE  CEREMONY  OF  PROCLAIMING  THE  GERMAN  EMPEROR— A  BRILLIANT 
AND  IMPRESSIVE  SCENE  AT  VERSAILLES — THE  EMPEROR’S  PROCLAMATION 
— THE  BANQUET — SUCCESS  OF  THE  GERMAN  WAR  LOANS— MEASURES  FOR 
THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  ALSACE  AND  LORRAINE. 

®URING  the  progress  of  the  war  the  people  of  Germany 
were  not  idle.  Freed  from  all  fear  of  an  invasion  of 
their  own  country,  they  devoted  themselves  with  en¬ 


thusiasm  to  the  task  of  completing  the  union  of  all  the 
German  States  under  one  head. 


As  may  be  supposed,  the  prospect  of  surrendering  their  in¬ 
dependence  as  sovereigns  and  acknowledging  a  superior  was 
distasteful  to  the  majority  of  the  German  princes,  but  the 


popular  will  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted.  It  was  the  wish  of 


the  people  that  Germany  should  be  one — that  the  whole  Ger¬ 
man-speaking  race  should  present  a  solid  front  to  foreign  ag. 
gression,  and  advance  harmoniously  to  the  fulfilment  of  one 
glorious  destiny.  It  was  agreed  that  the  new  union  should 
be  federal  in  its  nature,  and  efforts  were  made  even  by  those 
secretly  opposed  to  it,  to  hasten  its  accomplishment.  Such 
progress  was  made  in  these  endeavors,  that  when  the  North 
German  Parliament  met  on  the  24th  of  November,  the  King 
of  Prussia  was  able  to  announce  to  that  body  that  Baden 
and  Hesse  Darmstadt  had  formally  joined  the  German  Con¬ 
federation ;  that  Wiirtemberg  had  positively  promised  to  join 
it ;  and  that  the  objections  urged  on  the  part  of  Bavaria  were 
on  the  point  of  being  overcome. 


Palace  arid  Gardens  of  the  Luxembourg  :  Paris. 

'Dalai*  unt  ©artcn  be  fiiircmbourg  :  'Dari*. 


. 


' 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


639 


Bavaria,  indeed,  had  been  the  chief  obstacle  to  the  unity  of 
Germany.  The  King,  it  is  true,  did  not  care  much  for  his  in¬ 
dependent  royalty,  and  it  was  believed  that  he  would  very 
gladly  transfer  the  cares  and  responsibility  of  his  sovereignty 
to  Prussia ;  but  there  was  a  strong  party  in  that  kingdom 
which  regarded  the  proposed  union  as  a  mere  effort  on  the  part 
of  Prussia  to  aggrandize  herself  at  the  expense  of  the  other 
German  States.  This  party  was  strong,  but  it  did  not  com¬ 
prise  the  majority  of  the  Bavarian  people.  The  French 
Government  fell  into  a  grave  error  at  the  outset  of  the  war,  in 
supposing  that  this  anti-Prussian  party  represented  the  popu¬ 
lar  sentiment.  The  popular  wish  was  for  a  close  union  with 
the  other  German  States,  but  upon  conditions  which  should 
still  preserve  the  independence  of  Bavaria  in  local  affairs;  and 
to  this  wish  the  anti-Prussian  party  were  compelled  to  yield. 
The  Emperor  of  Austria  lent  his  aid  to  the  task  of  removing 
the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  union,  and  advised  the  King 
of  Bavaria  to  unite  with  the  other  German  States  in  the  new 
Confederation,  and  at  length  the  matter  was  settled. 

Bavaria  having  yielded  her  objections,  the  North  German 
Parliament  entered  upon  the  task  of  constituting  the  new  Con¬ 
federation,  and,  in  accordance  with  the  wish  of  the  nation,  es¬ 
tablished  a  German  Empire,  and  the  King  of  Bavaria  de¬ 
manded  that  the  Imperial  crown  should  be  offered  to  the  King 
of  Prussia.  The  Constitution  agreed  upon  was  admitted  to 
be  entirely  experimental,  and  provision  was  made  for  such 
changes  as  the  future  should  render  necessary. 

By  the  terms  of  this  Constitution,  all  Germany  forms  one 
Empire,  the  head  of  which  is  an  Emperor,  whose  heirs  are  to 
succeed  him  in  this  dignity.  The  Imperial  dignity  is  to  de¬ 
scend  to  the  heirs  of  the  Prussian  crown  alone.  The  Legis¬ 
lative  Bodies  are  the  Federal  Council  and  the  Federal  Parlia¬ 
ment.  The  Federal  Council  represents  the  Emperor,  and  has 
the  sole  right  of  determining  the  question  of  peace  or  war. 
It  consists  of  twenty-five  princes  of  various  degrees  of  power 
and  dignity,  whose  realms  constitute  the  German  Empire. 
The  princes  are  all  hereditary  legislators,  ruling  by  right  of 


640 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


birth.  Their  votes  are  in  accordance  with  the  extent  and 
population  of  their  domains.  The  King  of  Prussia  has  seven¬ 
teen  votes — one-third  of  the  whole ;  the  King  of  Bavaria  six  ; 
the  Kings  of  Saxony  and  Wurtemberg  four  each;  the  Grand 
Dukes  of  Baden  and  Hesse  three  each ;  the  Dukes  of  Meck- 
lenburg-Schwerin  and  Brunswick  two  each ;  and  the  rest  one 
each.  The  Federal  Parliament  or  Diet  consists  of  382  mem¬ 
bers,  chosen  by  universal  suffrage — one  deputy  for  each  100,- 
000  of  the  population.  In  this  body  Prussia  has  240  members, 
nearly  two-thirds  of  the  whole.  Each  State  retains  possession 
of  its  own  sovereignty  and  legislation,  subject  to  certain  re¬ 
strictions.  The  Empire  is  to  regulate  and  control  the  political 
rights  of  its  inhabitants,  taxation  and  excise,  banking,  diploma¬ 
tic  and  consular  representation,  navigation,  postal  and  tele¬ 
graphic  arrangements,  gradual  unification  of  judicial  laws, 
army,  navy,  and  press  laws.  The  armies  of  the  various  States 
are  consolidated  into  one,  which  is  formed  after  the  Prussian 
model,  and  the  command  of  which  is  vested  in  the  Emperor. 
Soldiers  and  officials  swear  fidelity  to  their  special 
sovereigns  and  to  the  Emperor.  An  exception  with  re¬ 
gard  to  some  slight  particulars  relating  to  the  postal 
and  telegraphic  service,  and  the  excise  laws,  is  made  in 
favor  of  some  of  the  South  German  States.  Bavaria  reserves 
to  herself  the  right  to  control  her  excise,  the  command  of  her 
military  forces  in  time  of  peace,  and  diplomatic  representation 
abroad.*  In  the  absence  of  the  German  Ambassador,  the 

*  The  following  is  the  official  statement  of  the  terms  upon  which  Bavaria 
entered  the  Confederation : 

“Article  1.  The  Kingdom  of  Bavaria  enters  into  a  constitutional  union 
with  the  North  German  Confederation,  which,  in  consequence  of  such  entry, 
adopts  the  name  of  ‘  German  Confederation.’ 

“Art.  2.  As  basis  of  the  constitution  of  this  ‘German  Confederation,’  the 
general  constitution  of  the  North  German  Confederation  of  April  16,  1867, 
shall  be  adopted,  with  the  following  special  provisions  respecting  the  several 
articles. 

“Art.  3.  Bavaria  shall  have  six  votes  in  the  Federal  Council. 

“Art.  4.  In  the  first  (military)  Committee  of  the  Federal  Council,  Bavaria 
shall  at  all  times  be  represented  by  a  member  of  the  Federal  Council,  to  be 
appointed  by  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria.  With  respect  to  the  com- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


641 


Minister  of  Bavaria  is  to  represent  the  Imperial  Government 
at  foreign  courts.  The  Constitution  was  promptly  submitted 
to  the  various  German  States,  and  was  approved  by  them. 

mittees  of  customs  duties  and  taxation,  trade  and  commerce,  as  well  as  the 
keeping  of  accounts,  the  provisions  of  Article  8,  Section  3,  of  customs  treaty, 
remain  in  force. 

“Art.  5.  The  Federal  Presidency  is  bound  to  keep  the  Federal  Council 
completely  informed  on  the  course  of  diplomatic  negotiations  which  are  car¬ 
ried  on  to  ward  off  the  danger  of  war  from  without,  concluding  alliances,  or 
the  restoration  of  peace. 

“Art.  6.  Any  negotiations  of  peace  after  a  Federal  war  shall  be  attended 
by  a  representative  of  Bavaria,  to  be  appointed  by  His  Majesty  the  King  of 
Bavaria. 

“Art.  V.  In  case  of  a  hostile  invasion  of  the  Federal  territory,  or  a  warlike 
attack  on  the  coasts,  the  declaration  of  war  must  be  made  under  any  circum¬ 
stances  ;  in  all  other  cases  the  concurrence  of  the  sovereigns  of  at  least  two- 
thirds  of  the  population  shall  be  requisite. 

“Art.  8.  The  Federal  Ambassadors  at  Vienna,  Paris,  and  Rome,  receive  a 
councillor  of  legation,  to  be  appointed  by  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria, 
and  shall  be  considered  an  officer  of  the  Confederation,  and  possess  all  the 
rights  and  qualities  of  such  a  one. 

“Art.  3.  Federal  legislation  concerning  the  taxing  of  spirits  and  beer  shall 
not  be  extended  to  the  Kingdom  of  Bavaria  on  this  side  of  the  Rhine.  Ap¬ 
proximate  imposts  shall  as  much  as  possible  be  introduced. 

“Art.  10.  Concerning  the  levying  and  administration  of  the  dues  and  cus¬ 
toms  duties  and  their  supervision,  the  provisions  of  the  customs  treaty  remain 
in  force. 

“Art.  11.  The  produce  of  the  dues  and  customs  duties  remains  with  Bava¬ 
ria.  With  regard  to  the  distribution  of  the  common  revenues,  the  provisions 
of  the  customs  union  remain  in  force. 

“Art.  12.  The  Federal  Presidency  shall  only  construct  Federal  railways  in 
Bavaria  with  the  consent  of  the  Bavarian  Government. 

“Art.  13.  Articles  48,  49,  and  50,  of  the  North  German  Constitution  (post 
and  telegraph)  are  not  applicable  in  Bavaria. 

“Art.  14.  The  Federal  Presidency  shall  call  a  number  of  Bavarian  subjects 
to  the  posts  of  consules  missi ,  such  number  to  be  in  proportion  to  the  votes  of 
Bavaria  in  the  Federal  Council ;  and  also  to  communicate  to  the  Bavarian 
Government  the  names  of  persons  to  be  appointed  as  Federal  Consuls  before 
such  appointment  takes  place. 

“Art.  15.  For  the  present,  Article  61  shall  not  be  applicable  to  Bavaria, 
but  a  general  German  military  law  for  the  Confederation  shall  be  introduced 
forthwith.  The  Prussian  law  shall  serve  as  the  basis. 

“Art.  16.  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Bavaria  shall  apply  at  least  an  equal 
amount  to  that  mentioned  in  Article  62  to  the  Bavarian  military  establish- 
41 


G42 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


The  German  Empire,  thus  constituted,  consists  of  the  fol¬ 
lowing  States,  whose  extent  and  population  are  also  given, 
according  to  the  census  of  1867. 


Area  in  square  miles. 

Population 

Prussia . 

24.043.296 

Bavaria . 

4,824.421 

Saxony . 

2.423.401 

Wurtemberg . 

7,532 

1.778.479 

Baden . 

5,912 

1,434.970 

Mecklenburg-Schwerin . 

5,190 

560.618 

Oldenburg . 

2,469 

315.622 

Brunswick . 

1,425 

303,401 

Saxe-Weirnar . 

1,404 

283.044 

Mecklenburg-Strelitz . 

1,052 

98,770 

Saxe-Meiningen . 

956 

180.335 

Anhalt . 

1,026 

197.041 

Saxe-Ooburg-Grotha . 

760 

168.735 

Saxe-Altenburg . 

510 

141.426 

Waldeck . 

433 

56,805 

Lippe-Iletmold . 

438 

111.352 

Schwarzburg-lludolstadt . 

374 

75,074 

Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen . 

332 

67.500 

Reuss-Greiz . 

145 

43.889 

Keuss-Schleiz . 

320 

88.097 

Schaumburg-Lippe. ...  . 

171 

31.186 

Hamburg . . 

156 

305,196 

Lttbeck . 

107 

48,538 

Bremen . 

74 

109,572 

Hesse  Darmstadt  (northern  part) 

1,280 

257,479 

1  lesse  Darmstadt  (southern  part) 

1,690 

565,659 

Lichtenstein . 

62 

7.994 

Total . 

204,766 

38,521,900 

The  Empire  thus  comprises  an  area  equal  almost  to  the 
New  England  and  Middle  States  to  the  .Potomac,  including 

merits,  and  furnish  the  requisite  proofs.  For  the  rest,  Article  62  is  applicable 
to  Bavaria. 

“Art.  17.  The  rights  belonging  to  the  Federal  Commander  in  time  of  peace 
shall  be  exercised  towards  Bavaria  by  the  military  committee  of  the  Federal 
Council. 

“Art.  18.  The  provisions  of  Article  64  are  applicable  to  Bavaria. 

“Art.  19.  The  Federal  Presidency  does  not  avail  itself  of  the  right,  of  Ar¬ 
ticle  65  within  the  Kingdom  of  Bavaria. 

“Art.  20.  Prussia  pledges  herself  not  to  proclaim  martial  law  in  Bavaria 
except  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Bavarian  Government. 

“Art.  21.  The  quota  to  the  general  Federal  expenses  shall  be  furnished  by 
Bavaria  in  two  half-yearly  instalments  not  later  than  January  1  and  July  1 
in  each  year. 

“Art.  22.  As  long  as  no  superior  Federal  court  exists,  offences  against  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


643 


West  Virginia,  with  a  population  about  equal  to  that  of  the 
United  States,  and  speaking  one  language.  It  also  embraces 
the  whole  German  speaking  race  in  Europe,  exclusive  of  the 
German  subjects  of  the  Austro-Hungarian  Empire,  who  are 
not  quite  nine  millions  in  number. 

Having  thus  established  the  Empire,  the  German  Parlia¬ 
ment  appointed  a  commission,  with  the  President  of  the  Par¬ 
liament  at  its  head,  to  proceed  to  Versailles,  to  offer  the  Im¬ 
perial  Crown  to  the  King  of  Prussia.  The  commission  left 
Berlin  on  the  13th  of  December,  and  reached  Versailles  on 
the  15th. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  they  were  received  by  King 
William  in  the  parlor  of  the  Prefecture  of  Versailles.  II is 
Majesty,  with  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  and  the  other 
German  Princes,  had  previously  attended  divine  service,  per¬ 
formed  by  a  Lutheran  clergyman  in  the  chapel  of  the  old 
Bourbon  palace.  As  he  stood  in  the  drawing-room  of  the 
Prefecture  to  receive  the  deputation,  he  was  attended  by  most 
of  the  German  Princes  at  that  time  in  Versailles.  He  was  in 
full  uniform,  and  wore  all  his  orders.  Crown  Prince  Fritz 
stood  on  his  right,  and  Count  Bismarck  on  his  left.  Herr 
Simson,  whose  fortune  it  had  been  to  offer  the  Imperial 
Crown  to  Frederick  William  IV.  in  1849,  then  stepped  for¬ 
ward,  and,  after  making  a  few  introductory  remarks,  read  in 
a  loud  voice  the  address  in  which  the  German  Parliament  re¬ 
quested  the  King  of  Prussia  to  accept  the  Imperial  Crown. 
When  he  had  concluded,  King  William  took  from  the  hands 
of  an  aide-de-camp  a  folded  paper,  from  which  he  read  his  re¬ 
ply,  in  tones  which  trembled  with  emotion.  After  thanking 
the  deputation  for  the  aid  which  the  Parliament  had  afforded 
the  Government  by  voting  the  supplies  necessary  to  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  and  by  cooperating  in  the  work  of 
national  unity,  the  King  said  :  “The  request  addressed  to  me 

Confederation,  committed  in  Bavaria,  shall  be  punished  according  to  the  B  - 
varian  laws. 

“Art  23.  Propositions  to  alter  the  constitution  shall  be  considered  rejected 
even  if  Bavaria  votes  in  the  minority  of  the  Federal  Council.” 


644 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


by  the  King  of  Bavaria,  to  reestablish  the  dignity  of  Empe¬ 
ror  of  the  old  German  ‘  Reich  ’  has  filled  me  with  deep  emo¬ 
tion  ;  but  you  know  that,  in  this  question,  which  affects  such 
highly  esteemed  interests,  and  memories  so  greatly  cherished 
by  the  German  nation,  my  own  feelings  or  my  own  judgment 
cannot  influence  my  decision.  Only  in  the  unanimous  voice 
of  the  German  Princes  and  Free  Towns — only  in  the  united 
wish  of  the  German  nation  and  its  representatives — shall  I 
recognize  a  call  from  Providence  to  which,  relying  upon 
God’s  blessing,  I  could  conform.” 

When  the  ceremonies  were  over,  the  King  shook  hands 
heartily  with  the  deputies,  and  the  assembly  dispersed. 

The  condition  named  by  the  King — the  unanimous  ex¬ 
pression  of  the  wishes  of  the  Princes  and  people — was  easily 
complied  with;  and  this  being  communicated  to  him,  his 
Majesty  accepted  the  Imperial  Crown  and  title,  and  on  the 
18th  of  January,  1871,  was  solemnly  proclaimed  Emperor  in 
the  Palace  of  Versailles. 

At  nine  o’clock  in  the  morning  the  colors  of  the  various 
regiments  were  paraded  in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace,  and 
carried  by  deputations  to  salute  the  King  for  the  last  time 
previous  to  his  assumption  of  the  Imperial  Crown.  The  col¬ 
ors  were  then  carried  to  the  Galerie  des  Glaces,  the  most 
magnificent  hall  in  the  palace,  where  they  were  arranged  in 
a  semi-circle  in  the  order  in  which  the  regiments  lay  before 
Paris.  The  place  of  honor  was  given  to  the  colors  of  the 
Landwehr  Guard,  these  being  placed  in  the  centre,  on  a 
raised  platform,  and  guarded  by  the  Gardes  du  Corps.  At 
the  side  of  the  saloon  next  to  the  park,  upon  a  raised  dais, 
stood  an  altar  covered  with  a  richly  embroidered  cloth  of 
purple  velvet,  and  on  either  side  of  it  was  a  laurel  tree.  By 
the  altar  stood  the  army  chaplains,  with  the  King’s  preacher, 
Herr  Rugger,  at  their  head.  On  the  right  of  the  altar  were 
the  military  choristers  and  musicians,  and  on  the  left  the 
delegates  from  the  various  regiments  decorated  with  the  iron 
cross. 

At  twelve  o’clock,  the  King,  accompanied  by  the  Crown 


645 


Galerie  des  Glaces  :  Versailles. 


646 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


Prince,  Count  Bismarck,  Yon  Moltke,  and  a  host  of  Grand 
Dukes  and  Princes,  entered  the  hall.  Pour  chaplains  stood 
on  the  steps  of  the  altar  to  receive  him,  and  every  head  was 
bowed  as  he  advanced  to  the  dais,  at  the  foot  of  which  he 
paused.  The  King  crossed  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  bent 
his  head  reverently,  and  stood  silently  as  the  ceremonies  were 
opened  with  a  hymn  of  praise  to  the  Trinity,  the  strangest 
sounds  that  had  ever  been  heard  in  that  gorgeous  saloon, 
which  had  witnessed  the  glories  of  Louis  le  Grand.  After 
the  hymn  was  sung,  the  King’s  chaplain  pronounced  a  brief 
discourse,  in  which  he  alluded  to  the  history  of  the  Hohen- 
zollern  family  and  the  traditions  of  Versailles.  The  King  stood 
under  the  portrait  of  Louis  XIV.,  on  which  was  the  inscrip¬ 
tion,  “  Le  Koi  gouverne  de  lui-meme,”  and  this  legend  fur¬ 
nished  the  preacher  with  a  moral  to  his  discourse.  At  the 
close  of  the  sermon  the  litany  was  chanted,  after  which  the 
choristers  sang  “  Nun  danket  alle  Gott.”  The  King,  followed 
by  the  German  Princes,  then  advanced  to  the  flags,  and  step¬ 
ping  up  on  the  dais,  turned  to  the  assembly  and  said  that  he 
accepted  the  title  of  Emperor  at  the  wish  of  the  people  and 
princes  of  Germany;  and  to  secure  the  national  union  of  the 
Fatherland.  Then  turning  to  Count  Bismarck,  he  said,  “I 
command  my  Chancellor  to  read  aloud  my  proclamation  to 
the  German  people.” 

Bismarck,  who  had  until  now  been  a  silent  witness  of  the 
completion  of  the  great  work  of  his  life,  then  read  in  a  clear 
voice  the  following  proclamation: 

We,  William,  by  God’s  grace  King-  of  Prussia,  hereby  announce  that 
the  German  princes  and  free  towns  having  addressed  to  us  a  unanimous 
call  to  renew  and  undertake  with  the  re-establishment  of  the  German 
empire  the  dignity  of  Emperor,  which  now  for  sixty  years  has  been  in 
abeyance,  and  the  requisite  provisions  having  been  inserted  in  the  Con¬ 
stitution  of  the  German  Confederation,  we  regard  it  as  a  duty  we  owe 
to  the  entire  Fatherland  to  comply  with  this  call  of  the  German  princes 
and  free  towns,  and  to  accept  the  dignity  of  Emperor.  Accordingly,  we 
and  our  successors  to  the  Crown  of  Prussia  henceforth  shall  use  the  im¬ 
perial  title  in  all  the  relations  and  affairs  of  the  German  empire,  and  we 
hope  to  God  that  it  may  be  vouchsafed  to  the  German  nation  to  lead 


617 


William  as  Emperor  of  Germany. 


648 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  Fatherland  on  to  a  blessed  future,  under  the  auspices  of  its  ancient 
splendor.  We  undertake  the  imperial  dignity  conscious  of  the  duty  to 
protect  with  German  loyalty  the  rights  of  the  empire  and  its  members, 
to  preserve  peace,  to  maintain  the  independence  of  Germany,  and  to 
strengthen  the  power  of  the  people.  We  accept  it  in  the  hope  that  it 
will  be  granted  to  the  German  people  to  enjoy  in  lasting  peace  the  re¬ 
ward  of  its  arduous  and  heroic  struggles  within  boundaries  which  will 
give  to  the  Fatherland  that  security  against  renewed  French  attacks 
which  it  has  lacked  for  centuries.  May  God  grant  to  us  and  our  suc¬ 
cessors  to  the  imperial  crown  that  we  may  be  the  defenders  of  the  Ger¬ 
man  empire  at  all  times,  not  in  martial  conquests,  but  in  works  of  peace 
in  the  sphere  of  national  prosperity,  freedom,  and  civilization. 

The  Chancellor  read  slowly  and  distinctly,  and  every  word 
was  listened  to  with  intense  eagerness  by  the  brilliant  assem¬ 
blage.  When  he  had  concluded,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Baden 
stepped  forward  and  cried,  “  Bs  lebe  seine  Majestat,  der 
deutsche  Kaiser  Wilhelm,  hoch  !  ”  The  hall  rang  again  and 
again  with  cheers,  and  the  band  burst  into  the  thrilling 
strains  of  “  Heil  Dir  im  Sieger-Kranz,”  and  Crown  Prince 
Fritz,  bending  his  knee,  was  about  to  do  homage  to  his  father, 
when  the  Emperor  caught  him  in  his  arms  and  embraced  him 
thrice.  The  German  Princes  then  did  homage  to  their  new 
Suzerain,  and  the  ceremony  came  to  an  end.  In  the  afternoon 
the  dignitaries  who  had  witnessed  the  inauguration,  were 
entertained  by  the  Emperor  at  a  grand  dinner  at  the  principal 
hotel  of  the  town. 

The  German  people  had  their  wish.  The  Empire  was 
made,  and  Germany  was  once  more  a  nation.  Measures  were 
set  on  foot  after  the  proclaiming  of  the  Emperor  to  bring  the 
new  system  fairly  into  operation,  and  elections  were  ordered 
to  be  held  for  the  Imperial  Parliament. 

The  financial  measures  of  the  German  States  were  highly 
successful.  The  various  legislative  bodies  promptly  granted 
the  credits  necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  the 
bonds  issued  in  accordance  with  them  were  taken  up  princi¬ 
pally  by  the  German  people.  The  bonds  of  the  North  Ger¬ 
man  Confederation  met  with  a  cool  reception  at  first  in  the 
London  market,  but  gradually  became  more  popular.  The 
Berlin  bankers  at  once  came  to  the  support  of  the  Government, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


649 


and  ensured  the  success  of  the  loan.  In  December  a  new  loan 
of  25,000,000  thalers  was  placed  in  the  market,  and  was 
speedily  taken  up  in  Germany.  The  expenses  of  the  war  on 
the  German  side  were  at  this  time  estimated  at  1,000,000 
thalers  daily ;  but  the  German  credit  was  good,  for  it  was 
well  understood  that  the  cost  of  the  Avar  would  fall  lightly  on 
the  conquerors.  The  enormous  fines  and  contributions  which 
they  had  already  exacted  from  the  French  had  enabled  them 
to  diminish  their  OAvn  expenses  very  greatly,  and  it  was  their 
avowed  purpose  to  require  of  France  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
struggle,  an  indemnity  sufficiently  large  to  cover  all  the  war 
loans  of  the  German  States. 

It  being  the  intention  of  King  William  to  retain  the  pro¬ 
vinces  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine  for  Germany,  measures  were 
set  on  foot  in  September  to  apply  to  them  the  military  and 
civil  system  of  Prussia.  The  postal  and  telegraphic  services 
were  organized  as  fast  as  possible,  on  the  Prussian  plan,  and 
every  effort  made  to  restore  matters,  as  far  as  Avas  practicable, 
to  such  a  condition  that  the  regular  business  of  these  pro¬ 
vinces  might  be  resumed.  The  inhabitants  Avere,  as  a  rule, 
treated  Avith  considerable  leniency,  it  being  the  desire  of  the 
King  to  conciliate  them  by  kindness  ;  but  stern  measures  Avere 
nevertheless  put  in  force  in  many  instances,  as  the  inhabi¬ 
tants  remained  bitterly  hostile  to  their  conquerors  and  pas¬ 
sionately  attached  to  France. 


650 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


CONDITION  OF  FRANCE  AT  TIIE  CONCLUSION  OF  TnE  ARMISTICE— POPULAR 
FEELING — STATEMENT  OF  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT— MATTERS 
IN  PARIS — REVICTUALLING  THE  CITY — THE  ARMISTICE  IN  THE  PRO¬ 
VINCES— ACTION  OF  M.  GAMBETTA — FIRMNESS  OF  TnE  PARIS  GOVERN¬ 
MENT — GAMBETTA  RESIGNS — THE  ELECTIONS  FOR  THE  ASSEMBLY — PRO¬ 
CLAMATION  OF  THE  EMPEROR  NAPOLEON  III  — THE  RESULT — MEETING 
OF  THE  ASSEMBLY — RESIGNATION  OF  THE  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT- 
GARIBALDI  RESIGNS  — ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY — M.  THIERS 
CHOSEN  CHIEF  OF  TnE  EXECUTIVE— THE  NEW  GOVERNMENT — PROTEST 
OF  ALSACE  AND  LORRAINE — PAINFUL  SCENE  IN  TnE  ASSEMBLY— AP¬ 
POINTMENT  OF  COMMISSIONERS — THE  PEACE  NEGOTIATIONS — THE  GER¬ 
MAN  TERMS — UNSUCCESSFUL  EFFORTS  OF  THE  FRENCH  REPRESENTA¬ 
TIVES  TO  OBTAIN  A  BETTER  SETTLEMENT — M.  THIERS1  APPEAL  TO  THE 
EMPEROR  WILLIAM— EXTENSION  OF  THE  ARMISTICE— CONCLUSION  OF 
PEACE— THE  EMPEROR1  S  ANNOUNCEMENT — THE  NEWS  IN  PARIS— APPEAL 
OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  TO  THE  CITIZENS — DEBATE  IN  THE  ASSEMBLY 
UPON  THE  TREATY — RATIFICATION  OF  THE  TREATY — THE  ASSEMBLY 
DECLARES  NAPOLEON  III.  TO  BE  RIGHTFULLY  DEPOSED — ENTRY  OF  TIIE 
GERMAN  TROOPS  INTO  PARIS — EVACUATION  OF  THE  CITY — THE  HOME¬ 
WARD  MARCH  OF  THE  GERMAN  ARMY — THE  END  OF  THE  WAR. 


HEN  the  conclusion  of  the  Armistice  brought  hos¬ 
tilities  to  a  close,  matters  in  France  stood  thus  :  The 
Germans  had  overrun  and  held  entire  possession  of 
Alsace  and  Lorraine,  with  the  exceptions'  of  the 
fortresses  of  Bitsche  and  Belfort,  and  they  were 
masters  of  the  entire  region  from  the  Rhine  to  Laval  in  the 
west,  Lyons  in  the  south,  and  Lille  in  the  north.  Chanzy 
and  Eaidherbe  had  been  beaten  with  heavy  loss.  Bourbaki’s 
army  was  being  driven  into  Switzerland,  and  Paris  had  sur¬ 
rendered.  Still  France  was  by  no  means  crushed.  General 
Chanzy  was  at  the  head  of  120,000  well-armed  and  equipped 
troops  in  the  West ;  there  were  70,000  at  Cherbourg,  ready  to 
march  to  Chanzy’s  assistance ;  there  were  40,000  at  Havre, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


651 


and  135,000  in  the  North,  under  General  Faidherbe,  making  in 
all  360,000  men.  Generals  Chanzy  and  Billot  declared  in  the 
Assembly  that  with  these  forces  a  defensive  war  could  be  con¬ 
tinued  if  necessary,  and  that  the  Germans  could  be  made  to 
pay  dearly  for  their  future  conquests ;  but  no  one  ventured  to 
predict  that  these  troops,  vastly  outnumbered  by  the  German 
legions,  could  succeed  in  turning  the  tide  of  the  war.  Indeed 
it  was  well  understood  that  they  would  not  be  able  to  do  so, 
and  it  was  admitted  on  all  sides  that  a  further  prosecution  of 
the  war  would  simply  prolong  the  sufferings  of  the  country 
without  gaining  any  compensating  advantage.  The  whole 
country  was  sick  of  the  war,  and  men  of  all  shades  of  opin¬ 
ion,  save  the  small  party  which  supported  M.  Gamhetta,  were 
heartily  desirous  of  peace  on  any  honorable  terms,  so  that  in 
all  parts  of  France  the  news  of  the  suspension  of  hostilities 
was  received  with  feelings  of  thankfulness  and  relief.  Still 
there  were  some  who  were  disposed  to  censure  the  Provisional 
Government  for  not  holding  out  in  Paris  until  actual  famine 
had  set  in,  and  others  who  bitterly  denounced  the  Ministers 
for  not  including  the  army  of  General  Bourbaki  within  the 
provisions  of  the  Armistice.  In  reply  to  these  censures,  the 
members  of  the  Government  issued  the  following  circular  to 
the  nation : 

Frenchmen: — Paris  has  laid  down  her  arms  on  the  eve  of  perishing 
by  famine.  It  has  been  said  to  her,  “wait  a  few  weeks  and  we  will  de¬ 
liver  you.”  She  has  resisted  five  months,  and  in  spite  of  heroic  efforts 
the  departments  have  been  unable  to  come  to  her  succor.  She  resigned 
herself  to  the  most  cruel  privations.  She  accepted  ruin,  sickness,  and 
desolation.  During  a  whole  month  shells  have  been  raining  upon  her. 
killing  both  women  and  children.  For  the  last  six  weeks  the  few  ounces 
of  bad  bread  which  have  been  distributed  to  each  inhabitant  have  been 
hardly  sufficient  to  keep  them  from  death’s  door.  And  when  thus  van¬ 
quished,  by  extreme  necessity,  the  great  city  pauses  before  condemning 
2,000.000  of  citizens  to  the  most  horrible  catastrophe,  when  availing 
herself  of  the  power  still  left  to  her,  she  treats  with  the  enemy,  instead 
of  submitting  to  a  surrender  at  discretion.  Outside  the  walls  the 
Government  of  National  Defence  is  accused  of  culpable  levity,  and  is 
denounced  and  rejected  on  this  plea.  Let  France  be  the  judge  between 
us  and  those  who  but  yesterday  loaded  us  with  the  marks  of  friendship 
and  respect,  and  who  to-day  insult  us.  We  should  not  take  up  the 


652 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


question  of  these  attacks  if  our  duty  did  not  command  us  to  hold  to  the 
very  last  hour  in  a  firm  hand  the  Government  which  the  people  of  Paris 
confided  to  us  in  the  midst  of  the  tempest.  This  duty  we  shall  carry 
out.  When  at  the  end  of  January  we  resolved  to  attempt  to  negotiate, 
it  was  very  late.  We  had  flour  for  ten  days  only,  and  we  knew  that  the 
devastation  of  the  country  rendered  our  revictualment  an  affair  of  great 
uncertainty.  Those  who  rise  against  us  to-day  will  never  know  the  an¬ 
guish  by  which  we  were  agitated.  We  had  to  conceal  them,  however,  to 
accost  the  enemy  with  resolution  and  appear  still  ready  to  fight,  and 
furnished  with  provisions.  This  is  exactly  what  we  wanted — before 
everything  to  usurp  no  right.  To  France  alone  belongs  the  right  of 
disposing  of  herself.  We  wished  to  reserve  that  right  to  her.  It  has 
required  long  struggles  to  obtain  this  recognition  of  her  sovereignty. 
That  is  the  most  important  point  of  our  treaty.  We  have  reserved  to 
the  Garde  Nationale  its  liberty  and  its  arms.  If  in  spite  of  our  efforts 
we  have  not  been  able  to  withdraw  the  army  and  the  Garde  Mobile  from 
the  severity  of  the  laws  of  war,  we  have  at  least  saved  them  from  cap¬ 
tivity  in  Germany,  and  from  interment  in  an  intrenched  camp  under  the 
guns  of  the  Prussians. 

We  are  reproached  with  not  having  consulted  the  Delegation  at  Bor¬ 
deaux.  It  is  forgotten  that  we  were  shut  in  by  a  circle  of  iron  which  we 
could  not  break  through.  It  is  forgotten  also  that  each  day  made  more 
probable  the  terrible  catastrophe  of  famine,  and,  nevertheless,  we  disputed 
the  ground  foot  by  foot  for  six  days  while  the  population  of  Paris  was 
ignorant,  as  it  ought  to  be,  of  the  real  situation,  and,  urged  on  by  a 
generous  ardor,  asked  to  be  allowed  to  fight.  We  then  yielded  to  a  fatal 
necessity.  We  have  for  the  purpose  of  convoking  an  assembly  stipu¬ 
lated  for  an  Armistice,  when  the  armies  which  might  have  come  to  our 
aid  were  beaten  back  far  away  from  us.  One  alone  held  out — at  least  so 
we  imagined.  Prussia  demanded  the  cession  of  Belfort.  We  refused 
.this,  and  at  the  same  time  to  protect  the  place  we  reserved  for  a  few 
days  a  liberty  of  action  for  its  army  of  succor.  But  what  we  knew  not 
was  that  it  was  too  late.  Cut  off  by  the  German  armies,  Bourbaki,  in 
-spite  of  his  heroism,  could  no  longer  resist,  and  after  the  act  of  generous 
despair  to  which  he  abandoned  himself  his  troops  were  forced  to  pass  the 
frontier.  The  Convention  of  the  28th  of  January  has  then  compromised 
no  interests,  and  Paris  alone  has  been  sacrificed.  Paris  does  not  mur¬ 
mur  ;  she  renders  homage  to  the  valor  of  those  who  fought  for  her  de¬ 
liverance  from  afar.  She  does  not  even  accuse  him  who  is  now  so  un¬ 
just  and  so  rash,  the  Minister  of  War,  who  stopped  General  Chanzy 
when  he  was  marching  to  the  relief.of  Paris,  and  gave  him  orders  to  re¬ 
tire  behind  Mayenne.  No  ;  everything  was  useless,  and  we  had  to  suc¬ 
cumb.  But  our  honor  is  still  upright,  and  we  will  never  suffer  it  to  be 
sullied. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


653 


We  have  summoned  France  to  elect  freely  an  Assembly,  which  in 
this  supreme  crisis  will  make  known  her  wishes.  We  recognize  in  no 
one  the  right  to  impose  upon  her  a  wish  either  for  peace  or  for  war. 
A  nation  attacked  by  a  powerful  enemy  struggles  to  the  last  extremity ; 
but  she  is  always  the  judge  as  to  the  hour  when  that  resistance  ceases  to  be 
possible.  '1'hat  is  what  the  country  must  declare  now  that  it  is  consulted  on 
the  question  of  its  destiny.  That  its  wish  may  be  imposed  upon  alias  a  law 
worthy  of  respect,  it  must  be  the  sovereign  expression  of  the  free  suffrage 
of  all.  We  do  not,  therefore,  admit  that  any  arbitrary  restrictions  can 
be  imposed  upon  that  suffrage.  We  have  combated  the  empire  and  its 
practices;  we  do  not  intend  to  recommence  them  by  instituting  official 
candidatures  by  way  of  elimination.  That  great  faults  have  been  com¬ 
mitted,  that  heavy  responsibilities  flow  from  them,  is  perfectly  true,  but 
the  misfortune  of  the  country  effaces  all  this  beneath  its  level ;  and  be¬ 
sides,  in  lowering  ourselves  to  play  the  part  of  a  faction  in  order  to  pro 
scribe  our  ancient  adversaries,  we  should  have  the  pain  and  shame  of 
striking  those  who  fight  and  shed  their  blood  by  our  side.  T.o  recollect 
these  past  dissensions,  when  the  enemy  is  upon  our  blood-stained  soil, 
is  to  defeat  by  their  rancor  the  great  work  of  national  deliverance.  We 
set  our  principles  above  such  experiments.  We  do  not  wish  that  the 
first  decree  of  the  Republican  Assembly  in  1871  should  be  an  act  of  de¬ 
fiance  against  the  electors.  To  them  belongs  the  sovereignty ;  let  them 
exercise  it  without  weakness  and  our  country  may  be  saved.  The 
Government  of  National  Defence  rejects  them,  and  annuls,  if  necessary, 
the  decree  illegally  passed  by  the  deputation  at  Bordeaux,  and  calls  upon 
all  Frenchmen  to  vote  without  party  feeling  for  the  representatives  who 
shall  appear  to  them  most  worthy  to  defend  France. 

While  the  work  of  carrying  out  the  terms  of  the  Armistice 
was  going  on,  the  Provisional  Government  made  great  exer¬ 
tions  to  supply  the  city  of  Paris  with  food.  Provisions  and 
fuel  were  almost  exhausted  at  the  period  of  the  surrender,  and 
the  work  of  replenishing  the  stores  was  found  to  be  no  light 
task.  The  census  taken  during  the  siege  had  shown  the  civil 
population  of  Paris,  including  the  refugees  from  the  surround¬ 
ing  country,  to  be  over  2,000,000,  and  the  army  within  the 
defences  made  the  number  of  persons  to  be  fed  amount  to 
nearly  2,500,000.  For  such  a  vast  multitude  at  least  600,000 
lbs.  of  meat  and  2,000,000  lbs.  of  bread,  exclusive  of  vege¬ 
tables  and  other  provisions,  and  fuel,  were  required  each  day, 
and  to  suppl}'  all  this,  with  the  railway  lines  broken  and  the 
Seine  closed  by  the  obstruction  of  the  channel  below  Eouen, 


654 


HISTORY  OF  T1IE  LATE  WAR 


was  a  problem  which  taxed  the  abilities  of  the  Ministers  not 
a  little.  The  Germans  accorded  such  facilities  as  it  was  in 
their  power  to  grant  to  assist  the  execution  of  the  task,  and  a 
little  later  the  Emperor  William  humanely  removed  the  pro¬ 
hibition  which  had  prevented  the  Provisional  Government 
from  purchasing  supplies  in  the  Departments  occupied  by  the 
Germans.  Contributions  for  the  relief  of  the  Parisians  were 
sent  from  the  United  States  and  from  Great  Britain,  and 
though  there  was  sore  distress  in  the  city  immediately  after 
the  surrender,  food  soon  became  sufficiently  plentiful  and 
prices  sufficiently  low  to  remove  all  danger  of  a  famine.  The 
state  of  the  city,  just  after  the  surrender,  is  thus  described  by 
the  correspondent  of  the  London  Daily  News ,  who  visited 
Paris  on  the  31st  of  January  : 

“  ‘  Paris  is  utterly  cowed — fairly  beaten  1  ’  so  said  the  first 
Englishman  I  met,  and  his  opinion  is  mine.  Yet  Paris  is  or¬ 
derly  and  decent,  and  with  a  certain  solemn-morose  self- 
restraint,  mastering  the  tendency  to  demonstrate.  The  streets 
were  crowded  almost  wholly  with  men  in  uniform.  Civil¬ 
ians  were  few  and  far  between.  Many  shops  were  open,  but 
many  also  were  closed.  There  is  no  want  of  hardware  in 
Paris.  You  may  buy  enough  and  to  spare  of  anything  but 
edibles.  Drink  is  plentiful  enough,  but,  except  near  the  gate, 
I  saw  not  a  soul  drunk.  The  food  shops  had  nothing  to  show. 
There  were  confitures,  preserves,  jellies,  etc.,  but  solid  com¬ 
estibles  were  conspicuous  by  their  absence.  In  one  shop  I 
saw  several  large  shapes  of  stuff  that  looked  like  lard.  When 
I  asked  what  it  was,  I  found  it  was  horse  fat.  The  bakers’ 
shops  were  closed  ;  the  grating  down  before  the  butchers’. 
And,  oh,  the  number  of  funerals.  I  met  six  altogether  in  the 
course  of  my  ride.  Sad  with  an  exceeding  great  sadness; 
such  was  what  I  found  as  regards  Paris  long  before  I  reached 
the  American  Legation;  self-respecting,  too,  in  her  misery; 
not  blatant ;  not  disposed  to  collect  in  jibbering  crowds.  Each 
man  went  his  way  with  chastened  face  and  listless  gait. 

“  I  spoke  with  a  soldier  of  the  line.  Yes,  he  had  had  enough 
of  it.  Sucre  !  They  had  nearly  killed  him,  these  terrible  Prus- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


G55 


sians,  and  he  was  very  hungry.  When  would  the  gates  open 
for  food  ?  .  .  I  had  nearly  filled  my  wallet  with  news¬ 
papers,  and  only  stowed  away,  for  an  exigency,  a  few  slices 
of  ham.  .  .  When  I  at  length  reached  my  quarters,  the 

servant  women  asked  permission  to  take  the  meagre  plateful 
out,  and  show  it  as  a  curiosity  to  their  companions ;  and  after 
the  ham  was  eaten,  stray  visitors  came  in,  attracted  by  the 
tidings,  and  begged  for  a  look  at  the  unwonted  viands.  The 
whole  city  is  haunted  with  the  chaste  odors  which  horseflesh 
gives  out  in  cooking.  They  permeate  the  British  Embassy, 
where,  asserting  my  privileges  as  a  Briton,  I  stabled  my  horse  ; 
they  linger  in  the  corridors  of  the  Grand  Hotel,  and  fight  with 
the  taint  from  wounds  in  evil  case.  The  Grand  Hotel  is  one 
huge  hospital.  Half  Paris  seems  converted  into  hospitals,  if 
one  may  judge  from  the  flags;  they  were  more  than  were 
needed  until  the  southern  bombardment  began;  and  then, 
when  the  hospitals,  ambulances,  orphanages,  and  madhouses, 
on  the  south  side  had  to  be  evacuated,  there  was  a  squeeze  on 
this  side  of  the  water.” 

On  the  2d  of  February,  the  News  correspondent  at  the 
headquarters  of  Crown  Prince  Fritz,  wrote  : 

“  Some  anxiety  is  felt  herein  regard  to  the  provisioning 
of  Paris;  the  capitulation  was  only  just  in  time,  for  it  is 
found  that  there  was  less  food  by  several  days  supply  than 
the  French  authorities  supposed.  They  had  imagined  they 
would  leave  off  with  a  safe  margin  of  bread  at  any  rate  be 
tween  the  people  and  starvation  ;  but  now  it  appears  that  even 
bread  may  give  out  before  the  end  of  this  week.  The  Em¬ 
press  thinks  the  case  so  serious  as  to  warrant  sending  in  six 
million  rations  from  the  German  stores  from  Lagny,  and  re¬ 
laxing  the  rule  about  the  purchase  of  provisions  at  a  distance 
by  the  French  in  one  of  the  articles  of  the  Convention.  Thus, 
instead  of  being  debarred  from  purchasing  in  all  the  territories 
occupied  by  the  German  troops,  the  French  Government  will 
be  able  to  enter  several  markets  not  far  removed  from  the 
circle  of  the  siege  operations.  I  believe  Corbeil  will  be  one 
of  the  points  to  which  I  allude.  There  are  great  flour-mills 


656 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


there  which  will  be  very  useful  at  this  crisis.  What  with  the 
rations  sent  in  by  the  Emperor,  and  the  modification  of  the 
Convention,  and  the  opening  of  the  railway  lines  to  the  south, 
north,  and  west,  we  may  hope  that  soon  Paris  will  be  out  of 
danger.” 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  Amistice,  the  forts 
were  occupied,  as  has  been  stated  in  a  previous  chapter,  on 
the  29th  of  January.  The  Germans  at  the  same  time  drew 
their  line  of  demarcation  around  the  city,  and  established 
their  sentries  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  enceinte.  The 
French  kept  guard  at  the  city  gates,  and  were  undisturbed 
within  the  walls.  The  National  Guards  were  permitted  by 
the  Germans  to  retain  their  arms,  and  these,  with  a  division 
of  12,000  regulars  were  charged  with  the  preservation  of  or¬ 
der  in  Paris.  The  other  troops — the  soldiers  of  the  Line,  the 
Marines,  and  the  Mobiles — laid  down  their  arms,  and  these 
were  collected  and  conveyed  to  the  forts  appointed  by  the 
Germans  for  their  reception.  During  the  first  week  after  the 
surrender  there  was  but  little  intercourse  between  Paris  and 
the  suburbs,  it  being  the  wish  of  both  the  German  and 
French  authorities  that  the  blockade  should  continue  for  a 
while,  in  order  that  the  elections  in  Paris  might  proceed  with¬ 
out  outside  interference.  A  few  days  later  the  people  who 
had  taken  refuge  in  the  city  in  September,  were  permitted  to 
return  to  the  suburbs  to  search  for  their  homes.  Says  the 
writer  quoted  above  : 

“  The  abandoned  villages  are  waking  up  to  life,  and  the 
ruined  villages  are  visited  by  hundreds  of  curious  inquirers, 
who  seek  to  ascertain  whether  this  or  that  building  has  been 
destroyed.  Sometimes  they  search  more  eagerly  and  sadly. 
The  house  has  been  their  own,  and  they  long  to  know  how 
much  of  it  remains.  Sometimes  they  are  only  interested  as 
far  as  concerns  the  property  of  Ptire  Bonhomme,  or  La  Yeuve 
Lebrun.  Ah,  ha  !  Void  done  !  What  will  the  old  man 
say  when  he  sees  it  ?  I  have  heard  them  cry  before  a  heap 
of  blackened  ruins  which  had  been  identified  as  some  neigh¬ 
bor’s  house.  Or  one  may  notice  little  groups  of  women  who 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


657 


shed  tears  over  their  burnt  habitations.  The  men  are  more 
self-contained,  but  have  a  sullen,  despondent  look  in  many 
cases,  as  though  they  foresaw  they  would  have  to  begin  the 
world  again.  It  is  due  to  the  French  people  to  record  that 
their  tone  and  bearing  through  these  trying  scenes  are,  on  the 
whole,  consistent  and  dignified.  France  has  ‘taken  her  pun¬ 
ishment  like  a  glutton,’  as  pugilists  say  ;  and  if  her  efforts  to 
win  have  been  abortive,  she  has  at  least  the  merit  of  having 
suffered  willingly  and  persistently  in  what  she  esteemed  a 
sacrec^  cause.  I  have  not  heard  a  quarter  so  much  lamenta¬ 
tion  over  the  war  among  the  principal  sufferers  themselves 
as  may  be  read  in  half  a  dozen  periodicals  among  their  neu¬ 
tral  neighbors  across  the  channel.  The  French  seem  to  be  irre¬ 
pressibly  cheerful  and  hopeful  about  their  country ;  in  so 
much  that,  unless  I  greatly  misjudge  them,  they  will  make 

her  again  a  first-class  Power . 

“  Stray  pedestrians  were  making  their  way  down  to  Nan- 
terre,  with  the  inevitable  satchel  and  gaiters  of  besieged  Paris, 
and  with  the  air  of  having  belonged  to  an  ambulance,  but 
taken  off  the  ‘  brassard.’  Family  parties  in  carts  were  also 
upon  the  road,  bound  to  the  different  villages  within  range 
of  Mont  Val^rien.  .  .  .  Bougival  had  been  cleared 

of  its  inhabitants  during  the  latter  part  of  the  siege,  so  that 
there  was  a  complete  re-awakening  for  the  village  when  once 
the  blockade  was  removed.  I  noticed  several  well-dressed 
people  wandering  about  from  one  burnt  house  to  another, 
and  gathered  that  they  knew  the  owners  by  name  at  least ; 
for  here,  as  at  Sevres  and  St.  Cloud,  they  were  speaking  of 
such  and  such  persons  who  had  lost  everything ;  who  had 
been  lucky,  and  only  lost  part  of  their  goods;  or  who  had 
really  nothing  to  complain  of,  for  they  would  be  all  right 
again  when  the  rooms  were  washed  and  the  windows  mended. 
The  poorer  inhabitants  of  Bougival  were  already  back  in  full 
force,  scraping  together  heaps  of  rags  and  rubbish,  and  clear¬ 
ing  the  scene,  as  it  appeared,  for  future  repairs.  I  saw  one 
man  who  had  stuffed  an  old  mattress  into  a  hole  in  the  wall 
where  a  shell  had  entered,  thrust  his  jacket  into  a  broken  win 
42 


658 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


dow  to  keep  out  the  draught  on  that  side ;  and  he  was  actual¬ 
ly  whistling  as  he  sat  in  the  doorway  mending  a  broken  chair. 
A  little  farther  there  were  two  women,  mother  and  daughter, 
who  complained  that  the  scrap  of  furniture  left  in  their  abode 
had  been  changed  during  the  siege  for  some  one  else’s  chairs 
and  table.  ‘But,’  said  they,  ‘it  does  not  much  matter,  for 
when  the  people  come  back  to  whom  these  things  belong,  they 
will  perhaps  find  our  furniture  in  their  house,  and  then  we 
can  exchange  with  them.’  They  were  not  much  depressed  by 
the  confusion  which  prevailed,  and  smiled  at  the  odd  way  in 
which  ces  Messieurs  les  Prussiens  had  mixed  everything  up.” 

In  the  Provinces,  the  Armistice  was,  as  a  rule,  favorably  re¬ 
ceived.  The  northern  departments  were  anxious  for  peace, 
as  they  had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  war;  but  the  south  of 
France,  into  which  the  Germans  had  not  yet  penetrated,  was 
divided,  and  here  was  found  a  large  party  who  clamored  for 
the  continuance  of  the  struggle  to  the  last  extremity.  The 
north  had  little  trust  in  the  wisdom  of  M.  Gambetta,  and  had 
turned  a  deaf  ear  of  late  to  his  appeals.  But  in  the  south, 
especially  in  Bordeaux,  Lyons,  and  Marseilles,  he  had  numer¬ 
ous  partisans. 

M.  Gambetta  was  first  informed  of  the  conclusion  of  the 
Armistice  by  a  telegram  from  England,  which  reached  Bor¬ 
deaux  previous  to  the  arrival  of  M.  Favre’s  official  dispatch 
to  the  moveable  Government.  The  impetuous  Dictator  at 
once  published  a  proclamation,  announcing  to  the  country 
that  “  Paris,  the  impregnable,  forced  and  vanquished  by 
famine,  has  succumbed,  but  the  city  remains  intact,  as  a  last 
homage  wrested  by  the  power  of  moral  grandeur  from  the 
barbarians.”  He  added,  “  But,  as  if  our  ill  fortune  had  re¬ 
solved  to  crush  us,  something  more  sinister  and  painful  than 
the  fall  of  Paris  has  come  upon  us.  Unknown  to  us,  without 
informing  us,  and  without  consulting  us,  an  Armistice  has 
been  signed,  of  which  we  have  but  too  late  learned  the  guilty 
thoughtlessness,  which  surrenders  to  the  Prussian  troops  de¬ 
partments  occupied  by  our  soldiers,  and  imposes  upon  us 
the  obligation  to  remain  inactive  for  three  weeks,  in  order  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


659 


convoke  a  National  Assembly  in  the  sad  circumstances  in 
which  our  country  finds  itself.” 

In  reply  to  the  dispatch  of  M.  Favre,  he  said : 

The  country  is  feverishly  anxious,  and  cannot  rest  contented  with  the 
information  given  in  your  dispatch.  The  Government  of  Bordeaux  has 
ordered  the  immediate  execution  of  the  Armistice,  but  cannot  order  the 
elections  for  the  National  Assembly  without  further  explanations  and 
without  knowing  the  fate  of  Paris. 

In  accordance  with  this  telegram,  the  Bordeaux  Govern¬ 
ment  gave  orders  for  the  execution  of  the  Armistice  through¬ 
out  France,  and  at  the  same  time  ordered  the  Prefects  to  lose 
no  time  in  placing  the  new  levies  in  the  field,  in  drilling  and 
equipping  them,  and  in  putting  into  execution  such  other 
steps  as  would  enable  the  French  to  take  the  field  again  im¬ 
mediately  upon  the  expiration  of  the  truce.  He  also  issued 
the  following  proclamation  to  the  nation  : 

Frenchmen  : — Prussia  believes  the  Armistice  will  dissolve  our 
armies  and  secure  the  election  of  a  chamber  ready  to  conclude  a  shame¬ 
ful  peace.  It  depends  on  France  to  upset  these  calculations.  It  is 
necessary  to  make  the  Armistice  a  period  for  the  instruction  of  our  young 
troops.  Continue  with  unrelaxed  vigor  the  organization  for  defence, 
and  for  war  if  necessary,  while  you  install  a  National  Republican  As¬ 
sembly,  willing  to  make  such  a  peace  only  as  is  compatible  with  the 
honor,  rank  and  integrity  of  France.  Leon  Gambetta. 

A  day  or  two  later  he  published  a  semi-official  note  in  the 
Bordeaux  journals,  denouncing  the  Paris  Government  for  ex¬ 
tending  the  provisions  of  the  Armistice  to  the  provinces.  He 
declared  that  but  for  this,  Bourbaki’s  army,  reenforced  by  the 
troops  under  Garibaldi  at  Dijon,  would  have  turned  upon  the 
Germans  and  beaten  them,  but  this  great  success  had  been 
snatched  from  them  by  the  interference  of  the  Paris  Govern¬ 
ment.  He  also  ordered  the  formation  of  twelve  new  cavalry 
regiments  and  sixteen  new  regiments  of  infantry,  with  the 
determination  of  carrying  on  the  war.  The  reader  will 
remember  that  Bourbaki’s  army  had  been  left  perfectly  free 
by  the  Armistice  to  beat  the  Germans  if  it  could,  and  we  have 
already  shown  how  easily  Manteuff'el  neutralized  the  forces 
of  Garibaldi.  At  the  very  moment  when  the  Dictator  penned 


660 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


his  complaint  against  his  colleagues  in  Paris,  Manteuffel  was 
remorselessly  driving  Bourbaki's  beaten  troops  out  of  France. 
M.  Gambetta  had  not  the  shadow  of  a  foundation  for  his 
charges,  and  even  made  them  in  total  ignorance  of  the  course 
of  events  on  the  Swiss  frontier. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  news  from  Paris,  a  large  meeting 
of  the  Republicans  of  Bordeaux  was  held  at  the  Grand  Theatre. 
Resolutions  were  passed,  declaring  that  the  capitulation  of 
Paris  and  the  Armistice  were  not  binding  upon  the  provinces, 
and  requesting  M.  Gambetta  to  become  President  of  a  Com¬ 
mittee  of  Public  Safety,  to  act  independently  of  the  Paris 
Government.  A  deputation  was  appointed  to  lay  the  request 
of  the  meeting  before  the  Dictator,  and  the  crowd  at  once 
proceeded  to  his  residence,  where  loud  calls  were  made  for 
him  to  come  out  and  address  the  “  good  patriots.”  M.  Gam¬ 
betta  prudently  declined  doing  so,  and  sent  word  to  the 
assemblage  that  he  was  too  unwell  to  appear  before  them. 
He  had  not  yet  made  up  his  mind  as  to  the  course  he  would 
pursue,  and  his  hesitation  was  doubtless  due,  in  a  great 
measure,  to  a  communication  which  he  had  received  from 
the  diplomatic  representatives  of  Austria,  Spain  and  Italy, 
sojourning  at  Bordeaux,  stating  that  they  were  accredited  to 
the  Paris  Government,  and  that,  if  he  separated  himself  from 
the  Paris  Government,  they  would  leave  Bordeaux.  M.  Gam¬ 
betta  was  cool  enough,  with  all  his  excitement,  to  see  that 
the  chances  were  not  so  favorable  to  his  ambition  as  they 
were  in  September,  and  that  the  small  party  which  would 
array  itself  under  his  leadership  would  be  too  weak  to  accom¬ 
plish  anything  with  all  the  rest  of  the  country  bent  on  end¬ 
ing  the  war.  Yet  he  was  too  fond  of  power  to  resign  it  with¬ 
out  an  effort,  and  he  resolved  to  endeavor  so  to  manipulate  the 
provisions  of  the  Armistice  that  he  at  least  should  remain  in 
office. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  he  issued  a  decree,  in  which  he 
declared  it  to  be  “just  that  all  the  accomplices  of  the  rdgime 
which  commenced  by  the  crime  of  the  2d  of  December,  to 
terminate  by  the  capitulation  of  Sedan,  should  be  struck  by 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


661 


the  same  political  downfall  as  the  accursed  dynasty  of  which 
they  were  the  guilty  instruments.”  In  this  decree  he  forbade 
the  election  to  the  National  Assembly  of  any  persons  who 
had  been  Councillors  of  State,  Ministers,  Senators,  members  of 
Departmental  Councils-General,  or  Government  candidates  for 
the  Corps  Ldgislatif  under  the  Empire.  In  plainer  words,  he 
forbade  the  candidacy  of  the  men  whom  the  people  had  been 
accustomed  for  the  last  twenty  years  to  regard  as  their  leaders. 
By  this  unlawful  and  tyrannical  measure,  this  despotic  viola¬ 
tion  of  the  rights  of  the  people  whose  sovereignty  he  pro¬ 
fessed  to  reverence,  he  hoped  to  secure  an  Assembly  of  Re¬ 
publicans  at  whose  hands  he  could  reasonably  expect  a  con¬ 
tinuance  of  his  powers. 

The  Armistice  required  that  the  elections  should  be  “  free,” 
and  as  this  decree  of  M.  Gambetta  was  a  plain  violation  of 
that  provision,  Count  Yon  Bismarck  at  once  addressed  a 
remonstrance  to  M.  Gambetta,  which  he  forwarded  to  him  by 
telegraph.  The  Chancellor  protested  against  the  decree  of 
the  Dictator  as  contrary  to  the  freedom  of  election  stipu¬ 
lated  by  the  Armistice,  and  stigmatized  it  as  an  “  arbitrary 
and  oppressive  ”  act  of  M.  Gambetta  himself.  Gambetta  at 
once  published  the  Prussian  telegram,  denounced  the  “  inso¬ 
lent  pretension”  of  Prussia  to  interfere  with  the  constitution 
of  a  French  Assembly,  and  declared  that  the  motive  of  that 
telegram  was  to  obtain  the  support  of  “  accomplices  and 
flatterers  of  the  fallen  dynasty,  and  allies  of  Count  Bismarck.” 

A  copy  of  Count  Bismarck’s  protest  was  also  laid  before 
the  Paris  Government,  and  was  received  by  that  body  with  a 
determination  to  enforce  the  provisions  of  the  Armistice.  M. 
Favre  informed  the  German  Premier  that  no  restrictions 
would  be  placed  upon  the  right  of  voting,  and  that  as  the 
country  desired  a  free  expression  of  its  will,  the  Paris  Govern¬ 
ment  would  see  that  M.  Gambetta’s  decree  was  rescinded. 

M.  Gambetta  had  not  only  not  been  consulted  by  the  Paris 
Government  in  the  negotiation  of  the  truce,  but  the  official 
dispatch  which  had  conveyed  the  announcement  to  him  had 
been  made  as  brief  and  curt  as  possible,  as  if  the  Ministers  in 


662 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Paris  were  fully  aware  of  the  trouble  which  their  dangerous 
colleague  would  cause  them.  They  had  simply  informed  him 
of  the  surrender  of  Paris  and  the  negotiation  of  the  Armistice, 
and  had  notified  him  that  a  member  of  the  Paris  Government 
would  be  sent  to  Bordeaux  to  make  further  arrangements. 
Naturally  M.  Gambetta  was  indignant  at  such  treatment.  He 
owed  his  colleagues  in  Paris  nothing,  while  he  could  claim  for 
himself  that  it  was  his  proposition  to  go  to  the  Hotel  de  Yille 
and  form  a  Provisional  Government  on  the  4th  of  September, 
that  had  brought  that  Government  into  existence.  He  had  as 
good  a  right  to  demand  war  as  they  had  to  insist  upon  peace, 
for  his  powers  came  from  the  same  source  as  their  own — the 
Paris  mob.  They  had  all  thrust  themselves  into  their  present 
places  without  asking  any  man’s  leave,  and  he  had  as  much 
right  to  be  Dictator  of  France  as  Favre  had  to  be  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs.  Favre  had  done  nothing  for  the  country, 
while  he,  Gambetta,  had  created  armies,  and  had  done  all  that 
had  been  done  to  maintain  what  was  left  of  the  ancient  mili¬ 
tary  renown  of  France. 

The  Paris  Government  now  determined  to  bring  Gambetta 
to  terms,  and  to  that  end  sent  M.  Jules  Simon  to  Bordeaux. 
A  decree  was  issued  at  Paris  expressly  annulling  that  issued 
at  Bordeaux  and  restoring  the  freedom  of  election.  It  also 
postponed  the  elections  from  Sunday  February  5th,  to  Wed¬ 
nesday,  the  8th,  in  order  to  prevent  any  confusion  arising 
from  the  Bordeaux  decree.  Jules  Simon  was  charged  with 
making  arrangements  from  Bordeaux  for  the  elections  in  the 
Provinces  ;  but  upon  his  arrival  in  that  city,  M.  Gambetta  and 
his  colleagues  of  the  Bordeaux  Government  refused  to  allow 
him  to  put  those  measures  into  execution,  and  in  a  circular 
published  in  the  Monileur  of  the  5th  of  February,  stated  that 
they  felt  it  their  duty  to  maintain  their  own  decree,  for  the 
sake  of  the  national  interest  and  honor,  despite  “  the  inter¬ 
ference  of  Bismarck  in  the  internal  affairs  of  France.”  M. 
Jules  Simon  could  not  find  a  bill-sticker  in  Bordeaux  willing 
to  undertake  the  dangerous  task  of  placarding  the  decree  of 
the  Paris  Government,  and  five  journals  which  had  the  inde- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


663 


pendence  to  publish  it  were  seized  by  orders  of  the  Bordeaux 
Government.  Jules  Simon  was  then  reenforced  by  three 
other  members  of  the  Paris  Government,  MM.  Arago,  E. 
Pelldtan,  and  Gamier  Pages,  and  measures  were  set  on  foot 
to  enforce  the  Paris  decree.  Thereupon,  MM.  Gambetta, 
Cremieux,  and  Fourichon  resigned  their  offices.  The  two 
latter  were  persuaded  to  retain  their  positions  until  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Assembly,  and  they  withdrew  their  resignations, 
M.  Gambetta  alone  retiring  to  private  life. 

So  passed  from  power  the  man  who  had  been  for  four 
months  the  Dictator  of  France,  and  billing  thus  there  were  few 
to  lament  his  fate.  He  it  was  who  had  infused  life  into  the 
dry  bones  of  the  Provisional  Government  which  his  audacity 
had  called  into  existence.  He  it  was  who  had  raised  France 
up  out  of  the  dust  of  her  humiliation,  and  had  given  her  some 
memories  of  the  war  on  which  she  could  now  look  back  with 
pride.  He  had  exhibited  more  energy,  more  vigor  and 
originality  of  resource,  more  determination  of  will  than  any 
other  member  of  the  Provisional  Government,  and  he  had 
done  much  for  his  country.  But  with  all  this  he  had  so  far 
forfeited  the  confidence  of  his  countrymen  that  his  downfall 
was  regarded  with  intense  satisfaction  all  over  France,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  districts  in  the  south.  The  nation  felt 
that  he  had  led  it  on  with  brilliant  promises  when  he  had  no 
solid  foundation  for  those  promises,  and  had  but  led  it  on  to 
greater  disaster.  He  had  promised  it  victories  without  the 
means  of  achieving  them  ;  and,  furthermore,  it  distrusted  him, 
as  it  distrusted  all  his  colleagues.  It  felt  that  while  he  sin¬ 
cerely  desired  to  save  France,  he  was  not  willing  that  France 
should  be  saved  by  another.  It  had  seen  with  distrust  his 
efforts  to  use  the  patriotism  of  the  people  to  advance  his  own 
ends,  his  determination  to  force  a  ^Republic  upon  France 
whether  the  country  desired  it  or  not,  and  his  intrigues  by 
which  the  efficiency  of  the  commanders  and  troops  in  the 
field  was  impaired.  There  was  a  profound  convictii  n  ii  the 
French  mind  that  no  man  ought  to  be  trusted  in  that  1  our 
of  trial  who  was  not  willing  to  sacrifice  himself  to  g i  in  even 
the  smallest  advantage  for  France. 


664 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Under  a  strong  firm  Government,  capable  of  directing  bis 
talents  within  useful  channels,  Leon  Gambetta  would  have 
risen  to  eminence  as  a  Cabinet  Minister ;  but  he  was  not  the 
man  to  hold  unlimited  power.  His  ambition,  however,  was 
to  rule  France.  While  nominally  a  republican,  he  had  shown 
himself  the  most  daring  of  despots.  He  had  prevented  the 
formation  of  a  National  Assembly  during  the  early  part  of 
the  siege  of  Paris,  had  silenced  the  press  wherever  it  had 
ventured  to  oppose  or  criticise  his  policy,  had  suppressed  the 
Councils-General  of  the  Departments,  had  removed  and  ap¬ 
pointed  military  officials  at  will,  and,  as  was  popularly  be¬ 
lieved,  to  suit  his  own  ends,  and  had  given  the  civil  appoint¬ 
ments  of  the  State,  as  far  as  was  practicable,  to  none  but  those 
who  were  willing  to  support  his  authority.  He  had  done 
much  for  his  country,  but  he  had  also  tried  to  do  too  much 
for  himself,  and  he  met  the  just  punishment  of  his  ambitious 
and  unscrupulous  career  since  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  in  the 
general  indifference  with  which  his  downfall  was  contemplated 
at  home  and  abroad. 

Having  gotten  rid  of  M.  Gambetta,  the  Provisional  Govern¬ 
ment  proceeded  to  the  task  of  electing  delegates  to  the 
National  Assembly,  and  while  these  measures  were  going  on, 
the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  issued  the  following  address  to 
the  French  people : 

Wilhelmshohe,  February  8. 

Betrayed  by  fortune,  I  have  kept  since  my  captivity  a  profound  silence, 
which  is  misfortune’s  mourning.  As  long  as  the  armies  confronted  each 
other  I  abstained  from  any  steps  or  words  capable  of  causing  party  dis¬ 
sensions  ;  but  I  can  no  longer  remain  silent  before  my  country’s  disas¬ 
ters  without  appearing  insensible  of  its  sufferings.  When  I  was  made  a 
prisoner  I  could  not  treat  for  peace  because  my  resolutions  would  ap¬ 
pear  to  have  been  dictated  by  personal  considerations.  I  left  the  Regent 
to  decide  whether  it  was  to  the  interest  of  the  nation  to  continue  the 
struggle.  Notwithstanding  the  unparalleled  reverses,  France  was  un¬ 
subdued  her  strongholds  unreduced,  a  few  departments  invaded,  and 
Paris  in  a  state  of  defence.  The  extent  of  her  misfortunes  might  possi¬ 
bly  hav  :  been  limited,  but  while  attention  was  directed  to  her  enemies 
an  insu  rection  arose  at  Paris,  the  seat  of  the  Representatives  was  vio¬ 
lated,  t  ;e  safety  of  the  Empress  was  threatened,  and  the  empire,  which 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


665 


had  been  three  times  acclaimed  by  the  people,  was  overthrown  and 
abandoned.  Stilling  my  presentiments,  I  exclaimed,  “  What  matter  my 
dynasty  if  the  country  is  saved  1”  Instead  of  protesting  against  the 
violation  of  my  right,  I  hoped  for  the  success  of  the  defence  and  ad¬ 
mired  the  patriotic  devotion  of  the  children  of  France.  Now,  when  the 
struggle  is  suspended  and  all  reasonable  chance  of  victory  has  disap¬ 
peared,  is  the  time  to  call  to  account  the  usurpers  for  bloodshed  and 
ruin  and  squandered  resources.  It  is  impossible  to  abandon  the  desti¬ 
nies  of  France  to  an  unauthorized  Government  which  was  left  no  au¬ 
thority  emanating  from  universal  suffrage.  Order,  confidence,  and  a 
solid  peace  are  only  recoverable  when  the  people  are  consulted  respect¬ 
ing  the  Government  most  capable  of  repairing  the  disasters  to  the  coun¬ 
try.  It  is  essential  that  France  should  be  united  in  her  wishes.  Foi 
myself,  bruised  by  injustice  and  bitter  deceptions,  I  do  not  know  or 
claim  my  repeatedly  confirmed  rights.  There  is  no  room  for  personal 
ambition.  But,  till  the  people  are  regularly  assembled  and  express 
their  will,  it  is  my  duty  to  say  that  all  acts  are  illegitimate.  There  is 
only  one  Government,  in  which  resides  the  national  sovereignty,  able  to 
heal  the  wounds,  to  bring  hope  to  the  firesides,  to  reopen  the  profaned 
churches  for  prayers,  and  to  restore  industry,  concord,  and  peace. 

Napoleon. 

This  address  was  issued  on  the  day  of  the  election,  and  was 
too  late  to  have  any  effect  upon  the  voting.  It  was  designed 
more  as  a  declaration  of  the  Emperor’s  intention  to  assert  the 
rights  which  the  nation  had  conferred  upon  him,  than  for 
any  other  purpose.  The  Imperial  cause  had  been  very 
greatly  damaged  by  the  decree  of  M.  Gainbetta.  This  had 
been  generally  circulated  throughout  France,  and  it  was  as¬ 
serted  at  the  time,  that  the  orders  of  the  Paris  Government 
annulling  it,  were  so  imperfectly  understood  in  the  Provinces 
at  the  period  of  the  elections,  that  numbers  of  voters  were 
deterred  from  voting  for  candidates  favorable  to  the  Empire, 
as  they  had  at  first  intended.  They  supposed  that  such  can¬ 
didates,  if  chosen,  would  be  declared  ineligible,  and  there  was 
no  time  to  waste  on  new  elections. 

The  elections  were  held  on  the  8th  of  February,  through¬ 
out  France  ;  Alsace  and  Lorraine  being  permitted  to  chose 
deputies,  to  represent  them  for  the  last  time  in  a  French 
Assembly.  To  facilitate  the  result,  the  German  telegraph 
offices  in  the  places  occupied  by  the  conquerors  were  ordered 


666 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


to  receive  and  forward  the  messages  of  the  French  authori¬ 
ties  relative  to  the  electoral  operations.  All  restrictions 
which  had  until  this  time  been  imposed  by  the  Germans  on 
the  press  in  the  districts  occupied  by  them,  were  removed, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  render  the  canvass  entirely  free 
and  unrestrained.  The  Paris  Government  had  forbidden  the 
candidacy  of  any  member  of  the  Bonaparte  or  Bourbon  fami¬ 
lies,  but  -with  this  exception,  the  polls  were  open  to  men  of 
all  parties. 

The  result  astonished  the  entire  country.  In  Paris  the 
ultra  Republicans  were  triumphant,  owing  in  a  great  measure 
to  the  fact  that  the  respectable  classes  either  abstained  from 
voting  or  had  left  the  city.  The  delegates  elected  from  the 
capital  were,  in  the  order  of  their  majorities:  Louis  Blanc, 
Victor  Hugo,  Garibaldi,  E.  Quinet,  Gambetta,  Rochefort, 
Delescluze,  Admiral  Saisset,  Schoelcher,  Dorian,  Joigneaux, 
Admiral  Pothuan,  Lecroy,  Bernard,  Felix  Pyat,  Gambon, 
Brisson,  and  Floquet,  and  a  number  of  others  more  or  less 
unknown  in  political  circles.  With  but  a  few  exceptions  the 
delegates  represented  only  the  worst  and  most  dangerous 
classes  of  the  capital.  At  Toulon,  Avignon,  and  Nice,  where 
the  canvass  was  marked  by  considerable  disturbances,  the 
Red  Republicans  were  successful,  also  at  Brest  and  Havre.  * 

*  “  The  news  flashed  across  the  wires  from  ill-fated  France  to-day  (Feb. 
8th,  1871,)  was  as  follows  : 

“ 1  France  presents  the  melancholy  spectacle  of  a  once  proud  and  powerful 
nation  at  the  mercy  of  a  noisy,  turbulent,  and  unprincipled  crew  of  dema¬ 
gogues.  Special  dispatches  from  Paris,  Lyons,  Bordeaux,  and  other  points, 
serve  to  show  the  wretched  character  of  the  majority  of  the  men  who  are 
candidates  for  the  National  Assembly.  It  seems  as  though  the  very  slums 
of  Paris,  Lyons,  Bordeaux,  and  Marseilles  have  thrown  up  their  refuse  to  be 
used  by  the  unprincipled  demagogues  who  wield  temporary  power  in  France. 
While  famishing  people  cry  for  bread  in  the  streets  of  Paris,  the  mob  yell  for 
a  Robespierre  and  the  guillotine.  In  the  agony  of  their  despair,  the  terror- 
stricken  people  suffer  in  silence,  afraid  to  speak  their  thoughts,  or  raise  their 
hands  to  save  themselves  from  the  tide  of  violence  which  threatens  them  with 
destruction.  The  mob  rule,  and  despotism  is  the  law.  Truly  France  is  suf¬ 
fering.  Bleeding  from  every  pore,  paralyzed  in  every  part,  humiliated,  cast 
down,  and  prostrate,  she  is  even  now,  in  this  bitter  hour,  tormented  by  the 
dissensions  and  evil  teachings  of  her  children.’  ” — New  York  Herald. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


667 


Three  thousand  candidates  are  said  to  have  offered  themselves 
for  the  suffrages  of  the  people  of  France,  and  out  of  this  num¬ 
ber  an  Assembly  overwhelmingly  conservative  was  chosen. 
M.  Thiers  was  chosen  by  no  less  than  eighteen  departments, 
but  there  were  very  few  men  of  the  first  rank  among  the  suc¬ 
cessful  candidates. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  the  National  Assembly  met  at 
Bordeaux.  About  270  members  were  present — not  quite 
half  of  the  whole  number— but  it  was  decided  to  organize  the 
Assembly,  and  then  adjourn  to  await  the  arrival  of  a  quorum. 
The  session  was  held  in  the  Grand  Theatre,  one  of  the  most 
beautiful,  though  not  one  of  the  largest,  in  the  world.  M. 
Benoit  d’Azy,  being  the  oldest  member  present,  was  called 
to  the  chair.  The  Assembly  then  declared  itself  constituted, 
in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  M.  Arago,  and  proceeded  to  ap¬ 
point  as  Secretaries  of  the  Chamber  the  four  youngest  mem¬ 
bers  present. 

The  next  day  the  Chamber  met  again,  and  M.  J ules  Fa vre,  in 
the  name  of  himself  and  his  colleagues  of  the  Provisional 
Government,  resigned  into  the  hands  of  the  Assembly  the 
powers  they  had  held  since  September.  He  said : 

We  have  borne  the  burden  of  government,  but  we  had  no  other  pre 
occupations  than  to  be  able  under  the  existing  circumstances  to  remit 
temporary  powers  into  the  hands  of  the  National  Assembly.  Thanks 
to  your  patriotism  and  reunion,  we  hope  that  the  country,  having  been 
taught  by  misfortune,  will  know  how  to  heal  her  wounds  and  to  recon¬ 
stitute  the  national  existence.  We  no  longer  hold  any  power.  We  de¬ 
pend  entirely  upon  your  decision.  We  confidently  expect  the  constitu¬ 
tion  of  the  new  and  legitimate  powers.  I  confidently  await  your 
judgment.  I  hope  that  I  shall  be  able  to  confirm  to  those  with  whom 
we  have  to  negotiate,  that  the  country  can  do  its  duty  (loud  cheers). 
The  enemy  must  know  that  we  have  the  honor  of  France  at  heart.  He 
will  also  know  that  all  France  will  decide.  In  conformity  with  the 
eventuality  already  foreseen  by  the  Convention,  a  prolongation  of  the 
Armistice  will  probably  become  necessary.  Let  us  render  this  pro¬ 
longation  as  short  as  possible  in  order  not  to  lose  a  moment,  and  let  us 
but  think  of  the  sufferings  of  the  population  of  the  invaded  districts. 
I  hope  that  I  may  depend  on  your  concurrence  to  obtain  this  needful 
delay. 


668 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


He  also  stated  that  he  and  his  colleagues  would  continue  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  their  positions  until  their  successors 
were  appointed ;  and  informed  the  Chamber  that  he  would 
have  to  start  that  evening  for  Paris  to  conduct  certain  delicate 
negotiations,  the  objects  of  which  he  would  explain  at  a  fu¬ 
ture  period. 

At  the  opening  of  the  session  General  Garibaldi,  who  had 
been  informed  of  the  purpose  of  the  majority  to  oppose  his 
admission  as  a  delegate  on  the  ground  of  his  being  a  foreigner, 
had  sent  his  resignation  to  the  President,  and  towards  the 
close  of  the  sitting  he  made  an  attempt  to  address  the  Cham¬ 
ber.  Says  one  who  witnessed  the  scene  : 

“  When  the  formality  of  naming  the  bureaux  had  been 
gone  through,  and  I  rather  think  after  the  President  had  de¬ 
clared  the  sitting  at  an  end,  General  Garibaldi  advanced  to 
wards  the  tribune,  and  M.  Esquiros,  deputy  for  Marseilles,  ex¬ 
claimed  in  a  loud  voice,  ‘  Garibaldi  asked  to  speak  some  time 
ago,  hear  him!’  A  tumultuous  scene  ensued.  Vehement 
cries  of  ‘  Hear  Garibaldi !  ’  were  met  by  others,  equally  ener¬ 
getic,  of  ‘  No  Garibaldi !  ’  ‘  No  Italian  !  ’  ‘  Let  him  hold  his 

tongue!’  The  public  in  the  tribunes  took  part  with  Gari¬ 
baldi,  and  several  National  Guards  said,  ‘  It  is  infamous. 
These  men  are  sold !  ’  One  man,  with  a  long  black  beard, 
roared  out  from  an  upper  box,  ‘You  rural  majority,  listen  to 
the  voice  of  the  towns !  ’  In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  the 
President  put  on  his  hat,  and  gave  orders  to  clear  the  galleries 
of  strangers.  There  was  no  occasion  to  obey  the  order,  as 
Garibaldi  gave  up  the  attempt  to  speak,  and  members  and 
strangers  all  left  the  house  together.” 

Garibaldi  received  quite  an  ovation  from  the  citizens  upon 
leaving  the  theatre,  and,  after  thanking  them  and  stating  that 
though  he  should  be  happy  to  serve  Republican  France  in 
any  way,  he  considered  his  mission  now  over,  he  informed  them 
that  he  should  start  that  night  for  his  home  in  Caprera. 

On  the  16th,  a  quorum  being  present,  the  Chamber  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  the  election  of  a  permanent  President.  M.  Grevy, 
a  Moderate  Republican,  was  chosen  by  a  vote  of  519  to  19, 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


669 


and  the  permanent  organization  of  the  Assembly  was  effected. 
On  the  same  day.  M.  Keller,  a  deputy  from  Alsace,  pre¬ 
sented  a  declaration  signed  by  the  deputies  of  the  Departments 
of  the  Lower  and  Upper  Rhine,  Meurthe  and  Moselle,  in  which 
lay  the  territories  which  it  was  understood  Germany  claimed 
from  France.  He  prayed  the  Assembly  to  take  the  memorial 
into  immediate  consideration.  It  was  as  follows: 

“  The  National  Assembly,  France,  and  Europe,  which  are 
witnesses  of  the  exactions  of  Prussia,  cannot  permit  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  an  act  which  would  rend  Alsace  and  Lorraine  from 
France.  We  are,  and  will  forever  remain,  French,  in  good 
as  well  as  in  ill  fortune.  We  have  sealed  with  our  own  blood 
the  indissoluble  past  which  unites  us  to  France,  and  we  affirm 
once  more,  in  the  depth  of  all  our  trials,  our  immovable  loyalty 
towards  the  Fatherland.  France  cannot  abandon  those  who 
will  not  be  separated  from  her.  The  National  Assembly, 
sprung  from  universal  suffrage,  could  not  concede  demands 
tending  to  destroy  the  nationality  of  a  whole  population. 
Neither  can  the  people,  in  its  electoral  colleges,  allow  it.  As 
little  can  Europe  confirm  these  criminal  attempts,  and  let  a 
whole  people  be  treated  as  a  herd  of  tame  beasts.  Peace,  in 
the  consideration  of  a  cession  of  territory,  will  never  be  a 
durable  peace,  but  merely  a  momentary  truce,  soon  to  be  fol¬ 
lowed  by  another  war.  As  to  ourselves,  inhabitants  of  Alsace 
and  Lorraine,  we  are  ready  to  resume  fighting,  and  therefore 
we  shall  beforehand  hold  as  null  and  void  any  offers,  treaty, 
votes,  or  plebiscite  which  would  have  for  effect  to  sever  Al¬ 
sace  and  Lorraine  from  France.  We  proclaim  our  right  to 
remain  united  to  French  soil,  and  we  formally  engage  to  de¬ 
fend  our  honor.” 

M.  Keller,  having  read  this  declaration,  appealed  to  the  As¬ 
sembly  to  oppose  moral  to  mere  brute  force,  and  to  proclaim 
the  inviolability  of  the  connection  with  Alsace  and  Lorraine. 
“We  hold  forth  our  hand  to  you,”  he  said,  “do  not  refuse  to 
hold  forth  yours.” 

His  remarks  created  a  profound  impression  upon  the  House, 
and  were  warmly  applauded.  M.  Henri  Rochefort  demanded 


670 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


that  the  declaration  should  be  at  once  referred  to  the  bureaux, 
in  order  that  the  House  might  give  positive  instructions  to 
the  negotiators  concerning  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  or  leave  them 
perfectly  free  to  conduct  the  negotiations. 

M.  Thiers  then  rose,  and  said  that  from  the  bottom  of  his 
heart  he  fully  shared  M.  Keller’s  feelings,  adding  that,  in 
presence  of  the  grave  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed, 
it  was  the  duty  of  the  Chamber  to  adopt  the  only  decision  be¬ 
coming  its  dignity.  “It  is  not  to-morrow,”  said  he,  “but  at 
once  that  we  must  discuss  and  vote  on  this  proposal.  The 
House  cannot  await  the  constitution  of  a  Government,  but 
must  itself  decide,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  privileges,  the 
responsibility  it  is  to  assume.  It  is  important  that  its  wishes 
should  be  known.  As  to  myself,  I  have  devoted  my  whole 
life  to  my  country,  and  I  am  still  prepared  to  devote  all  my 
efforts  to  France.  But  it  is  the  duty  of  the  House  to  settle 
this  question.  Let  us  not  wait  twenty-four  hours,  but  let  us 
meet  immediately  in  our  bureaux  and  declare  our  wishes.” 

The  President  then  consulted  the  Chamber,  which  decided 
in  favor  of  M.  Thiers’  proposition.  The  sitting  was  suspended 
to  allow  a  reference  of  M.  Keller’s  declaration  to  the  bureaux, 
whose  report  in  a  short  time  was  laid  before  the  Assembly. 
In  accordance  with  this  report,  which  was  due  chiefly  to  the 
influence  of  M.  Thiers,  the  Assembly  adopted  a  resolution  of 
sympathy  with  the  people  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  and  re¬ 
ferred  M.  Keller’s  declaration  to  the  Peace  Commissioners,  to 
be  dealt  with  as  they  might  find  practicable.  Germany  was 
already  in  possession  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  and  it  was  not 
in  the  power  of  France  to  compel  her  to  relinquish  them,  and 
so  the  Assembly  refrained  from  arraying  itself  against  what 
it  could  not  successfully  oppose. 

The  Assembly  now  proceeded  to  form  a  Government  for 
France,  in  order  that  the  civil  administration  of  the  country 
and  the  negotiations  with  the  Germans  might  go  on  with  re¬ 
gularity.  A  Republican  form  of  Government  was  decided 
upon,  and  was  organized,  with  the  understanding  that  it  should 
continue  in  power  until  the  close  of  the  war  should  give  the 


671 


Rue  de  Rivoli,  as  seen  from  the  Tower  of  St.  Jacques  :  Paris. 


672 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


country  an  opportunity  of  deciding  upon  a  permanent  estab¬ 
lishment.  The  Assembly,  with  great  unanimity,  chose  M 
Thiers  Chief  of  the  Executive,  as  the  head  of  the  new  Govern¬ 
ment  was  styled. 

The  choice  was  a  wise  one.  M.  Thiers  was  nearly  seventy- 
four  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  election,  and  enjoyed  the  re¬ 
putation  of  being  one  ot  the  ablest  and  most  far-sighted  states¬ 
men  in  Europe.  He  had  spent  nearly  forty  years  of  his  life 
in  the  public  service,  and  had  by  his  refusal  to  join  the  Pro¬ 
visional  Government  in  September,  1870,  as  well  as  by  his 
patriotic  efforts  to  secure  foreign  aid  for  France,  immediately 
afterwards  gained  for  himself  the  confidence  of  the  nation,  and 
his  election  was  greeted  with  satisfaction.  It  was  felt  through¬ 
out  France  that  the  country  had  been  committed  to  the  care 
of  a  trained  and  competent  statesman,  who  was  immeasurably 
superior  to  the  blunderers  of  the  Provisional  Government, 
and  that  if  he  could  not  obtain  a  settlement  in  accordance  with 
the  national  wish  he  would  at  least  gain  from  the  Germans  all 
that  it  was  possible  to  draw  from  them.  A  writer  of  the  day 
quaintly  remarked,  “  If  France  is  indeed  dead,  M.  Thiers  will 
give  her  a  first  class  funeral.” 

Apart  from  all  this,  it  was  fitting  that  the  man  who  had 
done  so  much  to  bring  on  the  war  should  be  called  upon  to 
settle  the  terms  of  peace  ;  that  he  who  had  been  the  bitterest 
enemy  of  German  unity,  should  be  the  one  to  stamp  it  with 
the  seal  of  his  official  acknowledgment.  He  it  was  who  had 
sown  deepest  in  the  French  heart  the  desire  to  recover  the 
strength  and  glories  of  the  first  Empire,  and  he  had  nursed 
this  feeling  until  it  attained  a  strength  which  no  Government 
could  have  controlled.  For  years  he  had  labored  to  keep 
alive  the  Red  Republican  hostility  to  the  Empire,  and  had 
thrown  most  formidable  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  efforts  of 
the  Emperor  to  rid  Paris  of  the  element  of  socialism  which 
has  risen  at  last  against  M.  Thiers  himself.  With  all  his  genius, 
all  his  patriotism,  he  had  been  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  his  , 
country’s  humiliation,  and  it  was  but  fitting  that  the  crown¬ 
ing  of  his  ambitious  hopes  should  be  the  completion  of  that 
sorrow. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


673 


On  the  19th  of  February,  M.  Thiers  appeared  in  the  As¬ 
sembly,  and  announced  to  that  body  that,  though  saddened 
by  the  painful  task  imposed  upon  him  by  the  country,  he  ac¬ 
cepted  the  post  of  Chief  of  the  Executive  and  its  duties,  with 
obedience,  devotion,  and  love,  sentiments  of  which  France 
stood  all  the  more  in  need,  inasmuch  as  she  was  unfortunate — - 
more  unfortunate  than  at  any  former  period  of  her  history. 
But,  he  added,  she  is  still  great,  young,  rich,  and  full  of  re¬ 
sources,  and  will  always  remain  a  lasting  monument  of  human 
energy.  He  then  announced  the  names  of  the  Ministry  chosen 
by  him,  and  said  that  in  selecting  them  he  had  been  guided 
solely  by  the  public  esteem  they  enjoyed,  their  public  char¬ 
acters  and  capacities.  They  were  * 

M.  Dufaure,  Minister  of  Justice. 

M.  Jules  Favre,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 

M.  Picard,  Minister  of  the  Interior. 

M.  Jules  Simon,  Minister  of  Public  Instruction. 

M .  Lambrecht,  Minister  of  Commerce. 

General  Le  F16,  Minister  of  War. 

Admiral  Pothuan,  Minister  of  the  Marine. 

M.  De  Larcy,  Minister  of  Public  Worlcs. 

M.  Thiers  said  the  new  Government  had  no  programme  to 
lay  down,  there  being  but  one  course  open  to  it  at  the  time, 
to  put  an  end  to  the  evils  afflicting  the  country,  and  to  termi¬ 
nate  the  occupation  by  the  enemy.  The  country  was  in  need 
of  peace,  but  peace  must  be  courageously  discussed,  and  ac¬ 
cepted  only  if  honorable.  He  informed  the  Chamber  that  the 
Councils-General  and  Municipalities  would  be  at  once  recon¬ 
stituted  by  fresh  elections ;  and  that  the  Government  would 
devote  all  its  energies  to  calm  and  reorganize  the  country,  to 
revive  credit,  and  re-establish  industry  ;  nothing  was  more  ur¬ 
gent  than  that  task.  “  I  cannot  imagine,”  he  said  in  conclusion, 
“that  any  one  can  occupy  himself  with  the  Constitutional 
question  while  France  is  debating  in  the  grasp  of  the  enemy. 
Such  is  our  policy.  Every  man  of  sense,  be  he  a  Monarchist 
or  a  Republican,  can  work  usefully  for  the  interest  of  the 
country,  so  that  it  may  at  the  proper  time  declare  under  what 
form  of  Government  it  desires  to  exist,  and  then,  with  the  full 
43 


674 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


knowledge  of  its  wants,  we  can  decide  our  destiny,  and  that 
not  merely  by  a  majority,  but  by  the  national  will.  Such  is 
the  policy  to  which  my  colleagues  and  I  devote  ourselves. 
To  give  your  assistance  to  a  policy  whose  only  objects  are  the 
interests  of  the  country  will  be  to  confer  the  strongest  power 
upon  your  negotiators.” 

M.  Jules  Favre  then  stated  that  the  Government  had 
deemed  it  necessary  to  unite  Parliamentary  powers  with  those 
of  the  Executive,  and  proposed,  therefore,  that,  in  order  to 
facilitate  the  negotiations,  the  Assembly  should  appoint  a 
committee  of  fifteen  deputies  to  proceed  at  once  to  Paris,  who 
should  be  in  constant  communication  with  the  negotiators. 
The  latter  would  be  empowered  to  treat  in  the  name  of  the 
country,  and  the  Commission  would  be  informed  of  the  nego¬ 
tiations,  and  would  at  a  later  period  report  thereupon  to  the 
Assembly.  The  Commission  was  appointed,  and  at  the  re¬ 
quest  of  M.  Thiers  the  Assembly  decided  to  suspend  its  ses¬ 
sions  during  the  progress  of  the  negotiations.  MM.  Thiers, 
Favre,  and  Picard  immediately  set  out  for  Paris  to  conduct 
the  negotiations  with  Count  Bismarck  at  Versailles. 

The  new  Government  of  France  had  now  the-  stamp  of 
popular  approval  upon  it,  and  was  not  open  to  the  objections 
which  the  Germans  had  urged  against  the  Provisional  Gov¬ 
ernment.  It  was  authorized  by  the  nation  to  consider  the 
question  of  peace  or  war,  and  its  decision  would  be  binding 
upon  the  country.  It  was  promptly  recognized  by  the  Neu¬ 
tral  Powers,  whose  representatives  cordially  congratulated 
M.  Thiers  upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency. 

Meanwhile,  while  the  elections  for  the  Assembly  and  the 
peace  negotiations  occupied  the  attention  of  the  French,  the 
Germans  were  busy  preparing  for  a  continuance  of  the  war 
in  case  the  negotiations  proved  futile.  Measures  were  taken 
for  an  advance  against  Chanzy  in  the  West,  and  Faidherbein 
the  North,  and  for  the  invasion  of  the  south  of  France.  Heavy 
fines  were  imposed  on  several  of  the  cities  occupied  by  them, 
and  the  contribution  of  200,000,000  francs  levied  upon  the 
city  of  Paris  was  exacted  according  to  the  letter  of  the  Ar- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


675 


mistice.  It  was  raised  by  a  subscription  on  the  part  of  the 
bankers,  who  advanced  the  money  to  the  municipality,  and 
received  in  return  the  bonds  of  the  city  issued  for  that  pur¬ 
pose.  The  arrangements  for  the  election  and  meeting  of  the 
National  Assembly  having  consumed  more  time  than  it  was 
at  first  thought  would  be  necessary,  the  Armistice,  on  the 
16th  of  February,  was  extended  by  mutual  consent  of  the 
parties  to  the  agreement,  to  the  24th  of  that  month. 

M.  Thiers  reached  Paris  from  Bordeaux  on  the  night  of 
Monday,  the  20th  of  February,  and  the  next  morning  set  out 
for  Versailles,  where  he  Avas  met  by  Count  Von  Bismarck, 
and  the  two  statesmen  at  once  began  the  task  of  arranging  the 
terms  of  peace — a  very  simple  undertaking  on  the  part  of  the 
German  Chancellor,  but  a  very  difficult  one  on  the  part  of  the 
French  President.  The  action  of  the  Assembly  on  the  pro¬ 
posal  of  M.  Keller  had  left  M.  Thiers  free  to  accept  the  best 
terms  he  could  obtain,  but  it  was  well  understood  by  him  that 
these  would  be  very  hard.  For  sometime  past  the  Germans 
had  made  no  secret  of  their  intention  to  require  a  considera¬ 
ble  cession  of  territory,  and  the  payment  of  a  large  indemnity 
as  the  pricS  of  peace,  and  M.  Thiers  had  little  hope  of  receiv¬ 
ing  from  them  any  modification  of  these  hard  conditions. 
When  the  conference  had  been  formally  opened,  he  was  ap¬ 
palled  by  the  demands  which  the  German  Chancellor,  in  the 
name  of  the  Emperor,  laid  before  him.  These  were  the  ces¬ 
sion  of  Alsace  and  a  part  of  Lorraine,  including  Metz  and 
Belfort,  to  Germany,  and  the  payment  of  five  milliards  of 
francs,  or  $1,000,000,000.  M.  Thiers  had  come  to  the  con¬ 
clusion  that  it  would  be  useless  to  deny  the  principles  of  a 
pecuniary  indemnity  and  the  cession  of  territory,  but  he  was 
not  prepared  for  such  extraordinary  demands  on  the  part  of 
the  conquerors,  and  he  set  to  work  with  resolution  to  procure 
an  abatement  of  them. 

France,  he  argued,  was  willing  to  pay  a  reasonable  sum  to 
Germany,  but  the  amount  required  of  her  was  beyond  her 
ability  to  pay.  The  country  had  been  weighed  down  by  the 
expenses  of  the  war,  it  had  suffered  serious  injuries  and  losses 


676 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


from  the  contending  forces,  and  it  would  be  many  years 
before  it  would  be  again  prosperous  in  its  finances.  It  would 
have  its  own  war  debt  to  pay,  besides  making  good  the  losses 
incurred  in  the  payment  of  the  contributions  which  the  Ger¬ 
mans  had  already  exacted  ;  and  it  would  be  in  no  condition 
to  assume  such  an  obligation  as  the  Germans  demanded  of  it. 
Merely  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  loan  which  would  be  re¬ 
quired  to  meet  such  an  indemnity,  would  drag  the  great  mass 
of  tax  payers  in  France  to  the  verge  of  ruin.  M.  Thiers 
brought  every  argument  of  which  he  was  master  to  bear  upon 
the  German  Chancellor,  but  without  effect.  Count  Bismarck 
met  his  efforts  with  the  answer  that  as  France  had  forced  the 
Germans  into  the  war  and  compelled  them  to  incur  its  ex¬ 
penses,  France  must  pay  the  cost  of  the  war.  He  denied  that 
the  payment  of  the  indemnity  was  impossible  to  France.  The 
country,  as  M.  Thiers  himself  had  said,  was  young,  vigorous, 
and  full  of  resources,  and  by  careful  economy  could  meet  all 
its  obligations.  France  could  choose  between  the  alternatives 
presented  to  her,  a  compliance  with  the  German  demand,  or  a 
continuance  of  the  war.  Knowing  that  the  country  was  in 
no  condition  to  continue  the  war  successfully,  M.  Thiers  ac¬ 
cepted  the  other  alternative,  and  agreed  that  the  heavy  indem¬ 
nity  should  be  paid. 

The  question  of  the  cession  of  territory  then  came  up,  and 
it  was  found  more  difficult  of  adjustment  than  the  other.  M. 
Thiers  had  made  up  his  mind  to  surrender  Alsace  and  Stras¬ 
bourg,  but  he  was  determined  to  exhaust  every  effort  to 
retain  Lorraine,  and,  above  all,  Metz,  the  pride  of  France. 
The  negotiations  on  this  point  occupied  several  days.  M. 
Thiers  offered  to  redeem  the  fortress,  to  raze  it  to  the  ground, 
to  bind  France  not  to. rebuild  it,  but  without  avail  ;  and  find¬ 
ing  Count  Bismarck  inexorable,  he  sought  an  interview  with 
the  Emperor  of  Germany  and  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia, 
and  appealed  to  them  not  to  insist  upon  the  surrender  of  Metz. 
He  was  courteously  received  by  these  august  personages,  but 
was  informed  that  the  negotiations  were  entirely  in  the  hands 
of  Count  Bismarck,  to  whom  M.  Thiers  made  his  final  appeal. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


677 


Count  Bismarck  told  him  that  as  Metz  had  been  won  by  the 
best  blood  of  Germany,  the  German  people  were  resolved  to 
retain  it  as  a  bulwark  against  French  aggression,  and  that  it 
was  not  in  his  power  either  to  control  or  oppose  that  resolu¬ 
tion.  As  a  compensation  for  the  loss  of  Metz,  the  Chancellor 
offered  to  restore  to  France  the  fortress  of  Belfort  which  had 
been  recently  surrendered  to  General  Yon  Treskow.  A  better 
settlement  was  impossible,  and  M.  Thiers  was  obliged  to 
accept  the  German  terms  in  every  particular. 

The  Armistice,  as  first  extended,  was  about  to  expire  before 
a  definite  conclusion  had  been  reached,  and  on  the  22d  of 
February  it  was  again  extended,  at  the  request  of  M.  Thiers, 
this  time  from  the  24th  to  the  26th.  Count  Bismarck,  in  noti¬ 
fying  M.  Thiers  of  the  granting  of  his  request  by  the  Empe¬ 
ror  of  Germany,  informed  him  that  no  further  extension  was 
possible,  and  announced  that  in  the  event  of  the  signature  of 
a  treaty  of  peace,  a  German  corps  d’armee  would  occupy 
Paris  from  the  date  of  the  expiration  of  the  Armistice  until 
the  ratification  of  the  treaty  by  the  Bordeaux  Assembly. 
Against  this  last  humiliation  M.  Thiers  struggled  energeti¬ 
cally,  and  informed  Count  Bismarck  that  the  occupation  of 
Paris  would  so  deeply  wound  the  feelings  of  the  citizens  as 
in  all  probability  to  bring  on  a  collision  between  the  citizens 
and  the  German  troops,  which  would  inflict  needless  suffering 
upon  each.  Count  Bismarck  informed  him  that  in  settling 
the  manner  and  duration  of  the  occupation  his  representations 
would  be  considered,  but  declined  to  forego  this  last  triumph 
for  the  conquering  army.  The  negotiations  occupied  six  days, 
the  conferences  extending  over  the  greater  part  of  each  day. 
The  last  meeting  was  held  on  the  26th  of  February,  and  at 
six  o’clock  P.  M.  the  preliminary  treaty  was  signed  by  Count 
Bismarck  and  M.  Thiers. 

The  next  day  each  Government  made  known  the  fact  that 
a  treaty  had  been  signed.  The  Emperor  William  addressed 
a  congratulatory  circular  dispatch  to  the  Sovereign  Princes 
of  Germany,  in  which  he  said  , 


678 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


With  a  heart  filled  with  thankfulness,  I  announce  to  you  that  yester¬ 
day  afternoon  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed  here,  by  which 
Alsace,  without  Belfort,  Lorraine  with  Metz,  was  ceded  to  Germany. 
Five  milliards  are  to  be  paid,  and  portions  of  France  are  to  be  occu¬ 
pied  until  the  amount  is  paid.  Paris  will  be  partially  occupied  if  the 
ratification  at  Bordeaux  follows.  We  are  now  at  the  end  of  a  glorious 
but  bloody  war,  which  was  forced  upon  us  with  a  frivolity  without 
parallel,  and  in  which  your  troops  have  taken  so  honorable  a  part.  May 
the  greatness  of  Germany  be  consolidated  in  peace. 

The  signing  of  the  treaty  was  announced  to  the  Parisians 
by  the  Journal  Des  Debats ,  which  denounced  the  cruel  use  the 
conquerors  had  made  of  their  success,  and  announced  that 
several  times  M.  Thiers  was  on  the  point  of  breaking  off  the 
negotiations  and  risking  the  continuance  of  the  war  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  severity  of  the  German  terms.  On  the  same 
day  it  was  announced  that  the  city  would  be  occupied  by  the 
Germans,  and  a  large  force  of  the  National  Guard  formed  the 
resolution  of  resisting  their  entry  with  arms.  Supposing  that 
the  occupation  would  take  place  at  once,  they  got  under 
arms  on  Monday  night  and  took  a  position  to  resist  it.  Gene¬ 
ral  Vinoy  severely  reprimanded  this  conduct  in  an  order  of 
the  day,  but  his  censures  were  without  effect.  General  Trochu 
published  the  following  letter  in  La  Liberie ,  which  added  much 
to  the  excitement : 

You  ask  what  is  the  state  of  my  feelings  concerning  the  report  gain¬ 
ing  ground  of  the  approaching  entry  into  Paris  of  the  German  army.  I 
give  it  frankly.  After  a  four  and  a  half  months’  siege,  after  eight  com¬ 
bats,  after  bombardment,  and  after  a  convention  dictated  by  famine 
alone,  the  enemy  owed  Paris  the  honors  of  war.  Public  opinion  de¬ 
manded  this.  But  the  enemy  wish  to  enter  Paris,  not  having  forced 
any  point  of  the  enceinte,  nor  taken  by  assault  any  single  detached  fort, 
nor  carried  any  exterior  defence.  If  under  these  circumstances  the 
enemy  demands  the  possession  of  the  city  he  should  bear  the  odium  of 
the  responsibility  in  case  of  violence.  As  a  speechless  and  solemn  pro¬ 
testation  the  gates  should  be  shut  and  let  him  open  them  luith  cannon. 
Disarmed  Paris  will  not  reply,  and  leave  to  the  truth  and  justice  of 
history  the  task  of  judging  between  us. 

Matters  were  now  becoming  serious.  The  streets  were  filled 
with  excited  crowds;  the  Mobiles  were  breaking  into  the 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


679 


prisons  and  releasing  prisoners  under  sentence,  and  the 
National  Guard,  which  had  retained  its  arms,  began  to  occupy 
threatening  positions  in  defiance  of  orders.  It  was  plain  that 
resistance  to  the  occupation  would  simply  entail  further  mis¬ 
ery  upon  Paris,  and  the  Government  endeavored  to  bring 
back  the  citizens  to  reason.  The  following  appeal  to  tuem 
signed  by  MM.  Thiers  and  Picard  was  issued. 

Inhabitants  of  Paris  : — The  Government  appeals  to  your  patriotism 
and  wisdom.  You  have  in  your  hands  the  fate  of  Paris.  Upon  you  it 
depends  to  save  or  destroy  France  herself.  After  a  heroic  resistance, 
famine  compelled  us  to  give  up  the  forts  to  the  victorius  enemy.  The 
army  which  we  had  hoped  would  be  able  to  help  us,  was  driven  back 
beyond  the  Loire,  and  incontestable  facts  obliged  the  Government  and 
the  National  Assembly  to  open  negotiations.  During  six  days  the 
negotiators  fought  foot  by  foot,  and  did  what  was  humanly  possible  to 
obtain  the  most  favorable  conditions,  and  have  signed  the  Preliminaries 
which  will  be  submitted  to  the  National  Assembly.  During  the  time 
necessary  for  the  examination  and  discussion  of  these  Preliminaries 
hostilities  would  have  recommenced,  and  blood  have  uselessly  been  shed, 
had  the  Armistice  not  been  prolonged. 

This  prolongation  could  only  be  obtained  on  the  condition  of  a  partial 
and  very  temporary  occupation  of  a  quarter  of  Paris.  If  the  conven¬ 
tion  be  not  respected,  the  Armistice  will  be  broken,  and  the  enemy,  al¬ 
ready  master  of  the  forts,  will  occupy,  in  strong  force,  the  entire  city. 
Private  property,  the  works  of  art,  and  the  public  monuments  are  guar¬ 
anteed  to-day  ;  but  should  the  Convention  cease  to  be  in  force,  misfor¬ 
tune  will  await  the  whole  of  France.  The  fearful  ravages  of  war,  which 
hitherto  have  not  extended  beyond  the  Loire,  will  then  extend  to  the 
Pyrenees. 

It  is  absolutely  true  to  say,  that  the  safety  of  Paris  affects  the  whole 
of  France.  Do  not  imitate  the  fault  of  those  who  did  not  wish  us  to 
believe  eight  months  ago,  that  the  war  would  be  so  fatal.  The  French 
army,  which  defended  Paris  with  so  much  courage,  will  occupy  the  left 
of  the  Seine,  and  will  insure  the  loyal  execution  of  the  new  Armistice. 
The  National  Guard  will  undertake  to  maintain  order  in  the  rest  of  the 
city,  as  good  and  honored  citizens  who  have  shown  themselves  to  be 
brave  in  the  face  of  the  enemy ;  and  this  cruel  situation  will  end  in  peace 
and  the  return  of  public  prosperity. 

This  proclamation  had  an  excellent  effect.  The  news¬ 
papers  of  Paris  came  to  the  support  of  the  Government,  and 
appealed  to  the  Parisians  not  to  uselessly  prolong  the  occupa¬ 
tion,  and  the  city  became  quieter. 


680 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


M.  Thiers  left  Paris  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  and  reached 
Bordeaux  the  next  afternoon.  The  Assembly  was  immedi¬ 
ately  convened,  and  after  that  body  had  been  called  to  order, 
M.  Thiers  rose  in  the  midst  of  a  profound  silence  to  report 
the  result  of  the  negotiations  with  Count  Bismarck.  He  said  ; 

We  have  accepted  a  painful  mission,  and  after  having  used  all  possi¬ 
ble  endeavors,  we  come  with  regret  to  submit  for  your  approval  a  bill 
for  which  we  ask  urgency. 

He  then  proceeded  to  read  the  bill  embodying  the  treaty 
which  he  had  concluded  with  the  German  Chancellor,  but 
was  so  overpowered  by  his  feelings  that  he  could  scarcely 
read  the  first  clause.  Handing  the  bill  to  M.  Barthelemy  St. 
Hilaire,  he  abruptly  left  the  hall.  M.  St.  Hilaire  then  read 
the  bill  to  the  Assembly.  It  was  as  follows : 

Article  I.  The  National  Assembly,  forced  by  necessity,  and  not 
therefore  being  responsible,  adopts  the  Preliminaries  of  Peace,  signed  at 
Versailles  on  the  26th  of  February. 

1.  France  renounces  in  favor  of  the  German  Empire  the  following 
rights:- — The  fifth  part  of  Lorraine,  including  Metz  and  Thionville,  and 
Alsace,  but  without  Belfort. 

2.  France  will  pay  the  sum  of  five  milliards  of  francs,  of  which  one 
milliard  is  to  be  paid  in  1871,  and  the  remaining  four  milliards  by  in¬ 
stalments  extending  over  four  years. 

3.  The  German  troops  will  begin  to  evacuate  the  French  territory  as 
soon  as  the  treaty  is  ratified.  They  will  first  evacuate  the  interior  of 
Paris,  and  some  departments  lying  in  the  western  region.  The  evacua¬ 
tion  of  the  other  departments  will  take  place  gradually  after  payment 
of  the  first  milliard,  and  proportionately  to  the  payment  of  the  other 
four  milliards.  Interest  at  the  rate  of  5  per  cent,  will  be  paid  on  the 
amount  remaining  due  from  the  date  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty. 

4.  The  German  troops  will  not  levy  any  requisitions  in  the  depart¬ 
ments  occupied  by  them,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  will  be  maintained  at 
the  cost  of  France. 

5.  A  delay  will  be  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  territories  an¬ 
nexed  to  decide  for  themselves  severally  to  which  of  the  two  nationali¬ 
ties  they  will  adhere. 

6.  Prisoners  of  war  will  be  immediately  set  at  liberty. 

7.  Negotiations  for  a  definite  treaty  of  peace  will  be  opened  at  Brussels 
after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty. 

8.  The  administration  of  the  departments  occupied  by  the  German 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


681 


troops  will  be  entrusted  to  French  officials,  but  under  the  control  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  German  corps  of  occupation. 

9.  The  present  treaty  confers  upon  the  Germans  no  rights  whaterer, 
in  the  portion  of  territories  not  occupied. 

10.  The  treaty  will  have  to  be  ratified  by  the  National  Assembly  of 
France. 

M.  Barthdlemy  St.  Hilaire  then  read  the  document  pro¬ 
viding  for  the  entry  of  30,000  German  troops  into  Paris,  and 
informed  the  Assembly  that  the  contracting  parties  had  sever¬ 
ally  reserved  the  right  to  give  notice  for  terminating  the 
Armistice  after  the  3d  of  March.  In  that  case  a  delay  of  three 
days  must  elapse  before  the  reopening  of  hostilities.  On  be¬ 
half  of  the  Government,  he  asked  the  Assembly  to  declare 
the  urgency  of  the  discussion  of  the  treaty. 

M.  Thiers,  who  had  now  returned  to  the  hall,  made  an  elo¬ 
quent  and  impassioned  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of  the  As¬ 
sembly.  He  did  not  pretend  to  defend  the  treaty,  but  urged 
its  acceptance  by  the  deputies  as  the  best  settlement  it  was 
possible  to  obtain.  Several  of  the  Paris  deputies,  supported 
by  M.  Gambetta,  having  offered  motions  in  favor  of  delay, 
M.  Thiers  said,  “  We,  like  you,  are  the  victims  of  a  state  of 
things  which  we  have  not  created,  but  must  submit  to.  We 
entreat  you  not  to  lose  a  moment.  I  implore  you  to  lose  no 
time.  In  doing  so  you  may  perhaps  spare  Paris  a  great  grief. 
I  have  engaged  my  responsibility,  my  colleagues  have  en¬ 
gaged  theirs,  and  you  must  engage  yours.  There  must  be 
no  abstention  from  voting.  We  must  all  take  our  share  in 
the  responsibility.”  M.  Thiers  then  requested  that  the  treaty 
should  be  referred  to  a  committee  which  should  meet  that 
evening  at  nine  o’clock,  and  report  to  the  Assembly  at  its 
public  sitting  at  noon  the  next  day.  His  request  was  com¬ 
plied  with,  and  the  Assembly  adjourned. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  deputies  detained  by  sickness, 
the  members  of  the  Assembly  were  all  present  at  the  session 
of  March  1st.  The  committee  reported  unanimously  in  favor 
of  the  adoption  of  the  treaty  as  the  best  settlement  that  could 
be  obtained.  The  report  was  read  by  M.  Victor  Lefranc,  and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


682 

after  earnestly  entreating  the  Assembly  not  to  expose  France 
to  additional  suffering  by  a  continuance  of  the  war,  which 
would  surely  follow  the  rejection  of  the  treaty,  it  expressed 
confidence  that  no  member  would,  in  the  circumstances,  fail 
of  his  duty. 

An  exciting  debate  now  sprang  up.  *  Mi  Edgar  Quinet 
denounced  the  preliminaries,  and  implored  the  Assembly  not 

*  Mr.  Edward  King,  the  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Journal ,  gave  the 
following  interesting,  but  strongly  colored,  account  of  the  scene  in  the  As¬ 
sembly  : 

“  On  the  Ministers’  bench,  at  the  front  of  the  right,  I  can  see  Thiers  and 
Jules  Simon  in  close  conference,  and  they  shake  their  heads  dubiously.  Of 
course  Simon  is  telling  him  how  wonderfully  strong  the  Alsatian  protests 
have  grown  since  his  visit  to  Versailles,  and  how  much  they  must  expect  to 
fight  in  the  tribune.  And  now  a  new  man,  with  a  fearfully  large  manuscript. 
Ah  !  it  is  M.  Le  Franc,  with  the  report  of  the  dolorous  proceeding  at  Prus¬ 
sian  headquarters,  and  what  the  commission  charged  to  examine  the  afore¬ 
said  think  about  them.  Evidently  this  will  be  long.  There  is  an  extraordinary 
agitation  on  the  left.  Hugo,  Blanc,  Vacherot,  Floquet,  etc.,  take  seats  in 
regular  order  near  each  other,  as  if  they  were  arranging  some  preconcerted 
movement.  The  report  of  the  commission  reporter  seems  to  evolve  nothing 
except  the  horrible  consequences  that  would  have  overwhelmed  France  had 
she  refused  the  treaty.  ‘All  prolongation  of  the  Armistice,’ says  he, ‘was 
peremptorily  refused  ;  the  forts  of  Paris  were  occupied,  the  enceinte  was  dis¬ 
armed  ;  farther  away  the  inimical  armies  were  massed  at  the  extreme  limits 
of  the  Armistice,  facing  our  disorganized  armies,  and  our  population  turned 
toward  the  hope  of  peace.  The  intelligence  of  a  new  and  general  aggression 
would  have  arrived  at  the  Assembly  before  the  announcement  of  the  rupture 
of  the  negotiations.’  These  words  grate  harshly  on  the  ears  of  some  patriots 
in  the  gallery  of  the  theatre — open  to-day  for  the  first  time — and  they  sang 
out  lustily:  ‘Yes,  you  are  a  Prussian,  and  so  is  every  one  who  talks  as  you 
do.’  In  consequence  of  which  we  all  receive  warning  from  the  old  guardian 
of  the  loge  that  if  he  catches  us  applauding  or  commenting  he  will  have  us 
turned  out. 

“There  is  but  little  applause  when  the  reporter  has  finished;  everyone 
has  listened  with  breathless  interest,  and  knows  now  how  to  vote.  Meantime 
Edgar  Quinet,  on  the  part  of  the  Republican  left,  ascends  the  tribune  and 
claims  to  be  heard  because  he  had  studied  the  policy  of  Prussia  and  Germany 
for  a  great  part  of  his  lifetime.  Quinet  is  getting  on  in  years,  and  his  accent 
and  tone  betray  the  old  school  Frenchman’s  manner.  He  hastens  to  show 
how,  by  this  treaty,  what  would  have  been  otherwise  characterized  as  a 
depredation,  now  becomes  a  legalized  right,  and  there  was  almost  the  bitter¬ 
ness  of  hatred  in  his  remarks.  ‘  The  feudal  spirit  of  Germany  avenges  herself 


Meeting  of  the  National  Assembly  at  Bordeaux:  Discussing  the 
Terms  of  Peace. 


6S3 


684 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


to  accept  them,  as  such  onerous  conditions  would  destroy  the 
present  and  future  of  France.  M.  Bamberger,  a  deputy  from 
the  Department  of  the  Moselle,  appealed  to  the  Assembly  to 
reject  the  treaty  and  continue  the  war,  and  concluded  with  a 
bitter  denunciation  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  as  the  au¬ 
thor  of  the  ruin  of  France.  This  attack  brought  M.  Conti, 
late  Chief  of  the  Emperor’s  Cabinet,  to  the  tribune.  He  at¬ 
tempted  to  defend  the  Emperor,  but  was  met  with  a  storm  of 


on  our  free  democratic  institutions  by  making  them  contribute  to  our  ruin.’ 
By  this  treaty,  he  believes,  peace  is  not  at  all  secured  ;  on  the  contrary,  war — 
war  to  the  knife.  1  Prussia  wishes  not  only  our  fall,’  adds  he,  *  but  our  an¬ 
nihilation.’  The  tall,  slender  figure  of  the  eminent  scholar  sways  to  and  fro 
like  a  reed,  in  the  tribune,  rocked  by  the  violence  of  his  own  eloquence. 
Even  Thiers  starts  up,  half  angry,  half  frightened,  as  M.  Quinet  denounces 
the  preliminaries  of  peace  as  destructive  at  once  to  present  and  future. 
Meantime,  through  the  crowds  around  the  tribune,  a  stout  figure  is  vigorously 
pushing  its  way.  Now  it  has  taken  M.  Quinet’s  place,  and  five  minutes  after 
we  are  submerged  under  the  most  frightful  confusion  that  ever  upset  a  legis¬ 
lative  body.  The  mention  of  one  almost  forgotten  but  ever-odious  name  has 
called  chaos  up.  M.  Bamberger,  a  deputy  for  Strasbourg,  has  ventured  to 
say  that  the  treaty  is  fit  to  be  signed  by  only  one  man,  and  that  man  is  Na¬ 
poleon  the  Third  ! 

“It  is  not  exaggeration  to  say  that  the  whole  house  trembles  with  the 
protests  against  the  utterance  of  that  name.  It  awakens  so  many  hated 
memories  that  not  only  the  seven  hundred  deputies  present  all  reproach  the 
orator,  but  the  hundreds  of  spectators  all  mutter  their  objuration.  Naturally, 
also,  there  is  great  excitement  on  the  ministerial  bench,  for  the  treaty  has 
been  called  odious,  and  a  ‘  death  warrant.’  Just  as  Thiers  starts  to  his  feet 
angrily  to  reply,  a  voice  is  heard  defending  the  Emperor,  and  the  staid,  re¬ 
spectable  Uriah  Heap-like  form  of  Conti,  special  Secretary  to  the  Emperor 
for  many  years,  is  elevated  amid  the  deputies.  He  demands  permission  to 
address  the  Assembly,  and  as  he  crosses  the  aisle  a  perfect  howl  of  rage  and 
derision  follows  him.  Here  he  goes,  the  embodied  Malheur  of  France,  the 
walking  shadow  of  Woerth,  and  Sedan,  and  Wilhelmshohe.  The  rage  could 
not  have  been  greater  had  the  ex-Emperor  suddenly  appeared.  Bamberger 
yields  the  floor  only  for  a  moment,  and  Conti  proceeds  to  ascend  the  tribune 
steps. 

“As  he  goes  up,  a  man  near  the  tribune  darts  away  from  a  group  of  friends, 
and  is  about  to  seize  the  daring  ex-Seeretary  and  hurl  him  over  the  tribune 
on  to  the  floor  below ;  but  two  or  three  catch  him  by  the  arms,  and  he 
struggles  to  get  away ;  screams  for  vengeance  does  this  excitable  Langlois 
of  Paris — Langlois  who  fought  so  well  at  Montretout;  and  frightful  tumult 
recommences.  From  gallery  and  from  diulomatic  box  come  exclamations  of 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


GS5 


hisses  and  reproaches,  and  compelled  to  descend.  The  As¬ 
sembly  then  voted  unanimously  and  by  acclamation  a  resolu¬ 
tion  confirming  the  fall  of  the  Empire,  and  charging  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  III.  with  the  responsibility  for  the  mis¬ 
fortunes  of  France.  Victor  Hugo  and  several  others  then 
addressed  the  House  in  opposition  to  the  treaty,  but  their  ap¬ 
peals  were  met  by  M.  Thiers  and  his  supporters  with  the 
simple  statement  that  nothing  better  could  be  gained  by  a 
continuance  of  the  war,  and  this  argument  prevailed.  The 

surprise,  anger,  and  fright.  Ladies  rise  to  leave  their  seats.  The  President 
tries  in  vain  to  maintain  order. 

“  But  Conti,  with  indomitable  Corsican  cheek,  has  scaled  the  tribune,  and, 
despite  the  howling,  opens  his  lips  to  lie  in  behalf  of  his  late  protector.  You 
should  see  the  excitable,  passionate  faces  looking  up  at  the  man  as  he  speaks. 
There  are  three  men  standing  at  the  tribune’s  foot  whom  you  would  swear 
propose  to  stifle  him  as  he  comes  down.  Conti  knows  little  about  fear,  how¬ 
ever.  He  has  heard  Paris  howl,  has  receeived  its  mysterious  threatening 
letters,  baskets  full  of  them.  He  has  seen  much  of  political  life,  and  fears  no 
turns  of  fortune.  He  has  been  a  member  of  another  Constitutional  Assembly 
and  voted  for  Cavaignac.  It  suited  his  purpose  then.  Later  he  has  gone 
over  to  the  Imperial  faction,  and  been  successively  member  of  the  Council  of 
State,  special  Secretary  to  the  Majesty,  and  even  Senator.  He  has  lost  a  fine 
position  by  the  Emperor’s  tumble,  but  cannot  refrain  from  putting  his  head 
in  through  the  curtains  and — species  of  Emperor’s  jester  that  he  is— crying, 
1  Here  we  are  again  !  ’ 

“One  sees  his  game.  He  has  heard  that  the  Assembly  proposes  to  declare 
the  total  wreck  of  the  Empire  ;  he  fears  it,  and  wishes  to  rally  the  little  forces 
at  his  disposition.  If  only  universal  suffrage  could  be  made  to  decide  the 
matter  once  more! 

“But  he  is  compelled  by  the  storm  of  hisses  and  reproaches  to  descend 
from  the  tribune ;  and,  going  down,  he  meets  Victor  Hugo,  who  turns  his 
back. 

“A  little  knot  of  men,  who  have  been  consulting  together  ten  minutes, 
breaks  up ;  one  of  them  mounts  the  tribune  and  reads  a  proposition  for  the 
dfchtanct  of  the  Empire,  and  accuses  it  of  the  responsibility  for  ‘  the  ruin,  in¬ 
vasion,  and  dismemberment  of  France.’ 

“The  Assembly  is  on  its  feet,  and  shouts  assent  in  thunder  tones.  The 
Corsicans  rally,  and  Gavini,  a  lawyer  from  Bastia,  attempts  to  speak.  But 
he  is  hurled  away,  and  Thiers  stands  amid  the  hubbub  awaiting  silence. 
When  it  is  restored,  and  he  has  reproved  the  Assembly  for  not  allowing  Conti 
free  speech,  he  then  accuses  the  Empire  of  having  willed  the  war,  and  asserts 
that  France  never  desired  it.  This  wins  the  battle ;  not  even  a  country 
deputy  would  now  ask  for  a  regular  vote  on  the  dfchtance.  And  when  the 


686 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


vote  was  taken  towards  nightfall  and  stood  thus:  For  the 
treaty  546  ;  Against  the  treaty  107.  Over  one  hundred  depu¬ 
ties  abstained  from  voting.  Thus  the  treaty  was  ratified,  and 
the  war  was  ended. 

M.  Thiers  at  once  informed  M.  Jules  Favre,  at  Paris,  of  the 
action  of  the  Assembly,  and  he  in  his  turn  conveyed  the  in¬ 
telligence  to  the  German  Chancellor  without  delay,  in  order 
that  the  withdrawal  of  the  Germans  might  begin  immedi¬ 
ately. 

President  calls  on  all  who  agree  with  the  proposition  to  declare  ths  Empire 
dead,  only  six — the  half-dozen  Imperial  deputies — remained  seated. 

“  The  Empire  is  buried,  and  Conti  hastened  its  funeral. 

“Henceforward  the  left  has  the  floor,  and  proceeds  in  regular  order  with 
its  protests  against  the  treaty.  M.  Bamberger,  who  unwittingly  provoked 
the  Conti  incident,  protests  vigorously  against  ceding  the  provinces.  He 
paints  a  glowing  picture  of  the  devotion  of  Strasbourg;  her  appeals  for  help, 
and  her  horrible  condition  at  present.  Then  comes  Victor  Hugo  with  his 
slow  and  labored  delivery,  his  long  pauses  for  effect,  his  periods  of  passionate 
declamation,  and  his  lion  glances  around  the  Assembly.  Disappointing  as 
is  his  speech,  it  is  listened  to  with  profoundest  attention.  When  he  speaks 
of  taking  back  Mayence,  and  possessing  Coblentz  and  Cologne  in  the  future, 
however,  he  is  interrupted,  and  the  Assembly  evidently  considers  such  lan¬ 
guage  incompatible  with  its  dignity.  His  eulogy  on  Paris  makes  the  whole 
mass  uneasy;  this  is  not  a  time  to  talk  of  heroisms;  we  are  making  peace. 
And  when  he  speaks  of  delivering  Germany  from  her  Emperor,  even  as  she 
has  delivered  France,  a  smile  ripples  over  the  faces  of  the  deputies,  who  are 
pleased  that  Victor  has  not  crushed  them  under  the  weight  .of  his  eloquence, 
but  has  looked  forward  to  the  future,  the  progress  of  peoples,  and  the 
‘United  States  of  Europe’  for  his  revenge.  Even  one  of  the  Alsatian  depu¬ 
ties  rises,  when  the  poet  has  finished,  to  correct  him,  and  to  say  that  no  one 
wished  to  do  unto  the  Germans  as  they  had  done  in  taking  Alsatia  and  the 
fifth  part  of  Lorraine. 

“M.  Vacherot,  one  of  the  philosophers  of  France,  and  one  of  the  Mayors 
of  Paris,  speaks  earnestly  and  with  deep  conviction  for  peace,  because  war  is 
no  longer  possible.  Although  he  stands  by  the  side  of  Blanc  and  the  radical 
left  in  politics,  he  has  not  been  able  to  refrain  from  voting  for  any  peace. 
Time,  he  maintains,  will  show  the  Prussians  that  they  cannot  deal  with 
populations  as  with  lands. 

“  Louis  Blanc  has  reserved  for  himself,  in  this  programme,  the  enumeration 
of  the  non  possumus — the  conscientious  review  of  the  right  and  wrong  of  the 
treaty.  His  speech,  in  some  respects  the  best,  and  certainly  the  most  ex¬ 
haustive  which  the  Assembly  hears  on  this  day,  was  listened  to  with  most 
intense  interest.  From  the  fine  opening  paragraphs,  in  which  he  announced 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


687 


After  the  departure  of  M.  Thiers  from  Paris,  on  the  27th 
of  February,  the  excitement  which  had  been  allayed  by  the 
proclamation  of  the  Government,  set  in  with  renewed  vigor. 
On  the  28th,  bodies  of  armed  National  Guards  paraded  the 
streets,  tore  down  the  Ministerial  proclamations,  and  even  at¬ 
tempted  an  attack  upon  the  Hotel  de  Ville;  but,  as  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  was  prepared  for  them,  this  last  effort  was  aban¬ 
doned.  They  then  seized  a  number  of  cannon,  and  established 
a  formidable  park  of  artillery  in  the  Place  de  la  Bastile.  For 
a  while  there  seemed  every  prospect  that  an  effort  would  be 
made  to  resist  the  German  entry,  but  better  counsels  pre¬ 
vailed.  The  press  unanimously  advised  forbearance  and 
submission  to  what  could  not  be  prevented. 

The  Government  announced,  on  the  27th,  that  the  entrance 
of  the  German  troops  would  take  place  at  ten  o’clock  on  the 
morning  of  Wednesday,  March  1st,  and  that  the  quarter  they 
would  occupy  was  that  comprised  between  the  Seine  and  the 
Rue  du  Faubourg  St.  Ilonord,  extending  to  the  Rue  Royale 

that  ‘nothing  is  durable  here  below  save  justice,’  to  the  close,  when  he  begs 
the  Assembly  to  declare  to  Europe  that  to  take  away  the  quality  of  French¬ 
men  from  Frenchmen  exceeds  its  power,  even  an  admiration  was  visible  in 
every  one’s  attention.  The  moral  right  and  wrong,  disputed  thus  at  this 
moment,  would  not  have  been  listened  to  had  a  less  habile  and  profound 
thinker  presided  in  the  tribune.  There  was  something  comforting  in  the  ad¬ 
mirable  characterization  of  Prussia — as  that  monarchy  whose  enlargement  is 
due  only  to  two  crimes — the  theft  of  Silesia  and  the  division  of  Poland.  And 
the  summing  up  of  the  situation  was  certainly  as  true  as  epigrammatic.  ‘It 
is  not  between  war  to  the  death  and  peace  that  you  are  required  to  choose. 
It  is  between  war  for  the  maintenance  of  law  and  right,  and  peace  for  the 
violation  of  right ;  between  war  and  honor,  and  peace  at  the  price  of 
honor.’ 

“  General  Changarnier’s  feeble  voice  and  tottering  frame  appeal  for  peace 
from  the  tribune  next,  and  the  venerable  warrior  also  considers  it  his  duty 
to  throw  a  stone  at  the  orators  of  the  left,  whose  distinctions  in  favor  of  the 
moral  right  he  does  not  recognize.  He  fears  such  discussions  will  make  the 
enemy  lose  its  respect  for  the  Assembly. 

“The  deputies  from  the  department  of  the  Vosges,  who  think  it  their  duty 
to  abstain  from  voting  because  they  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  war,  yet  will 
not  vote  their  own  separation  from  their  countrymen,  are  rebuked  in  a  fiery 
manner  by  the  only  one  from  the  same  section  who  has  not  joined  them. 
And  this  rebuke  calls  M.  Thiers  once  more  to  the  tribune  to  ask  all  to  vote 


688 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


and  the  Place  de  la  Concorde.  It  was  also  announced  that 
the  French  regular  troops  would  be  transferred  to  the  south 
bank  of  the  Seine  while  the  occupation  lasted,  and  that  the 
National  Guard  would  be  entrusted  with  the  preservation  of 
order  in  the  remainder  of  the  city  not  held  by  the  Germans. 
The  newspapers  announced  their  intention  to  suspend  publi¬ 
cation  while  the  Germans  remained  in  the  city,  and  urged  the 
managers  of  the  few  theatres  then  open  to  close  their  estab¬ 
lishments.  The  authorities  were  requested  to  close  the  public 
museums,  the  proprietors  of  the  cafes  and  shops  were  called  on 
to  close  their  places  of  business,  and  the  inhabitants  generally 
were  asked  to  close  the  doors  and  windows  of  their  residences, 
and  keep  their  curtains  down,  in  order  that  the  city  might 
wear  as  deserted  and  silent  an  aspect  as  was  possible. 

Meanwhile  there  was  no  lack  of  preparation  in  the  German 
camp.  The  force  to  be  sent  into  the  city  was  small,  but  it 
was  resolved  to  make  the  entry  as  brilliant  as  possible.  The 
troops  selected  for  the  army  of  occupation  consisted  of  11,000 
men  from  the  Sixth  Prussian  Corps  (Yon  Tumpling),  11,000 


loyally  according  to  conscience  and  heart,  and  not  to  trifle  with  false  patriot¬ 
ism.  Then  follows  speech  upon  speech — an  aged  ex-general,  whose  voice  is 
still  for  war ;  fiery  Milliere  from  Paris,  with  his  desire  for  further  battle 
written  in  glowing  words.  At  last  the  deputy  Keller,  from  Alsatia,  has  his 
final  appeal,  in  which  he  calls  the  proposed  treaty  an  ‘injustice,  a  falsehood, 
a  dishonor.’  Then  comes  the  vote,  with  the  hour  of  weary  waiting,  and 
after  the  members  have  all  passed  over  the  platform  on  which  stands  the 
fatal  urn,  and  the  secretaries  have  counted,  we  hear  the  bell  rung,  and  see 
Keller,  pale  and  silent,  bowed  before  the  tribune  in  anguish  of  heart. 

“The  vote  is  declared — peace;  and  only  107  votes  for  war.  Alsatia 
and  Lorraine  are  sold,  and  the  broken  armies  of  France  may  creep  away  to 
hide. 

“  When  Keller  climbs  up  the  steps  once  more  dead  silence  reigns.  As  he 
bids  farewell  to  those  in  whom  he  has  not  found  protection,  and  with  his 
colleagues  announces  his  withdrawal  from  the  Assembly,  I  cannot  help  re¬ 
calling  and  dwelling  on  his  words  in  his  preceding  speech  : 

“  ‘  I  call  to  take  up  the  sword  every  man  who  desires  as  soon  as  possible 
to  have  this  detestable  treaty  torn  and  trampled  on.' 

“  Then  the  bedizened  usher  opens  the  door  of  our  box,  and  we  regain  the 
air.  It  was  bright  sunlight  when  we  entered,  but  it  is  darkness  of  night 
now.  So  it  is  in  the  hearts  of  these  people  around  us.” 


44 


689 


Triumphal  Entry  of  30,000  German  Troops  into  Earis.  March  1st,  lb71. 


690 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


from  the  Eleventh  Prussian  Corps  (Yon  Schactmeyer),  and 
8000  from  the  Second  Bavarian  Corps  (Hartmann).  In  this 
force  of  30,000  men  were  included  engineers,  cavalry  and 
artillery.  The  command  of  this  army  was  bestowed  upon 
General  Yon  Kamecke. 

On  the  morning  of  March  1st,  Paris  was  vefy  quiet.  The 
streets  were  mostly  deserted,  and  only  a  few  persons  had  col¬ 
lected  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Arc  de  Triomphe  to  witness 
the  German  entry.  The  streets  which  enclosed  the  section 
of  the  city  allotted  to  the  Germans  were  closed  by  barricades 
of  artillery  wagons  with  their  tongues  interlocked,  and  were 
guarded  by  a  cordon  of  French  sentinels  who  had  orders  to 
prevent  the  German  soldiers  from  passing  the  line  of  demarca¬ 
tion.  The  statues  of  the  French  provincial  cities  in  the  Place 
de  la  Concorde  were  draped  in  black,  and  the  water  was 
turned  off  from  the  fountains.  Large  bodies  of  troops  had 
been  stationed  by  General  Yinoy  in  the  Eue  de  la  Paix,  the 
Place  Yendome,  and  the  Eue  Castiglione,  in  order  to  prevent 
any  attack  on  the  Germans  by  the  Eed  Eepublicans. 

At  thirteen  minutes  past  eight  o’clock  A.  M.,  a  detachment 
of  six  Prussian  hussars,  led  by  Lieutenant  Yon  Bernhardy,  of 
the  14th  Prussian  hussars,  entered  the  Porte  Maillot  and  rode 
rapidly  down  the  Avenue  of  the  Grand  Army  towards  the 
Arc  de  Triomphe,  where  they  halted  on  the  crest  of  the  hill 
overlooking  the  Champs  Elys^es.  In  a  short  while  these 
troopers — the  first  Germans  in  Paris  :  selected  for  their  conspi¬ 
cuous  bravery  during  the  war — were  joined  by  more  hussars, 
and  at  half-past  eight  General  Yon  Kamecke  and  staff',  es¬ 
corted  by  a  detachment  of  horsemen,  arrived,  and  pro¬ 
ceeded,  without  halting,  down  the  Champs  Elysees  to  the  man¬ 
sion  of  Queen  Christina  of  Spain,  where  the  General  estab¬ 
lished  his  headquarters. 

The  troops  comprising  the  Army  of  Occupation  were  as¬ 
sembled  on  the  Eace-course  of  Longchamps  in  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne,  where,  at  eleven  o’clock,  they  passed  in  review  be¬ 
fore  the  Emperor  of  Germany  and  Crown  Prince  Fritz.  At 
the  close  of  the  review,  the  Emperor  and  the  Crown  Prince 


Grand  Avenue  of  the  Champs  Elysees:  Paris. 

@rofte  Slllce  ter  Gljampa  Crlifecd  :  ^JariS. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


691 


returned  to  Versailles,  and  the  troops  began  their  march  across 
the  Bois  de  Boulogne  towards  the  Arc  de  Triomphe. 

“The  Duke  of  Coburg,  General  Blumenthal,  and  their  res¬ 
pective  staffs,  rode  in  at  the  head  of  the  troops,  followed  by  a 
squadron  of  Bavarian  hussars,  whose  bright  pennons  of  blue 
and  white  silk,  evidently  brand  new  for  the  occasion,  fluttered 
gaily  in  the  breeze.  Then  came  two  batteries  of  Bavarian 
artillery,  then  rifles  and  infantry.  It  was  evident  that  the 
Bavarians  were  to  be  allowed  the  honors  of  the  day.  There 
was  the  ‘  Leib  Regiment, 7  with  its  shattered  companies,  only  a 
quarter  of  their  original  strength,  and  their  flag  hanging  in 
ribbons  from  the  stump  of  a  broken  staff — the  regiment  which 
has  seen  as  hard  fighting  as  any  regiment  in  the  war,  and 
which  has  been  in  battle  eight  times  in  eleven  days.  There 
was  their  weather-beaten  General  and  the  officers,  mostly  new 
men,  for  they  had  lost  more  than  the  entire  number  with 
which  they  had  originally  left  Bavaria.  As  they  marched 
past  the  Arc  de  Triomphe  the  band  struck  up  the  ‘  Wacht  am 
Rhein'  and  the  mob  began  to  hiss  and  whistle.  At  the  same 
time  an  officer’s  horse  slipped  and  fell,  and  a  crowd  pressed 
round  the  dismounted  rider;  instantly  a  comrade  rode  to  his 
assistance;  the  crowd  continued  to  hiss,  and  one  man  was  rid¬ 
den  over,  while  two  or  three  horsemen  charged  along  the 
pavement.  This  had  the  effect  of  scattering  the  crowd,  and 
from  that  moment  they  looked  on  in  profound  silence.  For 
an  hour  and  a  half,  or  until  half-past  three,  did  this  incessant 
stream  of  Bavarians  continue,  with  here  and  there  an  interval 
occupied  by  some  General  and  his  staff.  Then  came  the  Grand 
Duke  of  Mecklenburg,  with  men  at  his  side  who  had  been 
with  him  in  the  hard-fought  fields  of  Orleans,  Beaugency,  and 
Le  Mans.  There  were  many  familiar  faces.  Here  was  Prince 
Luitpold  and  Von  der  Tann.  Wearing  the  cocked  hat  of  an 
Admiral  rides  Prince  Adalbert  of  Prussia,  and  with  him  Prince 
Albrecht,  of  cavalry  renown. 

“For  a  long  time  the  whole  space  around  the  Arch  was 
filled  with  soldiers  waiting  for  their  turn  to  march  down  the 
Avenue,  which  was  becoming  pretty  well  packed  by  this 


692 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


time  from  the  top  to  the  bottom.  Suddenly  up  rose  Bismarck 
himself,  smoking  a  cigar.  He  gazed  at  the  scene  for  a  few 
moments,  and  turned  round  and  rode  slowly  away,  without 
going  beyond  the  crest  of  the  hill.  When  the  army  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  Champs  was  massed  in  close  order  in  columns 
of  companies,  an  amusing  scene  occurred,  as  the  men  went  at 
a  double  quick  to  fill  up  the  gap  till  it  became  almost  a  race. 
Then  came  several  batteries  of  artillery,  foot  and  horse,  clat¬ 
tering  along  at  a  gallop,  and  making  a  brave  show.  At  last 
all  the  Bavarians  had  passed,  and  a  Prussian  regiment  marched 
down  the  walk  on  the  other  side  of  the  drive ;  then  more 
Prussians  came,  but  instead  of  going  straight  down  the 
Champs  Elysdes  they  turned  down  side  avenues  in  search  of 
quarters.”  *  By  sunset  the  entire  Army  of  Occupation  was 
within  the  gates. 

The  scenes  during  the  occupation  of  the  city  are  thus  de¬ 
scribed  by  the  correspondent  of  The  1  llustrated  London  News : 

“  The  approaches  to  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  from  the 
streets  on  its  eastern  side,  which  traverse  the  heart  of  Paris, 
as  well  as  that  from  the  southern  quarter  of  Paris,  by  the 
bridge  which  crosses  the  Seine  nearly  opposite  the  Palais  du 
Corps  Legislatif,  and  the  northern  outlets  from  the  Place  de 
la  Concorde,  beyond  the  line  of  the  Rue  du  Faubourg  St. 
Honore,  were  closed  by  barricades  and  double  lines  of  French 
and  Prussian  sentries.  The  soldiers  of  the  two  hostile  nations 
stood  on  guard,  within  ten  or  twelve  paces  from  each  other, 
on  the  opposite  sides  of  this  barricade.  The  French  sentries 
were  posted  at  intervals  of  three  or  four  feet.  They  allowed 
quiet-looking  foot  passengers  to  go  through  singly,  but  no 
throng  of  numbers ;  and  no  horsemen  or  carriages  were  al¬ 
lowed  to  pass.  An  important  barricade  was  at  the  entrance 
to  the  Rue  de  Rivoli . The  arrangements  were  si¬ 

milar  at  the  rear  end  of  the  Pont  de  la  Concorde,  on  the  Quai 
des  Tuileries,  at  the  entrances  to  the  Rue  Royale  and  other 
streets  leading  into  the  Rue  du  Faubourg  St.  Honord.  French 


*  Correspondence  of  the  London  Times. 


o93 


The  Champs  Elys6es  :  Paris— occupied  by  the  Germans. 


694 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


soldiers  of  the  Line,  backed  in  some  instances  by  gendarmes 
or  National  Guards,  occupied  these  points,  and  prevented  any 
stray  parties  of  Germans  from  going  farther.  The  streets,  es¬ 
pecially  the  Eue  de  Rivoli  and  Rue  St.  Honord,  were  con¬ 
tinually  patrolled  by  cavalry  during  the  two  days  while  the 
Germans  remained.  The  Place  de  la  Concorde,  with  its  obe¬ 
lisks,  its  veiled  statues,  and  its  fountains,  which  had  now 
ceased  to  play,  was  thronged  after  noon  time  on  the  Wednes¬ 
day,  and  all  the  next  day,  with  the  Prussian  and  Bavarian 
soldiers  lounging  or  strolling  about,  and  sometimes  dqncing 
round  the  statue  of  Strasbourg;  but  they  did  not  the  slightest 
damage,  and  never  offered  to  remove  the  crape  from  the  faces 
of  the  statues.  Many  civilians,  French  people  as  well  as 
foreigners,  appeared  in  this  place,  but  seldom  ventured  to  en¬ 
ter  into  conversation  with  the  Germans. 

“  It  was  the  same  in  the  principal  avenue  of  the  Champs 
Elysees.  The  Bavarians  were  quartered  here  in  the  Palais 
de  l’lndustrie  and  the  Prussians  in  the  Cirque  Imperiale. 
The  spacious  road  was  filled  with  wagons  loaded  with  pro¬ 
visions  for  the  Army  of  Occupation,  and  with  provender  for 
its  cavalry.  German  troopers  had  picketed  their  horses  in 
long  lines  between  the  trees;  battalions  of  infantry  had  taken 
off  their  knapsacks,  piled  arms,  exchanged  their  pointed  hel¬ 
mets  for  their  caps,  and  were  cooking  their  dinners  amongst 
the  withered  remains  of  exotic  shrubs.  Here  one  stumbled 
up  against  a  battery  of  frowning  artillery,  there  against  an 
officer  going  his  rounds.  Strange  vehicles,  with  wretched 
horses  and  harness,  were  conveying  hither  and  thither  strange 
looking  men  with  blonde  beards  and  porcelain  pipes.  Now 
and  then  one  came  across  a  group  of  officers  basking  in  the 
sun.  At  many  of  the  doors  of  the  houses  were  small,  anxious 
crowds,  and  up  the  side  streets  might  be  seen  soldiers  on  foot 
and  on  horseback,  looking  for  their  lodgings  with  the  delib¬ 
eration  peculiar  to  the  German.  Others  were  preparing, 
when  night  came,  to  bivouac  in  the  open  air.  On  the  benches 
by  the  side  of  the  road  were  seated  some  of  the  invaders,  in 
groups  of  twos  and  threes,  chatting  and  smoking  their  pipes, 


Palace  of  Industry  :  Paris — occupied  by  the  Germans. 


696 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  ready  to  chaff  any  Frenchman  or  woman  who  might  be 
willing  to  converse.  Soon  they  became  centres  of  animated 
crowds ;  and  whenever  one  saw  forty  or  fifty  crammed  to¬ 
gether  in  a  circle,  one  might  be  sure  that  Hans  or  Fritz  was 
the  centre  of  it.  Meantime,  cavalry  were  scampering  to  and 
fro  ;  the  main  body  of  the  infantry  had  stacked  their  arms  in 
front  of  the  Palace  of  Industry,  and  were  told  off  in  small 
squads.  The  windows  of  the  houses  on  each  side  of  the  road 
were  closed,  all  the  cafes  were  closed,  and  no  person  of  the  upper 
classes  was  to  be  seen.  There  were  several  quarrels  between  the 
Germans  and  Parisians;  more  than  one  of  the  former  were  hus¬ 
tled  and  assaulted.  Englishmen,  too,  and  even  French  persons, 
were  ill-treated  for  speaking  to  the  Germans.  Some  German 
soldiers  asked  their  way  from  a  young  gentleman,  who  natu¬ 
rally  replied  with  courtesy,  and  gave  the  required  information. 
A  few  blouses  were  watching,  and  when  the  soldiers  were  at 
a  safe  distance,  they  sprang  on  the  unfortunate  individual  who 
had  been  so  good-humored  as  to  answer  the  German  inquiries. 
He  was  assailed  with  blows  and  knocked  down.  When  he 
was  on  the  ground  a  ruffian  in  a  blue  blouse  deliberately 
leapt  upon  his  body  and  trampled  on  him.  It  was  a  miracle 
that  the  poor  fellow  escaped  with  his  life. 

“The  show  departments  in  the  Palace  of  the  Tuileries,  and 
the  galleries  of  the  Louvre,  were  visited,  on  Thursday,  by 
many  thousands  of  German  soldiers,  not  carrying  their  arms, 
agreeably  to  the  clause  in  the  military  convention  signed  at 
Versailles.  These  were  escorted  by  armed  detachments  of 
the  French  National  Guards.  Their  admission,  however,  pro¬ 
voked  the  anger  of  the  Parisians  to  a  dangerous  pitch.  The 
Rue  de  Rivoli  was  paraded,  during  several  hours,  by  an  agi¬ 
tated  crowd,  some  pressing  against  the  railings  of  the  Tuile¬ 
ries  Gardens  and  the  Louvre,  staring  at  the  Germans,  hissing, 
howling,  and  otherwise  insulting  them.  The  gates  were 
closed  and  strongly  guarded.  The  Germans  while  by  them¬ 
selves  in  the  gardens  behaved  soberly  enough,  only  plucking 
a  few  laurel  leaves  to  wreathe  their  heads  with  crowns  of  vic¬ 
tory — or,  rather,  to  stick  in  their  helmets  or  in  their  forage- 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


G97 


caps.  This  might  as  well  have  been  spared.  They  replied 
to  the  insults  of  the  crowd  outside  with  a  calm  Teutonic  grin. 
Their  seeming  indifference  worked  the  people  up  to  a  frightful 
pitch  of  excitement,  and,  a  woman  happening  to  throw  a  stone 
among  the  Germans,  a  riot  broke  out.  The  street  was,  how¬ 
ever,  promptly  cleared  by  the  National  Guards,  the  Bavarians 
were  withdrawn  under  cover,  and  some  heavy  green  tarpauling 
was  stretched  along  the  railing,  so  as  to  hide  from  the  view  of 
the  oeople  the  odious  presence  of  the  enemy’s  soldiery.  The 
day  passed  without  a  conflict ;  the  German  military  bands 
played  in  the  Plftce  de  la  Concorde,  where  General  Blumen- 
thal,  and  General  Kamecke,  commanding  the  army  of  occu¬ 
pation,  with  other  officers  of  high  rank,  rode  up  and  down 
in  the  afternoon.  The  Imperial  Crown  Prince  himself  came 
there  for  a  short  time.  The  second  night  was  also  passed  in 
quiet  ar.d  safety.” 

The  treaty  of  peace  having  been  ratified  by  the  Bordeaux 
Assembly,  and  the  ratification  having  been  officially  commu¬ 
nicated  to  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  his  Majesty  on  the  after¬ 
noon  of  the  2d  gave  orders  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  German 
troops  from  Paris.  The  advance  guard  of  the  army  of  occu¬ 
pation  left  the  city  that  night.  These  troops  were  loudly 
cheered  by  their  comrades  quartered  in  the  buildings  along 
the  main  avenue,  and  their  way  was  lighted  by  torches  and 
candles  held  in  elegant  candelabra  by  the  German  soldiers 
still  remaining  in  the  city.  At  half  past  six  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d,  the  entire  German  army  was  in  motion.  At 
half  past  eight  the  head  of  the  Bavarian  column  passed  under 
the  Arc  de  Triomphe,  and  for  an  hour  and  a  half  the  stream 
of  men  poured  steadily  through  the  magnificent  archway. 
The  bands  were  playing  triumphal  airs,  and  the  colors  of  the 
troops,  torn  ard  tattered  by  the  deadly  fire  of  the  battles  they 
had  passed  through,  flapped  proudly  in  the  morning  breeze. 
By  ten  o’clock  the  last  man  had  passed  through  the  arch,  and 
in  half  an  hour  more  there  was  not  a  German  within  the 
walls  of  Paris. 

By  the  terms  of  the  treaty  the  Germans  bound  themselves 


698 


HISTORY  OF  T1IE  LATE  WAR 


to  evacuate  the  Departments  of  Calvados,  Orne,  Sarthe,  Eure- 
et-Loire,  Loiret,  Loir-et-Cher,  Indre-et-Loir  and  Yonne,  and 
all  the  territories  held  by  them  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Seine 
immediately  upon  the  ratification  of  the  treaty,  and  they  now 
began  to  comply  with  this  condition.  Their  stores  and  other 
property  were  dispatched  to  Germany  with  all  possible  haste, 
and  eveiy  preparation  was  made  for  the  return  home  of  the 
entire  army,  with  the  exception  of  the  troops  left  in  the  De¬ 
partments  to  be  held  as  pledges  for  the  payment  of  the  indem¬ 
nity.  By  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  France  was  to  be  gradually 
evacuated  by  the  Germans  in  proportion  to  *th e  payment  of 
this  indemnity.  Upon  the  payment  of  the  first  500,000,000 
francs,  the  Departments  of  Somme,  and  Oise,  and  portions  of 
Seine  Inferieure,  Seine-et-Oise,  and  Seine-et- Marne  were  to 
be  evacuated.  After  the  payment  of  2,000,000,000  francs, 
the  Germans  were  to  confine  their  occupation  to  the  Depart¬ 
ments  of  the  Marne,  Ardennes,  Haut  Marne,  Meuse,  and  the 
Vosges.  It  was  arranged  that,  in  case  France  should  be  able 
to  offer  substantial  financial  guarantees  instead  of  territorial 
guarantees  for  the  payment  of  the  indemnity,  Germany  should 
accept  them. 

The  Northern  and  Western  Departments  wei'e  rapidly 
evacuated  by  the  Germans,  and  the  fortresses  were  turned 
over  to  detachments  of  the  French  army.  The  conquerors 
retired  to  the  positions  assigned  them  by  the  treaty.  A  force 
sufficient  to  hold  the  departments  pledged  for  the  payment  of 
the  indemnity  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Prince 
-Frederick  Charles,  and  the  rest  of  the  German  army  began 
their  homeward  march. 

The  Emperor  William  left  Versailles  on  the  7th  of  March, 
intending  to  visit  each  of  the  German  Sovereign  Princes  on 
his  way  to  Berlin,  which  city  he  expected  to  reach  on  the  19th. 
Upon  arriving  at  Metz,  however,  he  was  compelled  by  a  sud¬ 
den  indisposition  to  proceed  direct  to  Berlin.  He  was  received 
all  along  the  route  after  passing  the  German  border,  with  the 
most  enthusiastic  greetings,  and  on  the  17th  of  March  reached 
Berlin. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


699 


The  territory  won  from  France  by  Germany  comprised,  as 
has  been  stated,  all  of  Alsace  except  Belfort,  and  the  fifth  part 
of  Lorraine,  including  Metz.  The  new  boundary  line  of  the 
German  Empire  “commences  at  the  northwest  frontier  of 
the  Canton  of  Cattenom  in  the  Department  of  the  Moselle; 
thence  follows  towards  the  southwestern  frontiers  of  the  Can¬ 
ton  of  Cattenom  and  Thionville ;  passes  by  the  Canton  of 
Briey,  going  along  the  western  frontiers  of  the  communes  of 
Montois-la-Montagne  and  Roncourt,  as  well  as  the  eastern 
frontiers  of  the  communes  of  Marie-aux-Chenes  and  Habon- 
ville  ;  strikes  the  frontier  of  the  Canton  of  Gorze,  which  it 
traverses  along  the  communal  frontiers  of  Vionville,  Bus- 
si^res,  and  Waville;  follows  the  southwest  and  southern  fron¬ 
tier  of  the  arrondissement  of  Metz,  the  western  frontier  of 
the  arrondissement  of  Chateau  Salins,  as  far  as  the  commune 
of  Pettoncourt,  until  it  embraces  the  western  and  southern  fron 
tiers — to  follow  the  crest  of  the  mountains  between  the  Seille 
and  Moncel  as  far  as  the  frontier  of  the  arrondissement  of 
Sarrebourg  to  the  south  of  La  Garde.  The  demarcation 
afterwards  coincides  with  the  frontier  of  that  arrondissement 
as  far  as  the  commune  of  Tanconville,  the  front  of  which  it 
strikes  to  the  north.  Thence  it  follows  the  crest  of  the  moun¬ 
tains  between  the  sources  of  the  Seille,  Blanche,  and  the 
Vezouze,  as  far  as  the  frontiers  of  the  Canton  Schermeck  ; 
runs  along  the  western  frontier  of  that  canton  ;  embraces  the 
communes  of  Saales,  Bourg,  Bruche,  Colroy-la-Roche,  Plaine, 
Ronrupt,  Saulxures,  and  St.  Blaise-la-Roche,  in  the  Canton  of 
Saales,  and  coincides  with  the  western  frontier  of  the  department 
of  the  Bas  Rhin  and  of  the  Haut  Rhin,  as  far  as  the  Canton  of 
Belfort,  the  southern  frontier  of  which  it  quits  not  far  from 
Vourvenans,  to  traverse  the  Canton  of  Delle  at  the  southern 
bounds  of  the  communes  of  Bourogne  and  Froide  Fontaine, 
and  to  strike  the  Swiss  frontier  by  passing  along  the  southern 
borders  of  the  communes  of  Jonchery  and  Delle.’’  This  terri¬ 
tory  comprises  an  area  of  6200  square  miles,  and  contains  a 
population  of  2,000,000  inhabitants.  Among  the  fortresses 
thus  gained  for  Germany  are  Metz,  Thionville,  Strasbourg, 


TOO 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


Schlestadt,  Bitsche,  Marsal,  New  Brissach,  Phalsbourg  and 
Haguenau.  Among  the  towns  not  included  in  those  just 
named,  are  Colmar,  Mulhausen,  Guebwiller,  Molsheim, 
Saverne,  Chateau  Salins,  Sarreguemines  and  Forbach.  The 
loss  of  this  region  was  a  serious  blow  to  France,  as  a  large 
portion  of  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  country  were 
located  there.  Germany  was  brought  one  hundred  miles 
nearer  to  Paris,  and  was  placed  in  possession  of  a  frontier 
strongly  fortified  against  invasion,  and  which  would  enable 
her  to  command  the  most  advantageous  positions  for  any 
future  invasion  of  France. 

The  conditions  of  the  peace  were  all  in  favor  of  the  victors. 
France  lost  every  thing.  No  French  Government  would  ever 
have  accepted  such  hard  terms  as  had  been  imposed  upon  M. 
Thiers  and  his  colleagues,  had  there  been  the  least  hope  of 
doing  better ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  resist  the  demands  of 
the  Germans,  who  enforced  their  terms  with  the  threat  of  a 
renewal  of  the  war.  It  was  said  even  by  the  warmest  friends 
of  the  victors,  that  the  conditions  of  the  peace  were  hard  and 
ungenerous.  The  German  statesmen  admitted  this.  They 
had  .entered  upon  the  war  with  the  avowed  intention  of 
crippling  France  so  thoroughly  that  she  would  give  them  no 
more  trouble  for  many  years  at  least.  They  succeeded  in 
their  object,  and  they  made  the  peace  as  onerous  to  the  French 
as  the  war  had  been,  and  this  intentionally,  in  order  that  a 
renewal  of  the  war  should  be  impossible  to  their  enemies  for 
several  generations. 

The  war,  in  spite  of  its  triumphs,  entailed  many  sacrifices 
upon  Germany.  About  150,000  men  had  fallen  in  battle, 
and  the  industries  of  Germany  had  been  much  injured  for  the 
time,  by  the  enormous  drafts  of  men  necessary  to  carry  on 
the  struggle.  These  were  small  prices  to  pay  for  the  advan¬ 
tages  gained  by  the  conflict.  The  unity  of  the  nation  was 
now  an  accomplished  fact,  additional  territory  was  gained,  a 
position  which  entirely  secured  Germany,  and  seriously  men¬ 
aced  France  was  conquered,  and  the  brilliant  triumphs  which 
had  marked  the  struggle,  had  exalted  Germany  to  the  first 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE 


701 


place  in  Europe.  The  traditional  enemy  of  the  German  race 
was  dismembered  and  crushed,  and  so  weakened  that  she 
would  be  compelled  for  long  years  to  come,  to  turn  her  atten¬ 
tion  entirely  to  her  domestic  affairs.  The  most  sanguine 
German  would  not  have  dared  to  hope  for  as  much  at  the 
outset  of  the  struggle.  Germany  has  gained  every  thing,  and 
it  now  remains  for  the  future  to  show  the  use  she  will  make 
of  her  victory. 

France  lay  prostrate  in  the  dust.  Her  losses  had  been 
enormous.  But  one  single  victory — that  of  Baccon — had 
been  won  by  the  French  arms.  At  the  close  of  the  struggle, 
Germany  held,  including  the  garrison  of  Paris,  nearly  700,000 
prisoners  of  war,  and  had  captured  immense  quantities  of 
stores,  arms  and  material  of  war.  After  the  battle  of  Sedan 
14,500  French  troops  were  driven  into  Belgium,  and  more 
than  81,000  of  Bourbaki’s  soldiers  were  forced  over  the 
Swiss  border  in  February.  At  least  150,000  men  had  fallen 
in  battle,  and  man}^  more  had  died  of  sickness.  A  third  part 
of  France  had  been  overrun,  ravaged  and  laid  waste,  enorm¬ 
ous  fines  had  been  levied  on  the  cities  and  towns  held  by  the 
conquerors,  and  the  destruction  of  property  had  been  appall¬ 
ing.  Apart  from  the  five  milliards  to  be  paid  to  Germany, 
the  nation  had  incurred  a  war  debt  of  at  least  one  milliard 
francs.  The  strong  frontier  fortresses  were  lost,  and  the  rich 
iron  ore  districts,  the  flourishing  towns  and  industrious 
populations  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  were  given  up  to  the  con¬ 
querors.  At  home  disaffection  and  open  rebellion  paralyzed 
the  efforts  of  the  Government  to  restore  prosperity  to  the 
country,  and  the  baleful  fires  of  civil  war,  were  reddening  the 
skies  from  which  the  glow  of  a  less  terrible  strife  was  fading 
away. 


702 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


WILLIAM  L,  EMPEROR  OF  GERMANY. 

^ILLIAM  I.,  Emperor  of  Germany  and  King  of  Prussia, 
was  born  on  the  22d  of  March,  1797.  He  is  the  son  of 
King  Frederick  William  111.  and  the  Princess  Louise  of 
Mecklenburg-Strelitz,  “the  beautiful  Queen  of  Prussia.” 
He  was  educated  as  a  soldier,  took  part  in  the  campaigns  of 
1813  and  1815  against  Prance,  and  rode  by  his  father’s  side 
when  the  Allies  entered  Paris  after  the  overthrow  of  Napoleon  I.  In 
1840,  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Pomerania,  which  post  he  held 
until  the  Revolution  of  1818  broke  out,  when  he  took  refuge  in 
England. 

Being  elected  a  member  of  the  Constituent  Assembly  in  May,  1848, 
he  returned  to  Berlin  and  took  his  seat  in  the  Assembly  on  the  8th  of 
June,  1848.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  Baden  in  June, 
1849,  he  was  made  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Prussian  army,  and 
sent  to  quell  the  disturbances.  This  he  did  with  a  firm  hand,  putting 
down  the  rebellion  with  the  sword  and  at  the  cost  of  a  considerable 
loss  of  life.  Says  a  recent  writer,  commenting  upon  his  conduct  at 
this  period:  “The  revolutionists  of  Baden  held  in  bitter  hate  the 
stern  Prince  who  was  so  unscrupulous  in  his  mode  of  crushing  out 
popular  agitation.  From  Cologne  to  Konigsberg,  from  Hamburg  to 
Trieste,  all  Germans  had  for  years  had  reason  only  too  strong  to 
regard  William  Prince  of  Prussia  as  the  most  resolute  and  relentless 
enemy  of  popular  liberty.  When  the  Pope  was  inspiring  the  hearts 
of  freemen  and  patriots  everywhere  in  Europe  with  sudden  and 
splendid  hopes  doomed  to  speedy  disappointment,  the  Prince  of 
Prussia  was  execrated  with  the  Hapsburgs,  the  Bourbons,  and  the 
Romanoffs.  The  one  only  thing  commonly  said  in  his  favor  was  that 
he  was  honest  and  would  keep  his  word.” 

In  1858,  the  mind  of  his  brother,  Frederick  William  IV.,  which  for 
some  time  had  been  feeble,  gave  way  entirely,  and  the  Prince  was 
created  Regent  of  the  kingdom.  This  position  he  held  for  nearly 
three  years,  being  absolute  ruler  of  Prussia  during  that  time.  His 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


70S 


first  act  was  to  dismiss  the  Kreuz  or  aristocratic  party  and  to  adopt 
a  liberal  policy.  On  the  2d  of  January,  18(31,  Frederick  William  IV. 
died,  leaving  no  issue,  and  the  Prince  Regent  became  King,  under 
the  title  of  William  I.  On  the  18th  of  October  the  coronation  cere¬ 
monies  took  place  at  Kiinigsberg,  and  were  conducted  after  the  old 
formula  of  the  Prussian  monarchy.  The  King  took  the  crown  from 
the  altar  and  placed  it  on  his  head  with  his  own  hands,  and  in  a  few 
brief  words  proclaimed  that  he  held  his  crown  from  God  and  not  from 
the  people.  He  then  placed  another  crown  on  his  wife’s  head,  in  token 
that  she  derived  all  her  dignities  from  him. 

This  blunt  avowal  of  the  doctrine  of  absolute  power  gave  great 
offence  to  the  mass  of  the  German  people,  and  the  King’s  old  unpopu¬ 
larity  revived.  Outside  of  his  own  kingdom  he  was  universally  dis¬ 
liked,  and  this  feeling  extended  to  the  members  of  his  family.  The 
most  exaggerated  stories  were  told  of  the  domestic  life  of  the  King 
and  his  son— stories  which  the  English  press  industriously  circulated. 

“  Yet  he  was  saved  from  utter  detestation,”  says  the  writer  we 
have  quoted,*  “by  the  admitted  integrity  of  his  character— a  virtue 
so  dear  to  Germans,  that  for  its  sake  they  will  pardon  harshness,  and 
sometimes  even  stupidity.  People  disliked  or  dreaded  him,  but  they 
despised  his  brother.  There  was  a  certain  simplicity,  too,  always 
seen  in  William’s  mode  of  living,  which  pleased  the  country.  There 
was  no  affectation  about  him  ;  he  was  a  plain,  unpretending  soldier. 
Since  he  became  King,  anybody  passing  along  the  famous  Uuter  den 
Linden  might  see  the  white-haired,  simple  old  man  reading  or  writing 
at  the  window  of  his  palace.  ...  In  good  and  evil  he  kept  his 
word.  You  might  trust  him  to  do  as  he  had  said.  During  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  the  things  he  promised  to  do  and  did  were  not 
such  as  free  men  could  approve.  He  set  out  in  life  with  a  genuine 
detestation  of  liberal  principles  and  of  anything  that  suggested  popu¬ 
lar  revolution.  Horror  of  revolution  was  naturally  his  earliest  public 
sentiment.  He  was  one  of  the  Princes  who  entered  Paris  in  1815 
with  the  Allied  Sovereigns  when  they  came  to  stamp  out  Bonapartism  ; 
(and  he  seemed  to  have  gone  on  to  late  manhood  with  the  conviction 
that  the  mission  of  honest  kings  was  to  prevent  popular  agitation 
from  threatening  the  divine  right  of  the  throne.” 

The  measures  of  the  King  increased  his  unpopularity.  The  liberal 
press  was  silenced,  and  liberal  orators  were  threatened  and  if  possible 
punished.  His  scheme  for  the'  reorganization  of  the  civil  and  mili¬ 
tary  service  of  the  kingdom  met  with  a  fierce  opposition  from  the 
Parliament,  the  King  endeavoring  to  force  that  body  into  compliance 
with  his  wishes.  In  18(52,  Count  Von  Bismarck  was  made  Prime 


*  Mr.  Justin  McCarthy,  in  The  (juIusi/  fur  October,  lS*o. 


704 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  AVAR 


Minister,  and  King  William  found  him  an  invaluable  assistant  in  this 
struggle,  which  just  before  the  war  with  Denmark  threatened  to  end 
in  open  revolution.  The  King  and  his  Minister  were  right  in  seeking 
to  put  into  execution  the  reforms,  upon  which  they  insisted,  as  it  has 
been  that  system  which  lias  enabled  Prussia  to  reach  her  present  ex¬ 
alted  position,  but  their  mode  of  carrying  on  their  contest  with  the 
Parliament  was  an  attack  upon  the  civil  rights  of  the  nation.  The 
war  with  Denmark,  waged  in  conjunction  with  Austria,  put  an  end 
for  the  time  to  the  domestic  troubles. 

The  King  now,  much  against  his  inclination,  gave  his  support  to 
the  scheme  of  which  Bismarck  was  the  leading  spirit,  of  driving  Aus¬ 
tria  out  of  the  Germanic  Confederation  and  obtaining  the  supremacy 
in  Germany  for  Prussia.  The  war  of  1866  was  the  result  of  the 
measures  of  Bismarck.  A  treaty  of  alliance  was  concluded  with 
Italjg  the  smaller  States  of  Germany  were  required  to  side  with  either 
Prussia  or  Austria,  and  the  magnificent  army  of  Prussia  was  gotten 
in  readiness  to  take  the  field.  War  was  declared  against  Austria  on 
the  17th  of  June,  1866.  The  King  and  the  royal  Princes  at  once  took 
the  field,  and  in  a  brilliant  campaign  of  seven  weeks’  duration 
Austria  was  forced  to  make  a  humiliating  peace. 

“  AVith  the  success  of  Prussia  at  Sadowa  ended  King  William’s  per¬ 
sonal  unpopularity  in  Europe.  Those  who  were  prepared  to  take  any¬ 
thing  like  a  rational  view  of  the  situation  began  to  see  that  there 
must  be  some  manner  of  great  cause  behind  such  risks,  sacrifices,  and 
success.  Those  who  disliked  Prussia  more  than  ever,  as  many  in 
France  did,  were  disposed  to  put  the  King  out  of  their  consideration 
altogether,  and  to  turn  their  detestatiou  wholly  on  the  King’s  Minis¬ 
ter.  In  fact,  Bismarck  so  entirely  eclipsed  or  occulted  the  King,  that 
the  latter  may  be  said  to  have  disappeared  from  the  horizon  of  Euro¬ 
pean  politics.  His  good  qualities  or  bad  qualities  no  longer  counted 
for  aught  in  the  estimation  of  foreigners.  Bismarck  was  everything, 
the  King  was  nothing.  How  I  wish  my  readers  not  to  take  this  view 
of  the  matter.  In  everything  which  has  been  done  by  Prussia  since 
his  accession  to  the  throne,  King  William  has  counted  for  something. 
His  stern  uncompromising  truthfulness  has  always  counted  for  much. 
So  too  has  his  narrow-minded  dread  of  anything  which  he  believes  to 
savor  of  the  revolution.  So  has  his  thorough  and  devoted  German¬ 
ism.  I  am  convinced  that  it  would  have  been  far  more  easy  of  late  to 
induce  Bismarck  to  make  compromises  with  seemingly  powerful  ene¬ 
mies  at  the  expense  of  German  soil,  than  it  would  have  been  to  per¬ 
suade  Bismarck’s  master  to  consent  to  such  proposals.  The  King’s 
is  far  more  of  a  typical  German  character  (except  for  his  lack  of  in¬ 
tellect)  than  that  of  Bismarck,  in  whom  there  is  so  much  of  French 
audacity  as  well  as  of  French  humor.  .  .  The  enthusiasm  now  felt 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


705 


by  the  Germans  for  the  King  is  derived  from  just  the  same  source  as 
the  early  enthusiasm  of  Frenchmen  for  the  first  Napoleon.  In  each 
man  his  people  see  the  champion  who  has  repelled  the  aggression  of 
the  insolent  foreigner,  and  has  been  strong  enough  to  pursue  the 
foreigner  into  his  own  home,  and  there  chastise  him  for  his  aggres¬ 
sion.  .  .  It  has  been  his  good  fortune  to  reign  during  a  period 

when  the  foreign  policy  of  the  State  was  of  infinitely  greater  impor¬ 
tance  than  its  domestic  management.  It  became  the  business  of  the 
King  of  Prussia  to  help  his  country  to  assert  and  to  maintain  a 
national  existence.  Nothing  better  was  needed  in  the  Sovereign  for 
this  purpose  than  the  qualities  of  a  military  dictator,  and  the  King, 
in  this  case,  was  saved  all  trouble  of  thinking  and  planning.  He  had 
but  to  accept  and  to  agree  to  a  certain  line  of  policy — a  certain  set  of 
national  principles — and  to  put  his  foot  down  on  these  and  see  that 
they  were  carried  through.  For  this  object  the  really  manly  and 
sturdy  nature  of  the  King  proved  admirably  adapted.  He  upheld 
manfully  and  firmly  the  standard  of  the  nation.  His  defective  quali¬ 
ties  were  rendered  inactive,  and  had  indeed  no  occasion  or  chance  to 
display  themselves,  while  all  that  was  good  of  him  came  into  full 
activity  and  bold  relief.” 

The  King  lent  his  cordial  aid  to  the  establishment  of  the  North  Ger¬ 
man  Confederation,  and  grew  rapidly  in  favor  with  the  German  peo¬ 
ple.  His  decisive  conduct  witli  regard  to  the  French  demands  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  of  1870  made  him  the  popular  hero  of  Germany, 
and  all  his  old  faults  and  shortcomings  were  forgiven  and  forgotten 
by  the  Germans.  To-day  he  is,  perhaps,  the  most  popular  Sovereign 
in  Europe.  His  acts  during  the  war,  and  his  elevation  to  the  Impe¬ 
rial  throne  of  Germany,  have  already  been  related  in  these  pages. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1829,  William  I.  was  married  to  the  Princess 
Augusta,  daughter  of  Charles  Frederick,  Grand  Duke  of  Saxe-Weimar. 
They  have  two  children,  Prince  Frederick  William,  born  October  18th, 
1831,  and  the  Princess  Louise  Mary,  born  December  3d,  1838,  and 
married,  September  20th,  1856,  to  Frederick  William,  Grand  Duke  of 
Baden. 

The  Emperor  is  seventy-four  years  old,  but  is  in  the  full  possession 
of  his  health  and  vigor.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid  appearance,  and  in 
full  uniform,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  looks  “every  inch  a  king.”  He 
shared  many  of  the  hardships  of  the  recent  campaign  with  his  troops, 
and  was  everywhere  received  by  them  with  enthusiasm.  He  is  simple 
and  courteous  in  his  manners,  never  failing  to  return  the  salute  of 
the  humblest  of  his  subjects  with  studious  politeness.  Those  who 
know  him  personally  speak  with  pleasure  of  his  sweet  and  genial  man¬ 
ners  iu  private  life.  While  a  strict  disciplinarian,  he  is  exceedingly  kind- 
hearted,  and  is  very  fond  of  children,  with  whom  he  is  very  popular. 

45 


706 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


lie  is  incapable  of  a  mean  or  cruel  action,  and  will  not  tolerate  them 
in  others.  A  German  journal  thus  describes  his  daily  life  : 

“  His  Majesty  usually  rises  at  seven  o’clock,  in  summer  frequently 
much  earlier,  in  winter  sometimes  later.  He  never  sleeps  but  in  his 
own  campaign  bed,  which  is  carried  to  all  reviews  and  military 
manoeuvres  which  he  attends.  If  there  is  already  a  bed  in  the  room 
where  he  stays,  it  is  taken  out  and  the  campaign  bed  substituted. 
The  latter  consists  of  an  iron  frame  ;  it  is  only  a  foot  high,  and  has 
but  little  furniture.  In  raw  weather  the  King  wears  his  cloak.  Only 
a  small  pocket  watch  is  hung  up  by  the  wall  near  this  simple  couch, 
this  being  a  favorite  souvenir  with  which  the  King  was  presented  in 
1814,  on  accompanying  his  Royal  father  in  a  journey  to  Neufchatel 
and  through  Switzerland.  At  a  previously  fixed,  or  otherwise  at  the 
ordinary  time,  if  the  King  has  not  already  rung,  two  attendants  enter 
the  room.  On  days  when  there  is  to  be  a  battle  this  occurs  at  a  very 
early  hour,  as  at  Sadowa,  where  he  was  awoke  at  four  A.  M.,  and  at 
Gravelotte,  where  he  was  awoke  at  three,  for  the  King  likes  to  be 
present  at  the  marching  out  of  the  troops.  If  this  is  not  necessary, 
dispatches  are  laid  on  the  table,  where  he  drinks  coffee,  so  that  they 
come  immediately  into  his  hands.  The  King,  as  soon  as  he  rises, 
dresses  from  head  to  foot,  and  remains  dressed  the  whole  day,  merely 
unbottoning  his  overcoat  if  he  is  alone  in  his  room  or  receives  only 
persons  on  his. suite.  When  other  persons  are  received  he  always  ap¬ 
pears  with  buttoned  overcoat,  as  also  when  he  steps  up  to  a  window 
to  watch  troops  marching  by,  or  if  he  knows  that  military  persons 
can  see  him.  On  returning  from  journeys  and  reviews,  or  from  a 
battle,  he  changes  his  linen,  but  entirely  dresses  again.  A  dressing- 
gown,  slippers,  or  any  other  domestic  luxury,  which  almost  every 
independent  man  allows  himself  at  home,  the  King  has  never  used, 
even  during  indisposition  or  sickness.  The  King  opens  all  his  letters 
himself,  without  exception  ;  even  during  serious  illness  they  must  be 
opened  in  his  presence.  He  sorts  them.  On  a  first  perusal  he  makes 
signs  or  marginal  comments  on  them.  These  signs  have  a  fixed 
signification,  and  the  officials  into  whose  hands  they  come  know  how 
to  deal  with  them.  All  letters  destined  for  the  Berlin  Ministry  go 
back  thither ;  otherwise  they  are  sent  to  the  authorities  at  head¬ 
quarters.  Everything  goes  on  according  to  a  regular  method,  and 
the  King  has  really  one  habit— that  of  working.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


707 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM,  CROWN  PRINCE  OF 
PRUSSIA. 


fREDERICK  WILLIAM  NICHOLAS  CHARLES,  Crown 
Prince  of  Prussia,  and  Crown  Prince  Imperial  of  Germany, 
was  born  on  the  18th  of  October,  1831.  He  is  the  only  son 

?of  the  Emperor  William  I.  and  the  Empress  Augusta.  Ilis 
early  life,  like  that  of  most  princes,  was  uneventful.  His 
education  was  directed  chiefly  by  his  mother,  from  whom  he 
received  a  most  careful  training,  not  only  in  those  things  pertaining 
naturally  to  the  education  of  princes,  but  in  all  branches  of  study. 
Having  been  a  pupil  of  Goethe,  she  was  a  woman  of  great  cultivation, 
and  was  well  qualified  for  the  task  she  assumed.  Among  his  instruc¬ 
tors  were  Godet  and  Max  Duncker,  the  historian.  Ilis  elementary 
instruction  in  boyhood  was  conducted  under  Dr.  Ernest  Curtius.  At 
the  age  of  ten  yeai's  he  received  his  commission  as  sub-lieutenant, 
after  which  -he  proceeded  to  the  University  of  Bonn.  After  finishing 
his  course  at  this  institution,  he  began  his  military  studies  under 
General  Schreckenstein,  completing  them  under  Generals  Yon  Roou 
and  Yon  Moltke.  He  was  very  popular  among  his  troops  after  taking 
command  in  person,  but  was  not  supposed  to  be  possessed  of  any  re¬ 
markable  degree  of  military  genius.  He  travelled  extensively  through 
Europe,  and  won  many  friends  by  his  amiable  demeanor.  » 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1858,  he  was  married  to  the  Princess  Vic¬ 
toria,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Queen  of  England.  By  this  marriage 
he  has  had  several  children.  In  1858  he  was  made  Major-General, 
and  in  1860  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-General,  and 
placed  in  command  of  the  Second  (Pomeranian)  Corps  d’Arm6e.  He 
took  part  in  the  war  against  Denmark,  at  the  head  of  his  corps,  the 
command  of  the  Prussian  forces  being  given  to  his  cousin,  Prince 
Frederick  Charles. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Austria  in  1866,  Prince 
Frederick  William  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Oder, 
which  so  brilliantly  opened  the  war.  The  general  operations  of  the 
war  were  conducted  by  General  Yon  Moltke  in  his  cabinet,  but 
enough  liberty  was  accorded  to  the  Crown  Prince  to  enable  him  to 
display  the  high  qualities  of  generalship,  which  were  so  conspicuous 
during  the  war  we  have  just  been  considering.  Pushing  through  the 
passes  of  Riesengebirge,  or  the  Giant’s  Mountain,  near  Glatz,  he  en¬ 
gaged  the  Austrian  troops  in  a  series  of  brilliant  actions,  swept  them 
back,  and  opened  the  way  for  the  victorious  advance  of  the  Prussian 
Army.  General  Steinmetz  was  his  second  in  command,  and  this  able 
officer,  with  the  advance  guard  of  the  Crown  Prince’s  army,  defeated 


70S 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


the  enemy  severely  at  Nachod  and  Skalitz.  At  Trautenau  the  Prus¬ 
sians  were  repulsed,  but  in  the  battle  of  Koniginhof,  which  followed, 
they  gained  a  brilliant  victory,  and  opened  the  way  for  the  still 
greater  triumph  of  Sadowa,  in  which  the  army  of  the  Crown  Prince 
decided  the  day.  His  services  during  this  war  gave  the  Crown  Prince 
an  enviable  reputation  as  a  commander,  and  made  him  the  object  of 
the  enthusiastic  admiration  of  his  troops. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Prance,  he  was  placed  in  com¬ 
mand  of  the  3d  army,  consisting  of  the  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Eleventh 
Prussian  Corps  d’Armee,  the  Bavarians,  Wlirtembergers,  and  the 
troops  of  Baden  and  Hesse  Darmstadt,  making  a  force  of  172,000  in¬ 
fantry,  17,000  cavalry,  and  576  guns.  The  operations  of  this  army 
are  related  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  It  only  remains  for  us  to  add 
that  it  was  to  this  army  that  the  city  and  garrison  of  Paris  surrendered. 

At  the  battle  of  Woerth  two  correspondents  of  the  Paris  journals 
were  made  prisoners.  They  were  liberated  by  order  of  the  Crown 
Prince,  and  sent  back  to  France.  On  their  return  to  Paris,  one  of 
them  published  the  following  account  of  their  interview  with  him  : 

“Prince  Frederick  William,  heir  to  the  crown  of  Prussia,  is  a  man 
of  tall  stature,  thin,  with  a  calm,  placid  countenance;  but  in  the  curve 
of  his  aquiline  nose  and  his  dilating  nostrils  there  are  evidences  of 
energy,  while  the  rapidity  of  his  glance  convinces  you  of  his  decision. 
A  full,  fair  beard  softens  the  somewhat  stern  expression  of  his  features. 
He  has  great  simplicity  of  manner,  and  affects  rather  a  kiud  of  bour¬ 
geois  style  of  speaking,  thinking,  and  general  behavior.  He  speaks 
French  with  great  purity,  without  foreign  accent  beyond  a  slight  Ger¬ 
man  intonation  and  occasional  hesitation  at  certain  words.  ‘  Do  you 
speak  German,  sir?’  he  said  to  me.  ‘No,  Prince,  not  sufficiently.’ 
4 1  am  sorry  for  it,  as  otherwise  you  would  have  heard  in  what  man¬ 
ner  our  troops  speak  of  yours,  and  in  what  esteem  they  hold  them.’ 
4 1  thank  yo.u  very  much  for  that  opinion.’  4  Oh !  it  is  quite  deserved. 
We  have  all  admired  the  tenacity  and  the  courage  which  have  been 
evinced  by  even  the  humblest  of  your  soldiers.’  Then,  with  much 
delicate  consideration,  and  almost  making  excuses  for  mentioning  the 
facts  to  us,  he  told  us  that  they  had  taken  between  3000  and  4000 
prisoners,  thirty  guns,  six  mitrailleuses,  and  two  eagles.  4  Among 
the  prisoners,’  said  he,  ‘is  General  Kaoult.  I  went  this  morning  to 
see  him  at  Reichshofen,  where  he  lies  wounded,  his  hip  and  thigh 
broken;  I  fear  that  he  is  now  dying.  He  is  a  brave  officer,  and  he  has 
given  me  some  addresses  in  Paris,  to  which  he  wishes  letters  to  be 
sent.’  4  But,  Prince,’  I  observed,  4  the  other  prisoners  also  have  fami¬ 
lies.’  4 1  have  thought  of  that.  I  have  had  them  supplied  with  writ¬ 
ing  materials;  the  letters  will  be  sent  unsealed  to  our  Consul  at  Geneva, 
who  will  forward  them  to  France.’  4  Prince,  we  thank  you  on  behalf 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


709 


of  the  mothers  whose  grief  you  are  about  to  assauge.’  ‘  I  do  not  like 
war,  gentlemen.  If  I  should  reign  I  would  never  make  it.  Now,  de¬ 
spite  my  love  of  peace,  this  is  the  third  campaign  I  have  been  obliged 
to  make.  I  went  over  the  battlefield  yesterday.  It  was  frightful.  If 
it  only  depended  upon  myself,  this  war  would  end  here.  It  is  your 
Ministers  and  the  Emperor  who  would  have  it ;  it  is  not  we  who 
wanted  it.  And  yet  the  Emperor  has  been  very  good  to  me  and  very 
kind  to  my  wife.  The  last  time  I  saw  him  was  at  the  Tuileries  on 
the  12th  of  January,  when  he  said  to  me,  ‘You  know  that  I  have 
found  a  new  Minister.  That  was  this  M.  Ollivier  who  now  makes 
this  war  against  us.’  ” 

The  King’s  bulletin,  announcing  the  first  victory,  gave  to  the 
Crown  Prince  his  most  popular  name,  “  Our  Fritz,”  which  will  pro¬ 
bably  cling  to  him.  It  was  eagerly  caught  up  by  the  soldiers,  who 
were  devotedly  attached  to  their  gallant  commander.  The  Prince 
fully  merited  this  devotion,  not  only  by  the  genius  with  which  he 
conducted  his  operations,  but  by  the  care  and  kindness  which  he 
bestowed  upon  his  troops.  A  writer  in  one  of  the  London  journals 
thus  speaks  of  his  care  for  the  wounded  : 

“  I  have  been  the  accidental  and  unseen  witness  of  a  little  scene  just 
now  which  is  worth  recording.  A  country  cart  was  rumbling  down 
the  street  with  two  wounded  officers — young  men — on  their  way  to 
the  station.  An  officer  on  foot  beckoned  to  the  driver  to  stop,  and 
went  up  to  the  cart,  the  occupants  of  which  tried  to  salute  him,  but 
he  made  a  gesture,  and,  leaning  over,  entered  into  conversation  with 
them  for  ten  minutes,  evidently  asking  after  their  wounds.  On  part¬ 
ing,  he  shook  each  by  the  hand,  and  continued  his  way  up  the  street, 
accompanied  by  two  other  officers.  He  halted  at  my  quarters  and 
inquired  if  there  were  any  wounded  inside — they  had  been  removed, 
some  to  their  last  resting  place — then  went  on,  and,  meeting  a  cart 
full  of  wounded  soldiers,  talked  to  them  each  in  turn,  and  so  went  on, 
visiting  the  hospitals  and  the  wounded  in  the  most  unostentatious 
manner.  It  was  the  Crown  Prince.  No  wonder  his  men  are  fond  of 
him.  Many  did  not  know  him  till  he  had  passed  on.  He  told  how 
the  soldiers,  one  and  all,  seemed  to  rejoice  in  their  wounds,  and  make 
light  of  them  for  the  sake  of  the  cause ;  and  there  was  an  honest 
exultation  in  his  tone  at  the  honor  of  commanding  such  troops.” 


710 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


PRINCE  FREDERICK  CHARLES. 

®EXT  to  V on  Moltke,  the  ablest  of  the  Prussian  Generals  is 
Prince  Frederick  Charles  Alexander,  the  son  of  Prince 
Charles,  and  nephew  of  the  Emperor  William  I.  His  mother 
V  rXg  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Grand  Duke  of  Saxe-Weimar.  He 
was  born  at  Berlin  on  the  20th  of  March,  1S2S.  He  entered 
the  military  service  of  the  kingdom  at  the  age  of  ten,  and 
was  regularly  and  thoroughly  instructed  in  his  profession.  The 
greater  part  of  his  military  education  was  conducted  by  General  Yon 
Boon,  after  which  he  passed  under  the  care  of  Yon  Moltke,  with 
whom  he  was  a  favorite  pupil.  He  showed  great  fondness  for  mili¬ 
tary  studies  from  the  commencement  of  his  career,  and  often  during 
his  boyhood  was  reprimanded  for  passing  entire  nights  in  study,  the 
history  of  the  campaigns  of  Frederick  the  Great  being  his  favorite 
text  book. 

He  first  saw  active  service  on  the  staff  of  General  Yon  Wrangel, 
during  the  first  war  with  Denmark  in  1848,  and  attracted  consider¬ 
able  attention  by  his  gallantry.  He  accompanied  his  uncle,  the 
present  Emperor,  during  the  campaign  of  1849  in  Baden,  and  was 
seriously  wounded  in  Wiesenthal.  After  the  return  of  peace  he  re¬ 
sumed  his  military  studies,  and  prosecuted  them  with  ardor  for 
fourteen  years,  acquiring  a  high  reputation  in  the  army  for  pro¬ 
fessional  knowledge  and  tactical  skill.  In  1857,  he  married  the 
Princess  Marie  Louise  Alexandrine,  the  daughter  of  the  Grand  Duke 
of  Saxe-Weimar,  by  whom  he  has  several  children. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Schleswig-Holstein  War,  in  1864,  he  was 
given  the  command  of  the  Prussian  troops  sent  to  cooperate  with  the 
Austrians  against  Denmark.  He  was  defeated  before  Missunde, 
where  he  was  wounded,  but  more  than  atoned  for  this  reverse  by  the 
capture  of  the  great  Danish  stronghold  of  Diippel.  Here  he  led  the 
last  assault  in  person,  himself  bearing  the  colors  of  the  regiment  of 
the  Guards  which  first  entered  the  Danish  works.  lie  defeated  the 
Danes  in  several  other  engagements,  and  brought  the  war  to  a  suc¬ 
cessful  close  in  the  fall  of  1864. 

When  war  was  declared  against  Austria  in  1866,  Prince  Frederick 
Charles  was  placed  in  command  of  the  1st  army.  He  got  his  troops 
in  readiness  to  march  with  remarkable  celerity,  and  on  the  23d  of 
June  crossed  the  border,  issuing  his  famous  order  of  the  day  to  his 
troops  : — “  May  your  hearts  beat  toward  God,  and  your  fists  upon  the 
enemy.”  He  marched  promptly  against  the  Austrians,  defeating 
them  at  Liebenau,  Turnau,  Podol,  Munchengratz,  and  Gitschin,  and 
drove  them  back  into  the  interior  of  Bohemia.  The  Austrians  now 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


711 


took  up  a  formidable  position  on  the  heights  beyond  Bistritz,  and 
Prince  Frederick  Charles,  having  decided  to  attack  them,  sent  a 
message  to  his  cousin,  the  Crown  Prince,  to  hasten  to  his  assistance. 
Without  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  2d  army,  he  attacked  the 
enemy  at  Sadowa  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  July.  The  Austrians 
were  well  posted,  and  though  the  Prussians  fought  desperately,  they 
were  unable  to  carry  the  hostile  position  until  the  Crown  Prince,  with 
the  2d  army,  reached  the  field,  turned  the  Austrian  flank,  and  de¬ 
cided  the  day.  This  great  victory  closed  the  war. 

Although  General  Von  Moltke  had  directed  the  general  operations 
of  the  campaign,  Frederick  Charles  had  shown  great  generalship  in 
the  execution  of  the  task  assigned  him,  and  he  was  from  this  time 
regarded  as  one  of  the  first  soldiers  in  Europe. 

The  experience  of  the  campaign  had  shown  the  Prince  serious 
defects  in  the  splendid  military  system  of  Prussia,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  endeavored  to  induce  the  military  authorities  of  the 
kingdom  to  lend  their  aid  to  certain  reforms  which  he  proposed.  He 
was  unsuccessful  in  this  attempt,  and  thereupon  embodied  his  views 
in  a  pamphlet  which  he  published  anonymously  at  Frankfort.  This 
brochure  attracted  universal  attention  throughout  Europe,  and  con¬ 
vinced  the  Prussian  Government  that  the  reforms  which  it  advocated 
were  indeed  needed.  Von  Moltke  cordially  endorsed  the  views  of  the 
writer,  and  the  result  was  a  conference  between  the  great  soldier  and 
the  Prince.  The  Prince  succeeded  in  impressing  his  old  master  with 
the  importance  of  bis  scheme,  the  King  and  the  Minister  of  War 
were  won  over  to  its  support,  and  the  order  was  given  to  commence 
the  execution  of  the  improvements  which  have  made  the  Prussian 
Army  the  finest  in  the  world. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  with  France,  the  Prince  was 
given  the  command  of  the  2d  army,  the  largest  of  the  German  forces. 
It  numbered  190,000  infantry,  24,200  cavalry,  and  672  guns,  and 
consisted  of  the  Guards,  the  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  and  Tenth 
Prussian  Corps,  and  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Saxon  Corps. 

We  have  already  related  the  career  of  the  Prince  during  the  war, 
and  have  noted  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Field  Marshal  after  the 
capture  of  Metz. 


712 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


PRINCE  VON  BISMARCK-SCHONHAUSEN 

tARL  OTTO  VON  BISMARCK  was  born  at  Schbnbausen,  in 
the  Province  of  Saxony,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1814.  He  was 
of  an  ancient  and  noble  family,  the  members  of  which  had 
ViA  done  the  Prussian  and  the  Saxon  States  much  service  in  their 
day.  He  was  designed  for  the  legal  profession,  and  was  edu- 
r  cated  at  Gottingen,  Berlin,  and  Greifswald.  He  obtained  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  and  then  entered  the  army  for  awhile, 
in  accordance  with  the  Prussian  law,  serving  first  in  the  light  in¬ 
fantry,  and  afterward  as  an  officer  of  the  Landwehr. 

Many  stories  are  told  of  bis  college  life,  and  these  represent  him  as 
a  fair  type  of  the  German  student.  He  drank  beer  by  the  gallon, 
smoked  tobacco  by  the  pound,  fought  duels,  broke  windows  and  street 
lamps,  beat  the  citizens,  and  did  all  things  else  considered  necessary 
to  a  high  position  in  the  student  world.  His  exploits  are  a  part  of  the 
traditions  of  Gottingen,  and  are  related  by  the  collegians  with  great 
gusto. 

Being  invited  to  a  ball  upon  one  occasion,  be  ordered  a  pair  of  new 
boots  ;  but,  on  the  day  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  ball,  he  re¬ 
ceived  notice  that  the  boots  would  not  be  ready.  Instead  of  submitting 
to  bis  fate  and  going  to  the  ball  in  old  boots,  or  staying  away  alto¬ 
gether,  Bismarck  went  down  to  the  cobbler,  taking  with  him  two 
enormous  and  ferocious  dogs,  which  he  assured  the  frightened  Crispin 
should  inevitably  tear  him  in  pieces  if  the  boots  were  not  ready  by  the 
following  morning.  Not  satisfied  with  this  threat,  he  hired  a  man, 
who  paraded  the  dogs  before  the  cobbler’s  shop  all  through  the  day, 
and  occasionally  reminded  the  luckless  man  of  his  perplexing  predica¬ 
ment,  by  saying,  “  Unfortunate  shoemaker,  thou  art  doomed  to  death 
by  the  dogs  unless  Herr  Bismarck’s  boots  be  finished.”  With  a  sigh, 
the  poor  shoemaker  told  his  wife  he  must  work  all  night ;  and  so  Bis¬ 
marck  got  his  boots  in  time  for  the  ball. 

After  the  usual  term  of  military  service,  Bismarck  began  his  diplo¬ 
matic  career,  and  a  characteristic  anecdote  is  told  of  his  first  effort  to 
secure  patronage  for  himself.  He  had  been  promised  a  position  by  a 
Minister  of  State,  upon  whom  he  waited  by  appointment,  and  by 
whom  he  was  kept  waiting  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  When  the  Minis¬ 
ter  appeared,  the  young  man  responded  to  his  inquiry  as  to  what  he 
required,  by  saying,  “  One  hour  and  a  half  ago  I  wanted  an  audience  ; 
now  I  decline  it.”  He  did  not  forget  the  insult  thus  offered  to  his  dignity; 
but  when,  by  other  channels,  he  had  risen  to  power,  and  the  Minister 
who  had  intentionally  or  unintentionally  wounded  his  feelings,  was 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


713 


hi«t»i>eit  tn  a  subordinate  position,  he  readily  forgave  the  old  grudge, 
and  took  no  advantage  of  their  altered  circumstances. 

On  the  decease  of  his  father,  Bismarck  resigned  his  Government  ap¬ 
pointment,  and  retiied  to  his  estates.  In  1840  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Diet  of  Saxony,  and  in  1847  a  member  of  the  General  Diet,  in 
which  he  made  bimself  a  marked  man  by  the  boldness  of  his  speeches. 
On  one  occasion  he  argued  that  all  great  cities  should  be  swept  away 
from  the  face  of  the  earth,  because  they  were  the  centres  of  democracy 
and  constitutionalism.  In  1848  he  was  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  popu¬ 
lar  cause,  and  a  staunch  supporter  of  absolutism  in  the  Government. 

In  1851,  he  entered  the  diplomatic  service  of  Prussia,  and  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  Legation  at  Frankfort.  In  1852  he  was  made  Ambassa¬ 
dor  to  Vienna,  where,  in  pursuance  of  his  policy  of  regarding  Austria  as 
the  antagonist  of  Prussia,  he  proved  a  constant  adversary  to  Count 
Rechberg.  In  1858  a  pamphlet,  entitled,  uLa  Prusse  et  la  Question  Italien- 
«e,”  appeared,  the  authorship  of  which  was  generally  attributed  to  him. 
In  this  publication  reference  was  made  to  the  antagonism  existing  be¬ 
tween  Austria  and  Prussia,  and  a  triple  alliance  between  France, 
Prussia  and  Russia  was  advocated.  In  1855,  when  the  Crimean  war 
was  just  opening,  Bismarck  was  called  to  the  Upper  Chamber  of  the 
Prussian  Legislature,  aud  in  1859  he  was  sent  as  Ambassador  to  St. 
Petersburg,  where  he  remained  until  1802,  and,  having  won  the  favor 
of  the  Czar,  was  decorated  with  the  order  of  St.  Alexander  Newski. 
In  May,  1862,  he  was  appointed  Ambassador  to  Paris,  where  he  re¬ 
ceived  from  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  the  Grand  Cross  of  the  Le¬ 
gion  of  Honor.  On  the  22d  of  September  of  that  year  he  was  recalled 
to  Prussia  and  made  Minister  of  the  King’s  House  and  of  Foreign  Af¬ 
fairs,  and  President  of  the  Council  of  Ministers. 

The  budget  having  been  rejected  by  the  Deputies,  but  adopted  by 
the  Upper  Chamber,  Bismarck,  in  the  name  of  the  King,  dissolved 
the  former  after  an  angry  contest  with  them.  The  newspapers  which 
protested  against  this  arbitrary  act  were  prosecuted  with  great  se¬ 
verity,  as  were  numerous  public  officials,  magistrates,  and  others, 
who  openly  expressed  views  hostile  to  the  Government.  In  January, 
1863,  he  protested  against  an  address  which  the  Deputies  presented 
to  the  King,  in  which  he  was  accused  of  having  violated  the  Constitu¬ 
tion.  A  little  later,  fresh  trouble  was  caused  by  the  affairs  of  Poland. 
The  Chamber  of  Deputies,  by  a  majority  of  five  to  one,  censured  the 
Ministry  for  having  concluded  (February  8th)  a  secret  treaty  with 
Russia. 

Bismarck  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  war  against  Denmark  on 
the  question  of  the  Elbe  Duchies  ;  and  that  struggle  having  been 
brought  to  a  successful  close,  he  exerted  himself  to  produce  a  rupture 
between  Prussia  and  Austria,  his  avowed  object  being  to  drive  the 


714 


HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


latter  power  out  of  Germany  and  make  Prussia  the  real  head  of  the 
German  race.  lie  was  successful  in  his  efforts,  and  by  the  brilliant 
war  of 1S66  accomplished  all  that  he  desired  for  his  country.  He  ac¬ 
companied  the  King  through  the  campaign,  and  it  is  said  that  at  Sa- 
dowa  he  was  the  only  man  sanguine  of  success  during  the  critical  two 
hours  which  preceded  the  arrival  of  the  Crown  Prince. 

During  his  contest  with  the  Prussian  liberals,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  assassinate  him  in  the  principal  promenade  of  Berlin.  “He  was 
walking  along  the  Linden  when  he  heard  a  shot  fired  near  to  him,  to 
which  he  paid  no  attention.  A  second  shot  within  a  few  feet  caused 
him  to  turn  around,  and  he  realized  the  situation.  Nothing  but 
quickness  and  resolution  saved  the  Count’s  life  at  that  period.  The 
assassin  was  only  a  yard  or  two  off,  his  finger  on  the  trigger  for  the 
third  shot ;  Bismarck  sprang  upon  him,  seized  him  by  the  shoulders, 
and,  as  the  pistol  exploded  for  the  third  time,  violently  whirled  him 
half  round,  so  that  the  shot  just  grazed  by,  and  so  for  two  more  shots. 
Half  paralyzing  the  man  by  the  force  of  his  grasp,  he  jerked  him  from 
side  to  side,  and  finally  threw  him  on  the  pavement.  It  all  happened 
in  three  seconds— the  police  came,  the  man  was  carried  off,  and  Bis¬ 
marck  went  his  way.” 

In  so  far  as  it  is  the  work  of  any  one  man,  the  unity  of  Germany 
under  Prussian  leadership  may  be  said  to  be  the  work  of  Bismarck, 
who  was  created  a  Count  on  the  16th  of  September,  1865.  For  this 
object  he  has  worked  without  thought  of  self,  his  severe  labors  so 
prostrating  his  powerful  physical  organization  that  he  has  several 
times  been  brought  to  the  verge  of  the  grave.  Even  those  who  con¬ 
demn  his  course  are  forced  to  admit  that  it  has  been  thoroughly  dis¬ 
interested  as  regards  himself,  and  that  he  sought  nothing  but  the 
harmonious  consolidation  of  Germany  in  a  system  strong  enough  to 
secure  prosperity  at  home,  and  to  exercise  a  controlling  power  in 
European  politics.  Even  his  bitter  hostility  to  the  Liberals  had  no 
other  object  in  view.  In  summing  up  his  policy  after  the  war  of  1866, 
he  said  to  an  American  gentleman  a  few  years  ago  : 

“The  result  of  the  war  is  to  make  it  possible  that  Prussia  should 
be  a  nation  capable  of  governing  herself.  She  fought  for  defence,  for 
her  own  existence,  and  for  Germany.  Some  people  fancied  it  possible 
to  unite  Germany  by  speeches  at  Frankfort,  but  there  were  only  two 
things  which  could  make  a  Germany — a  war,  or  a  revolution.  Had 
Prussia  not  been  able  to  lead  the  movement,  she  was  likely  to  have 
been  broken  in  pieces  territorially,  and  Bavaria,  or  Saxony  would 
have  had  as  much  control  in  German  politics  as  Prussia,  while  in 
European  politics  she  might  have  been  no  better  than  another  Bel¬ 
gium.  The  nationality  of  Prussia  lay  in  her  army  With  the  army 
as  it  was  in  1859,  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  fight.  Two-thirds 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


715 


of  her  force  was  comprised  in  the  Landwehr,  unavailable  for  instant 
necessities,  and  the  ranks  were  filled  with  men  who  had  families  and 
wished  no  war.  It  was  necessary  to  break  that  up.  I  believe  that 
the  Liberal  party  of  Prussia  now  sees  that  a  policy  has  been  pursued 
during  the  last  four  years  tending  steadily  to  one  end,  and  that  the 
means  employed  were,  if  not  the  only,  at  least  a  sure  method  of 
reaching  it.  They  clearly  see  that  it  was  impossible  to  make  such 
explanations  as  might  have  removed  the  necessity  for  the  conflict  I 
was  obliged  to  carry  on  against  them.  I  rejoice  at  their  cordial 
acquiescence  in  the  results  that  have  been  achieved,  and  that  their 
assurance  of  good  will  and  support  are  sincere  I  heartily  believe. 
On  my  part  the  feeling  is  cordial.  The  King’s  speech  was  sincere, 
and  his  desire  to  be  on  good  terms  with  the  Liberals  is  a  genuine  one, 
and  I  trust  will  continue.” 

The  formation  of  the  North  German  Confederation  was  the  result 
of  the  war  with  Austria,  and  of  this  Confederation  Count  Bismarck 
was  made  Chancellor.  Two  objects  claimed  his  best  efforts  now, 
apart  from  the  purely  domestic  policy  of  Prussia— to  secure  the  union 
of  the  South  German  States  with  the  North,  and  to  prepare  Germany 
for  the  war  with  France,  which  his  sagacious  miud  knew  to  be  close 
at  hand.  We  have  seen  how  thoroughly  successful  he  has  been  in 
each  effort.  To  an  American  gentleman  who  congratulated  him  at 
the  moment  of  the  surrender  at  Sedan,  on  “  having  contributed  so 
largely  to  the  day’s  victory,”  he  said  : 

“I  am  no  strategist,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  winning  of 
battles.  What  I  am  proud  of  is  that  the  Bavarians,  the  Saxons,  the 
Wurtembergers,  have  not  only  been  on  our  side,  but  have  had  so 
large  a  share— the  largest  share — in  the  glory  of  the  day  ;  that  they 
are  with  us,  and  not  against  us.  That  is  my  doing.” 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  war  with  France,  Bismarck  took  the 
field  with  the  King,  and  remained  with  him  during  the  war.  We 
have  already  recorded  his  conduct  during  the  struggle.  Upon  the 
formation  of  the  German  Empire,  he  was  made  its  Chancellor,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  was  created  a  Prince  of  the  German  Empire. 
His  personal  appearance  is  thus  described  by  the  correspondent  of 
the  New  York  Tribune ,  who  visited  him  in  September,  1866  : 

“  There  are  a  few  small  photographs  of  Bismarck,  none  good,  and 
a  big  lithograph  that  is  smoothed  and  softened  into  a  simpering 
primness  as  unlike  the  original  as  possible.  You  are  at  once  re¬ 
minded  of  Cromwell’s  fierce  demand  that  he  should  be  painted  as  he 
was  :  ‘  If  you  leave  out  a  single  wart  or  wrinkle,  I  will  not  give  you  a 
shilling.’  Cromwell’s  face  certainly  was  not  a  beautiful  one,  and 
Lely,  if  Lely  it  were,  might  be  excused  ;  but  Bismarck’s  face  is  a  far 
better  one  than  any  of  the  pictures  make  it.  Not  regular  at  all, 


716 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


scored  with  deep  lines,  brows  and  eyebrows  heavy,  gray  eyes,  full, 
large,  and  well  apart,  with  cavernous  dark  circles  underneath,  mouth 
much  hidden  under  the  moustache,  the  jaw  not  square  but  strong, 
the  head  of  extreme  breadth  at  the  temples,  and  rising  dome-shaped, 
high  in  the  air.  The  pictures  do  not  show  it  fully,  because  the  brow 
is  wide  and  high,  but  the  head  is  something  like  that  of  Fericles,  for 
whom  the  wits  of  Athens  were  never  tired  of  inventing  nicknames  to 
describe  its  helmet  shape.  The  crauiologists  will  be  happy  to  find 
herein  an  illustration  of  their  theories ;  there  is  no  denying  that  both 
Pericles  and  Bismarck  were  men  in  whom  revolution  was  a  prominent 
trait.  It  is  shown  in  every  line  of  his  face,  not  less  than  by  the 
great  arch,  of  the  skull.  The  countenance  is  genial  as  well  as  reso¬ 
lute  ;  the  mouth  breaks  readily  into  a  smile,  and  the  eyes  greet  you 
with  honest  welcome,  and  have  sunlight  in  them.  Head  and  face  are 
carried  erect,  rather  more  than  six  feet  from  the  ground,  on  broad, 
square  shoulders ;  chest  of  great  depth  ;  rest  of  the  figure  muscular 
and  elastic.  The  diplomatist  is  a  soldier  as  well ;  and  the  military 
bearing  is  conspicuous.  Over  all  is  the  air  of  good  birth  and  breed¬ 
ing,  which  is  natural  to  one  whose  ancestry  goes  back  500  years.  Ho 
collection  of  details  suffices  to  convey  any  notion  of  the  sense  of  power 
with  which  one  is  impressed  at  first,  and  which  is  never  lost.” 

'The  following  extract  from  The  Graphic  (London)  accompanies  an 
illustration  of  an  incident  of  the  Count’s  sojourn  at  Versailles,  with 
which  we  conclude  this  sketch  : 

“After  leaving  the  hospital,  I  saw  a  pleasant  sight,  all  the  more 
pleasant  that  it  had  nothing  bloodthirsty  or  warlike  about  it.  It  was 
simply  a  big  Prussian  Landwehrman,  bluff,  hearty,  broad-shouldered, 
and  with  a  pleasant  face,  shaking  hands  with  a  little  French  maid, 
who  seemed  to  be  taken  with  his  frank  look,  and  who  was  evidently 
as  ignorant  of  what  they  were  fighting  for,  or  with  whom  they  were 
fighting  with,  and  all  about  the  war,  as  Peterkin  in  the  ballad.  The 
Prussian  Landwehrman  was  no  other  than  that  great  bugbear,  Von 
Bismarck,  the  ogre  of  the  French  nursery,  as  Bonaparte  used  to  be 
the  ogre  of  ours  ;  and  yet  he  did  not  seem  at  all  so  disposed  to  eat 
this  tender  morsel  of  flesh,  as  to  be  consistent  with  his  reputation  he 
should  have  done.  I  don’t  know  whether  the  little  maid  knew  the 
big  gentleman’s  name.  Perhaps' she  will  grow  up  to  be  a  woman  in 
ignorance  that  she  ever  clasped  hands  with  the  great  enemy  of  her 
race.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


717 


GENERAL  COUNT  VON  MOLTKE. 


ELMUTTI  CHARLES  BERNARD  COUNT  VON 


MOLTKE,  Chief  of  the  Staff  to  the  Prussian  Army,  was 
born  at  Gnewitz,  in  Mecklenburg,  October  2Gth  1S00. 
Shortly  after  his  birth,  his  father  purchased  an  estate  in  the 
Danish  Duchy  of  Holstein,  where  he  passed  his  childhood. 


u  At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  sent  with  an  elder  brother  to 
the  Land  Cadet  Academy  at  Copenhagen.  When  he  was  twenty-two 
be  entered  the  Prussian  military  service  after  a  severe  examination. 
He  was  the  youngest  second-lieutenant  in  the  8th  regiment  of  foot- 
guards,  then  stationed  at  Erankfort-on-the-Oder.  The  corps  was 
commanded  at  the  time  by  General  Von  Marwick,  whose  wife  was  by 
birth  a  Countess  Von  Moltke.  This  circumstance  was  of  considera¬ 
ble  benefit  to  young  Von  Moltke,  whose  means  were  confined  to  his 
pay.  His  father  had  lost  all  his  property  by  the  war,  and  was  unable 
to  make  him  any  allowance.  The  young  man  was  very  anxious  to 
study  the  modern  languages,  and  to  do  this  he  had  to  save  the  means 
out  of  his  scanty  pay  as  an  officer,  but  he  practised  the  closest  econ¬ 
omy,  and  succeeded  in  accomplishing  his  object.  He  is  an  extraordi¬ 
narily  taciturn  man,  and  it  has  been  wittily  said  of  him  that  he 
knows  how  to  hold  his  tongue  in  eight  languages.  He  speedily  made 
his  mark  as  an  able  and  energetic  officer,  and  was  placed  on  the  staff 
in  1832,  and  in  1835  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  While 
still  a  Lieutenant  he  was  given  the  direction  of  the  School  of 
Division,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  so  well  that  he  was 
attached  to  a  commission  under  General  Von  Muffling,  and  assigned 
to  the  duty  of  making  surveys  of  Posen  and  Silesia. 

In  1835  he  was  sent  to  Turkey,  with  four  other  Captains,  to  organize 
the  Turkish  army  on  the  Prussian  model.  This  work  was  not 
attended  with  success,  however,  as  the  Turkish  troops  would  not  sub¬ 
mit  to  Prussian  discipline.  In  1838-39  he  made  an  extensive  tour 
through  Asia  Minor,  traversing  that  country  to  the  extent  of  some 
four  or  five  thousand  English  miles  on  horseback.  He  made  a  num¬ 
ber  of  sketches,  and  on  his  return  to  Europe  contributed  much  valua¬ 
ble  information  concerning  the  geography  of  that  province.  The 
famous  geographer  Ritter  has  used  these  sketches,  and  has  compared 
them  with  the  accounts  of  Alexander  the  Great’s  campaigns,  with  the 
travels  of  Marco  Polo,  and  with  the  accounts  of  the  Crusades.  He 
traced  the  Euphrates  from  its  source  to  the  sea,  sailing  down  that 
stream  like  Xenophon  upon  inflated  sheep  skins.  His  residence  in 
Turkey  led  to  the  preparation  of  his  historical  work  on  “The  Russo- 
Turkish  Expedition — 1828-9.”  He  has  himself  pronounced  this  work 


71S 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


a  failure,  but  it  has  received  high  praise  from  competent  military 
critics. 

He  returned  from  Asia  Minor  to  Europe  in  1839.  In  1840,  he  mar¬ 
ried  Fraulein  Yon  Burt  from  Holstein,  and  was  made  a  Major  in  the 
4th  Corps  d’Armte.  In  1845  he  was  appointed  Aide-de-camp  to 
Prince  Henry  of  Prussia  (uncle  to  the  Emperor  William),  who  had 
embraced  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  and  was  living  in  Rome,  a  help¬ 
less  invalid.  Yon  Moltke  made  careful  studies  of  Rome  and  a  num¬ 
ber  of  drawings,  some  of  which  have  been  engraved,  during  his  resi¬ 
dence  in  that  city. 

Having  brought  back  the  dead  body  of  Prince  Henry  to  Prussia, 
he  was  ordered  to  Magdeburg  in  1848,  as  Chief  of  the  General  Staff 
of  his  corps.  In  1850  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  in  1851, 
Colonel  ;  in  1856  Major-General ;  and  in  1859  Lieutenant-General. 
He  directed  the  final  studies  of  the  present  Crown  Prince  and  Prince 
Frederick  Charles,  and  in  1859  was  appointed  Aide-de-camp  to  the 
Crown  Prince.  He  accompanied  him  to  England,  and  was  present  at  his 
betrothal  to  the  Princess  Royal  of  Great  Britain.  “He  was  with  the 
Crown  Prince  in  Breslau  for  a  year,  and  accompanied  him  twice  to 
England,  first  on  the  occasion  of  his  marriage,  and  next  on  the  occa¬ 
sion  of  the  funeral  of  the  Prince  Consort.  He  was  appointed  Chief  of 
the  General  Staff.  In  that  position  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  inspect  the 
whole  of  the  northern  coast,  to  arrange  a  system  of  defence  which 
might  be  applied  to  all  States  bordering  on  the  sea.  Nothing,  how¬ 
ever,  was  done  at  that  time.  The  German  Diet  voted  against  every 
Prussian  proposition,  and  were  especially  averse  to  the  idea  of  a  Ger¬ 
man  fleet  being  put  under  Prussian  direction.  In  the  Danish  war  he 
was  in  command  of  the  general  staff,  after  the  storming  of  Diippel, 
and  he  projected  the  attack  on  Alsen  and  the  occupation  of  Jutland. 
His  reputation  was  now  considerably  extended  ;  but  few  men  even  in 
Germany  knew  that  in  the  ‘  man  in  spectacles  ’  the  country  possessed 
her  best  General  and  highest  strategist. 

“  In  the  Danish  war  Moltke  had  been  fully  satisfied  respecting  the 
needle-gun,  the  new  arm  that  was  to  be  used  with  terrific  effect  against 
the  Austrians.  It  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  the  breech-loading 
weapon  was  used,  which  was  to  be  employed  with  such  deadly  effect 
at  Sadowa  ;  which  the  Austrian  Government,  despite  warning  admoni¬ 
tions,  had  treated  with  contempt.  In  1866  the  Prussians  used  the 
new  arm.  In  that  year  the  Prussians  showed  that  they  had  not 
watched  unattentively  the  Italian  campaign  and  the  American  war. 
In  that  year  they  brought  into  use  the  new  military  organization 
which  M.  de  Bismarck,  in  a  high-handed  unconstitutional  way,  and 
against  the  wishes  of  the  Chambers,  had  brought  to  perfection.  Yon 
Moltke  afterwards,  in  a  speech  made  in  the  Chamber  of  the  North 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


719 


German  Union,  showed  that  the  grand  total  of  men  called  to  arms 
was  604,000.  Then,  as  now,  Prussia  had  the  preponderance  of  men, 
as  Austria  was  obliged  to  keep  large  forces  south  of  the  Alps.  Nearly 
the  whole  of  the  regular  army,  eight  and  a  half  of  the  nine  corps 
(Varm.ee,  amounting  to  nearly  300,000  men,  were  placed  at  the  disposi¬ 
tion  of  Yon  Moltke.  All  the  lines  of  railway  were  simultaneously 
used  for  the  transport  of  the  great  army.  What  Moltke  aimed  at 
was  the  distribution  of  his  forces  over  the  different  theatres  of  the 
war,  and  their  union  on  the  battle-field.  The  problem  was  to  bring 
this  great  army  over  the  mountains,  and  to  unite  them  before  the 
enemy.  The  territories  were  overrun  of  Hauover,  Hesse  Cassel,  and 
Nassau,  all  favoring  Austria,  and  which,  being  interposed  between 
the  Westphalian  and  Rhenish  provinces,  might  cut  off  communica¬ 
tion  between  the  lower  Rhine  and  Berlin.  The  commencement  of  the 
war  was  made  by  advancing  the  armies  of  Breslau  and  Berlin  through 
the  enemy’s  country,  and  effecting  their  combination  by  forcing  the 
enemy  back.  Moltke’s  characteristic  tactics  were  seen  on  the  field  of 
Sadowa.  His  army  had  a  front  of  four  miles — so  wide  a  front  that 
he  could  not  withstand  an  attack  ;  but  he  turned  this  disadvantage 
to  an  advantage,  by  making  an  aggressive  onward  movement,  by 
which  he  was  able  to  concentrate  all  his  divisions  on  the  battle-field 
and  surround  the  enemy.  Only  once  did  Moltke  appear  in  the  front 
at  Sadowa.  He  had  fully  mastered  the  lessons  afforded  the  staff  by 
the  American  war,  of  combining  the  most  distant  field  operations  by 
the  means  of  the  electric  telegraph.  Seated  at  his  desk  in  the  rear, 
he  received  through  the  field  telegraph  a  stream  of  intelligence  from 
all  the  corps,  followed  their  movements  on  the  map,  transmitted  his 
orders  through  the  wires,  with  such  masterly  strategic  power  that  not 
a  movement  failed,  and  all  the  combinations  were  made  at  the  right 
moment.” 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Von  Moltke  was  appointed,  together  with 
Count  Bismarck,  a  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  Prussia,  for  negotia¬ 
tions  with  the  South  German  States,  and  was  decorated  with  the 
Order  of  the  Black  Eagle,  the  highest  honor  of  the  kind  within  the 
gift  of  the  King  of  Prussia.  After  the  war  he  steadily  resisted  the 
efforts  of  the  Liberals  to  reduce  the  term  of  service  in  the  Prussian 
arm}'  from  three  to  two  years.  He  said  in  the  Chambers,  in  1867  : 
“  During  the  last  year  we  made  some  50,000  prisoners.  Our  own  loss  in 
missing  amounted,  on  the  other  hand,  only  to  3000  men,  of  whom 
probably  but  a  small  proportion  were  taken  prisoners.  How  are  we 
to  account  for  the  enormous  difference  ?  I  can  only  ascribe  it  to  the 
duratiou  of  the  service.  .  .  .  The  instinct  of  hanging  together 
under  all  circumstances  cannot  be  drilled  into  a  man  ;  it  must  be  the 
habit  of  his  life.” 


720 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


In  1S67,  believing  war  with  France  to  be  inevitable,  he  is  said  to 
have  accompanied  the  Crown  Prince  in  a  tour  through  the  country 
along  the  frontier  from  Strasbourg  to  Metz,  Von  Moltke  travelling  as 
a  Professor  of  Geology  and  the  Prince  as  his  pupil.  Their  real  object 
was  to  acquaint  themselves  thoroughly  with  the  French  frontier,  of 
which  they  made  careful  and  minute  surveys. 

When  the  war  actually  broke  out,  the  great  genius  of  Von  Moltke 
shone  forth  conspicuously,  and  at  the  first  was  entirely  directed  to  the 
task  of  placing  the  German  army  in  the  field.  He  is  said  to  have 
declared  that  if  the  French  delayed  their  advance  to  the  Rhine  to  the 
23d  of  July,  they  should  never  see  it.  We  know  the  result  of  his 
efforts.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  he  was  created  a  Count  for 
his  services,  which,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  a  very  inadequate  reward. 

He  is  a  man  of  imposing  appearance,  and  of  simple  and  modest 
disposition.  He  is  reserved  and  taciturn  in  his  manners,  and  fully 
appreciates  the  value  of  silence.  When  he  speaks,  however,  his  lan¬ 
guage,  though  brief,  is  forcible  and  to  the  point. 


THE  CROWN  PRINCE  OF  SAXONY. 

f^“"ljURING  the  war  of  1866  between  Prussia  and  Austria,  the 
t)  forces  of  the  Kingdom  of  Saxony  fought  against  Prussia  at 
Gitschin  and  Sadowa.  In  consequence  of  the  intervention 

fof  France  at  the  close  of  the  war,  Saxony  was  spared  the  fate 
of  complete  suppression  which  befell  Hanover,  Hesse  Cassel, 
and  Nassau,  the  other  allies  of  Austria  in  that  struggle.  This 
was  the  second  time  France  had  secured  the  maintenance  of  the 
independence  of  Saxony.  By  the  treaty  of  Prague,  concluded  between 
Prussia  and  Austria,  with  the  mediation  of  France,  the  independence 
of  Saxony  is  secured  ;  but  its  strong  fortress  of  Konigstein,  on  the 
Elbe,  was  ceded  to  Prussia  ;  and  the  Saxon  army  was  included  in  the 
forces  of  the  North  German  Confederation,  under  the  command  of  the 
King  of  Prussia. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  with  France,  in  1870,  the  Saxon  forces 
took  the  field  under  the  command  of  the  Crown  Prince  of  Saxony, 
Frederick  Augustus  Albert,  who  was  born  on  the  23d  of  April,  1828. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  I.,  of  Saxony,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  the  late  King  Maximilian  of  Bavaria.  He  is  married  to  a  daughter 
of  Prince  Gustavus  Vassa. 

The  Saxons  formed  a  part  of  the  2d  army,  under  Prince  Frederick 
Charles,  until  after  the  battle  of  Gravelotte.  When  the  4th  German 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


721 


army,  consisting  of  the  Prussian  Guards,  the  Fourth  Prussian  Corps, 
and  the  Saxons,  was  formed  to  cooperate  with  Crown  Prince  Fritz 
in  the  movement  against  Chalons,  the  command  was  given  to  the 
Saxon  Crown  prince,  who  proved  himself  a  gallant  soldier  and  an 
able  commander.  We  have  related  the  conduct  of  this  army  at  Beau¬ 
mont  and  Sedan,  and  before  Paris. 


GENERAL  VON  ROON. 


pGJlIOUGH  not  an  independent  commander,  the  Prussian  Min- 
L  ister  of  War  played  too  prominent  a  part  in  the  history  of  the 
Ky  great  conflict  we  have  been  considering  to  be  omitted  from 


this  list  of  sketches. 

Albrecht  Von  Boon  was  born  on  the  30th  of  April,  1803, 


a)  and  his  boyhood  was  passed  during  the  invasion  and  conquest 
of  his  country  by  Napoleon  I.  lie  was  educated  at  the  Cadet  School 
in  Berlin,  and  in  1821  entered  the  army.  He  continued  to  prosecute 
his  studies  with  ardor,  passed  through  the  general  military  school, 
and  was  made  instructor  of  cadets.  In  1832  he  was  with  the  army 
of  observation  during  the  siege  of  Antwerp,  and  was  afterwards  pro¬ 
moted  to  the  staff,  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  passed  through  the 
various  grades,  winning  credit  in  each  one,  and  in  1859  was  made 
Lieutenant-General,  having  in  the  meantime  discharged  several  im¬ 
portant  trusts.  On  the  16th  of  April,  1861,  he  was  appointed  Minis¬ 
ter  of  Marine,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year  was  transferred  to 
the  war  office  as  its  head.  Here  he  devoted  himself  to  the  reorgani¬ 
zation  of  the  Prussian  army,  and  rendered  good  service  in  that  task 
which  engaged  so  many  great  minds.  lie  gave  to  Bismarck  a  heart}' 
support  in  his  conflict  with  the  Chambers.  Their  policy  being  to 
reorganize  the  army  under  the  Constitution  if  possible,  in  spite  of  it  if 
necessary.  The  Austrian  campaign  of  1S66  vindicated  the  course  of  Von 
Boon  and  those  with  whom  he  had  acted.  No  better  man  could  have 
been  placed  in  the  war  office,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  has  dis¬ 
charged  its  onerous  duties  during  two  great  wars,  never  failing  in  any 
particular,  stamps  him  as  an  officer  of  rare  abilities,  unequalled  in  his 
particular  field  during  the  present  century. 

General  Von  Boon  is  also  a  writer  of  distinction.  He  has  published 
several  military  works  which  are  held  in  high  esteem,  particularly 
those  upon  military  geography.  He  directed  the  principal  part  of  the 
military  education  of  Prince  Frederick  Charles,  and  is  said  to  be  very 
proud  of  the  fame  of  the  great  soldier  who  was  once  his  pupil. 


46 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LITE  WAR 


GENERAL  VON  STEINMETZ. 


FREDERICK  VON  STEINMETZ,  “the  Lion  of  Skalitz,” 
")  was  born  in  1796.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  was  sent  to  a  mili- 
,  ^  tary  school,  where  he  exhibited  such  marked  talent  that  at 

^ie  aSe  °f  sixteen  he  was  ordered  to  Berlin,  and  appointed  to 
the  corps  of  General  York,  which  on  the  advance  of  Napoleon 
into  Russia  had  formed  part  of  the  Prussian  contingent,  and 
had  been  placed  under  the  command  of  Macdonald.  When  the  terri¬ 
ble  retreat  from  Moscow  determined  Prussia  upon  resistance  to  Napo¬ 
leon.  General  York  promptly  entered  into  a  convention  with  the  Rus¬ 
sian  general,  Wittgenstein,  at  Taurogeu,  and  broke  off  the  alliance 
with  the  French.  The  war  of  liberation  followed,  in  which  young 
Steinmetz  had  a  fair  share  of  the  fighting.  At  Konigswarth  he  had 
one  of  his  fingers  shattered  by  a  ball,  and  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  thigh  ;  but  in  spite  of  these  injuries  he  went  through  the  battle 
of  Bautzen,  serving  through  the  fight  on  horseback,  as  he  was  unable 
to  walk.  He  continued  with  the  army,  and  was  present  at  Dresdeu, 
Leipsic,  and  every  battle  in  which  the  Prussian  forces  were  engaged 
until  the  occupation  of  Paris  by  the  allies,  in  which  he  participated. 

During  the  peace  which  followed  the  downfall  of  Napoleon,  Von 
Steinmetz  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  his  profession,  and  was  pro¬ 
moted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  finally  appointed  to  the  staff.  In 
1850,  differences  having  arisen  between  Prussia  and  Austria,  respect¬ 
ing  the  electorate  of  Hesse,  he  was  sent  to  Cassel  as  commandant  of 
the  place.  He  was  very  anxious  to  take  the  field  in  the  war  with 
Denmark,  in  1864,  having  been  promoted  to  the  grade  of  General,  but 
he  was  assigned  to  duty  elsewhere. 

At  the  opening  of  the  war  with  Austria  he  was  given  the  command 
of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  and  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Crown 
Prince,  ranking  next  to  the  Prince,  who  was  his  intimate  friend. 
During  this  campaign  he  fought  three  battles  in  four  days,  in  each 
of  which  he  was  victorious.  During  the  whole  war  he  was  never 
unsuccessful.  At  Skalitz  he  engaged  an  Austrian  force  of  twice  his 
own  strength,  and  inflicted  upou  it  so  signal  a  defeat  that  his  soldiers 
named  him  “the  Lion  of  Skalitz.” 

When  the  order  was  given  to  take  the  field  against  France  in  1870, 
General  Von  Steinmetz  was  placed  in  command  of  the  1st  army,  and 
it  was  his  troops  that  won  the  battle  of  Forbach,  and  carried  the 
rugged  heights  of  Spicheren.  He  fought  the  battle  of  Coureelles,  and 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Vionville  and  Gravelotte.  After  the  invest¬ 
ment  of  Metz  he  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  1st  army  and 
made  Governor  of  Silesia. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


723 


GENERAL  VON  MANTEUFFEL. 


(^ijgUDWIN  HANS  CHARLES,  BARON  VON  MANTEUF¬ 
FEL,  was  born  at  Magdeburg,  ou  the  24th  of  February,  1809. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the  dragoons  of  the 
guard,  was  made  an  officer  two  years  later,  and  in  1848  be¬ 
came  Aide-de-camp  to  the  King  of  Prussia.  In  1854  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  after  which  he  was  assigned 
several  important  diplomatic  missions,  which  he  discharged  with 
credit.  In  1857,  he  was  made  chief  of  the  personal  staff  of  the  Min¬ 
ister  of  War,  and  in  1858  was  appointed  Grand  Chamberlain  of  the 
King’s  household,  and  Lieutenant-General  and  Adjutant-General. 
While  holding  these  positions,  he  fought  a  duel  with  a  counsellor  of 
the  tribunal  of  Twesten,  in  consequence  of  a  pamphlet  which  the 
latter  had  written.  This  affair  caused  much  excitement  at  the  time. 

After  the  Convention  of  Gastein,  he  was  made  Civil  and  Military 
Governor  of  Schleswig.  During  the  conflict  between  Austria  and 
Prussia,  in  1866,  he  led  the  Prussian  troops  and  defeated  the  Austrian 
Governor  of  Holstein.  After  this  he  was  sent  into  Hanover  as  com¬ 
mander  of  a  division  in  the  army  of  General  Vogel  von  Falckenstein. 
When  that  General  was  called  into  Bohemia,  Manteuffel  took  com¬ 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Main,  in  July,  1866.  He  was  charged 
with  the  operations  against  the  South  German  States,  and  conducted 
them  with  great  vigor.  He  levied  a  forced  loan  of  thirty  millions  of 
florins  on  the  city  of  Frankfort,  which  the  magistrates  refused  to  pay, 
preferring  to  submit  themselves  to  pillage,  and  on  the  23d  of  July 
marched  to  the  Tauber.  On  the  24th,  he  defeated  the  Baden  troops 
near  Werbach,  and  the  combined  troops  of  Austria,  Wurtemberg, 
Nassau,  and  Hesse,  near  Biscliofsheim.  On  the  25th,  he  defeated  the 
whole  of  the  Eighth  Corps  of  the  Federal  Army  at  Gerehsheim,  and 
the  Bavarians  at  Helmstadt.  On  the  27th,  he  halted  before  Wurz¬ 
burg  and  commenced  the  bombardment  of  the  Marienberg.  By  these 
rapid  successes  he  was  able  with  his  small  force  to  prevent  the  South 
German  States  from  sending  assistance  to  Austria,  and  to  pave  the 
way  for  the  absorption  of  some  of  the  smaller  States  by  Prussia.  He 
ruled  the  city  of  Frankfort,  as  Governor,  with  a  despotic  sway,  and 
was  coi'dially  hated  by  the  inhabitants.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  sent  by  the  King  to  St.  Petersburg  to  induce  the  Emperor  of 
Russia  to  take  a  favorable  view  of  the  reorganization  of  Germany 
under  the  supremacy  of  Prussia. 

At  the  opening  of  the  war  with  France,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  First  Army  Corps.  His  victorious  career  in  the  north  and 
east  of  France  has  been  already  related. 


724 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


NAPOLEON  III.,  EMPEROR  OF  TPIE  FRENCH. 

(/j^HARLES  LOUIS  NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE  is  the  third 
|  4o  son  of  Louis  Bonaparte,  the  youngest  brother  of  the  Great 
Napoleon,  and  at  one  time  King  of  Holland,  and  of  Ilortense 

?Beauharnais,  the  only  daughter  of  the  Empress  Josephine, 
by  her  first  husband.  He  was  born  at  Paris  on  the  20th  of 
April,  1808,  and  is  consequently  in  his  sixty-fourth  year. 
He  is  the  only  French  sovereign  ever  born  at  Paris,  and  was  the 
first  Prince  of  the  Napoleon  dynasty  born  under  the  Empire  ;  and  the 
announcement  of  his  birth  was  greeted  with  salutes  of  artillery  from 
Paris  to  the  remotest  post  held  by  the  Grand  Army.  He  was  bap¬ 
tized  with  great  pomp  by  his  relative,  Cardinal  Fesch,  at  Fontaine¬ 
bleau,  in  1810,  his  sponsors  being  the  Emperor  Napoleon  I.  and  the 
Empress  Marie  Louise.  His  early  years  were  passed  amidst  the 
falling  fortunes  of  his  house,  and  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  in 
exile.  He  saw  but  little  of  his  father  in  consequence  of  a  separation 
between  his  parents,  but  received  the  constant  and  watchful  care  of 
one  of  the  best  of  mothers.  He  was  studious,  quiet,  and  thoughtful 
beyond  his  years.  He  was  generous  to  a  fault,  and  there  are  several 
well  authenticated  stories  of  the  marked  degree  in  which  this  trait 
developed  itself  during  his  childhood. 

Upon  one  occasion,  having  been  forbidden  by  his  tutor  to  go  be¬ 
yond  the  walls  of  his  mother’s  garden,  he  was  seen  making  his  way 
to  his  room  without  coat,  hat,  or  shoes,  although  the  snow  lay  on  the 
ground.  He  was  endeavoring  to  avoid  observation  when  he  was  dis¬ 
covered  by  his  mother,  who  at  once  demanded  to  know  the  cause  of 
his  strange  plight.  After  considerable  urging,  he  told  her  that  he 
had  seen  a  poor  family  go  by  the  garden-gate,  in  great  destitution, 
and  had  given  his  hat  to  one  of  the  poor  children,  his  coat  to  another, 
and  his  shoes  to  the  third. 

Upon  reaching  manhood,  he  was  the  possessor  of  an  excellent 
education,  and  excelled  in  athletic  sports.  Soon  after  this  he  became 
engaged  in  the  Roman  revolt  of  1830,  and  showed  such  high  military 
talent  that  he  was  given  an  important  command.  His  fathexq  wish¬ 
ing  to  draw  him  from  the  revolt,  set  to  work  to  neutralize  his  influ¬ 
ence,  and  succeeded  in  doing  so.  The  outbreak  proved  a  failure,  and 
those  concerned  in  it  W'ere  obliged  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  Louis 
Napoleon  lost  his  elder  brother  by  sickness  in  the  attempt  to  escane, 
and  was  with  great  difficulty  gotten  out  of  Italy  by  his  mother. 
Being  anxious  to  return  to  his  native  country,  he  asked  permission 
to  dwell  in  France,  but  was  refused  by  the  government  of  Louis 
Philippe,  which  feared  to  allow  the  heir  of  the  Great  Emperor  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


return  to  the  people  who  loved  him  so  well.  Condemned  thus  to  un¬ 
merited  exile,  he  went  with  his  mother  to  Switzerland,  where  he 
resided  with  her  for  several  years,  devoting  himself  to  study  and 
athletic  pursuits.  He  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  Swiss,  and  're¬ 
ceived  from  them  many  proofs  of  their  high  regard  for  him.  He 
achieved  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  author,  during  his  residence 
here,  by  the  publication  of  several  works  of  high  character.  He  was 
offered  the  hand  of  the  young  Queen  of  Portugal,  but  declined  it. 

In  his  twenty-eighth  year  he  made  his  first  effort  to  retrieve  the 
fortunes  of  his  family  and  win  back  the  crown  that  had  been  wrested 
from  his  uncle  by  the  combined  world.  He  had  every  reason  to 
believe  that  he  would  be  successful.  Louis  Philippe  aud  his  ministers 
constantly  exhibited  the  greatest  fear  of  him,  proving  by  their  con¬ 
duct  the  popularity  of  his  cause  with  the  nation  ;  and  he  was  given 
proofs  innumerable  that  the  French  people  not  only  would  sustain 
him  in  an  effort  to  drive  out  the  Bourbons,  but  were  anxious  for  him 
to  make  the  attempt.  In  1836  he  made  his  famous  effort  at  Stras¬ 
bourg.  He  was  unsuccessful,  and  was  captured,  and,  without  trial, 
was  hurried  out  of  the  country  to  America.  lie  remained  here  only 
a  short  time,  and  then  went  back  to  Europe  in  time  to  stand  by  the 
death-bed  of  the  mother  he  loved  so  tenderly.  He  remained  in 
Switzerland  until  the  French  Government  threatened  that  country 
with  war  if  it  did  not  expel  him.  The  Swiss  would  have  stood  by 
him  to  the  last,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  take  up  arms  in  his  de¬ 
fence,  but  he  generously  removed  all  cause  for  hostilities  by  volun¬ 
tarily  abandoning  his  home  and  retiring  to  England.  There  he 
devoted  himself  to  literary  pursuits,  and  in  August,  1840,  made  a 
second  attempt,  this  time  at  Boulogne,  to  get  possession  of  the  French 
throne.  He  was  again  unsuccessful,  and  was  made  a  prisoner.  He 
was  tried  before  a  court  composed  of  his  enemies,  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment.  The  Government  was  anxious  to  condemn  him  to 
death,  but  was  too  well  convinced  that  the  people  would  not  permit 
such  a  step  to  venture  upon  it.  The  Prince  was,  therefore,  sent  to 
the  Castle  of  Ham,  a  gloomy  old  fortress  of  the  Middle  Ages,  where 
he  remained  a  prisoner  for  nearly  six  years.  In  May,  1846,  he 
effected  his  escape  in  a  marvellous  manner,  and  succeeded  in  reach¬ 
ing  England. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Republic  of  1848,  Louis  Napoleon  was 
elected  by  several  departments  to  a  seat  in  the  National  Assembly. 
The  extreme  Republicans,  or  Socialists,  who  were  as  much  his  enemies 
as  the  Bourbons  had  been,  endeavored  to  embarrass  him,  and  even  to 
arrest  him  in  order  to  prevent  his  taking  his  seat,  but  the  popular 
will  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted,  and  he  passed  over  from  England 
to  France,  and  entered  upon  his  duties.  He  was  soon  after  elected 


726 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


President  ot  the  French  "Republic  by  a  majority  of  more  than  3,500.000 
of  voles  over  all  his  rivals.  He  was  duly  installed  in  his  office,  but 
harassed  and  vexed  with  a  factious  opposition  which  crippled  France 
and  paralyzed  all  its  resources.  As  the  only  means  of  saving  the 
country  from  ruin,  he  inaugurated  a  series  of  measures,  commencing 
on  the  2d  of  December,  1851,  by  which  he  overthrew  the  National  As¬ 
sembly  aud  its  supporters,  and  secured  all  the  power  to  himself.  He 
appealed  to  the  people  to  pass  judgment  on  his  conduct,  and  they  re¬ 
plied  by  electing  him  President  for  ten  years,  with  increased  powers  ; 
and  soon  after  raised  him  to  the  throne  of  France  by  the  largest  popu¬ 
lar  vote  ever  polled  in  the  country.  The  Empire  was  established  on 
the  1st  of  December,  1852,  and  the  next  dajr  the  Emperor  made  his 
public  entree  into  Paris,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  Tuileries. 
In  January,  1853,  he  married  the  young  and  beautiful  Countess  of 
Teba,  by  whom  he  has  had  one  son,  born  in  March,  1856. 

The  leading  events  in  the  reign  of  Napoleon  III.  may  be  summed 
up  as  follows  :  the  reestablishment  of  order  and  industry  in  France, 
the  elevation  of  his  country  to  the  highest  state  of  material  prosperity 
it  has  ever  known,  the  maintenance  of  that  condition  for  twenty 
years,  the  exaltation  of  France  to  the  first  place  in  Europe,  which  he 
kept  for  it  for  twenty  years,  the  war  with  Russia,  the  liberation  of 
Italy,  the  unsuccessful  attempt  to  conquer  Mexico,  the  war  with  Ger¬ 
many,  in  1870,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  Empire. 

The  career  of  the  Emperor  from  the  commencement  of  the  difficul¬ 
ties  with  Prussia  has  been  related.  After  his  arrival  at  Wilhelmshoe, 
he  lived  in  great  seclusion,  yet  occasionally  receiving  visitors.  He 
still  regards  himself  as  the  rightful  Sovereign  of  France,  the  people 
having  never  revoked  the  authority  which  they  conferred  upon  him, 
and  declares  that  they  will  ere  long  summon  him  to  return  to  his 
throne.  He  was  a  keen  observer  of  the  events  of  the  war,  and  was 
profoundly  afflicted  not  only  by  the  sufferings  of  his  country,  but  by 
the  individual  misfortunes  of  his  countrymen.  Ilis  first  effort  after 
the  close  of  the  war  was  to  endeavor  to  secure  for  the  soldiers  who 
had  fought  with  him  at  Sedan  the  proper  reward  of  their  services. 
Concerning  his  return  to  power  he  thus  expressed  himself  to  the  cor¬ 
respondent  of  the  New  York  Herald  during  a  visit  of  the  latter  to 
Wilhelmshoe  : 

“  When  I  consider  the  uncertainty  lurking  on  the  road  to  such  an 
aim,  when  I  consider  the  vast  impediments  to  be'  removed,  I  really 
feel  but  little  ambition.  I  would  rather  be  independent.  I  would 
rather  be  as  I  now  am— a  prisoner — and  never  step  again  on  French 
soil.” 

“But  with  regard  to  your  Majesty’s  interest  as  a  father,”  it  was 
said,  “you  must  be  naturally  desirous  of  bequeathing  your  throne  to 
your  promising  son,  and  thus  upholding  the  dynasty.” 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


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“No,”  the  Emperor  replied,  with  much  manifest  emotion,  “not 
even  for  him  could  I  wish  it.  I  love  him  too  much  to  desire  for  him 
the  chances  of  such  dread  uncertainty.  If  these  cannot  be  avoided, 
he  would  be  far  happier  in  private  life,  without  the  overwhelming  re¬ 
sponsibilities  attaching  to  such  a  station.” 

Having  experienced  both  adversity  and  good  fortune,  the  Emperor 
is  not  the  man  to  place  an  unreal  value  upon  life,  or  to  underestimate 
its  duties.  The  firmness  with  which  he  has  supported  his  misfortunes 
is  equalled  by  the  dignity  with  which  he  has  borne  his  honors.  No 
misfortune  could  crush  him,  and  no  success  unduly  elate  him.  lie 
has  never  spared  himself,  and  he  is  naturally  exacting  of  those  who 
work  with  him.  Yet  he  is  kind  and  generous  to  his  friends,  and  mer¬ 
ciful  to  his  enemies.  He  has  but  two  great  passions — liis  country  and 
his  little  family.  lie  is  very  feeble  in  health,  but  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
industrious  man,  the  hardest  worker  in  Europe.  His  disposition  is 
said  to  be  wonderfully  cheerful  and  hopeful,  even  amidst  the  severest 
trials  and  sufferings. 

He  has  one  consolation  in  the  midst  of  his  reverses,  that  he  has 
striven  to  do  his  duty  to  his  country,  and  when  the  passions  of  the 
day  shall  have  subsided  we  may  be  sure  the  still  small  voice  of  history 
will  proclaim  this  man,  so  much  over-praised  by  friends  and  so  un¬ 
justly  denounced  by  enemies,  the  best  and  the  wisest  ruler  that  has 
ever  governed  France. 


EUGfiNIE,  EMPRESS  OF  THE  FRENCH. 


jpOUGENIE  MARIE  HE  GUZMAN,  Countess  of  Teba,  was 
born  at  Malaga  on  the  5th  of  May,  1826.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  Count  de  Montijo,  a  descendant  of  the  royal 
hose  uof  Aragon,  and  Donna  Maria  Manuela  Kirkpatrick,  a 
descendant  of  the  famous  Scotch  family  of  that  name.  After 
a  few  years  of  married  life,  the  Count  de  Montijo  died,  leav¬ 
ing  a  fortune  to  his  widow  and  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  married 
the  Duke  of  Alba  and  Berwick,  lineally  descended  from  James  II. 
and  Miss  Churchhill.  For  Eugdnie  a  still  higher  destiny  was 
reserved. 

“Blending  in  her  person  the  blood  of  the  English  and  Spanish 
races,  she  is  said  to  biend  in  her  character  the  best  qualities  of  both 
nations.  Her  excellent  mother  secured  for  her  a  finished  education. 
As  she  matured,  she  developed  extraordinary  loveliness  of  person, 
brightness  of  intellect,  and  all  those  social  charms  which  can  capti¬ 
vate  the  heart.  Speaking  English,  Spanish,  and  French  with  equal 


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HISTORY  OF  TIIE  LATE  WAR 


fluency,  .the  distinguished  of  all  countries  gathered  around  her,  and 
■were  alike  fascinated  with  her  beauty,  her  amiability,  aud  her  spark¬ 
ling  intelligence.  ‘  Her  beauty  was  delicate  and  fair,  from  her  English 
ancestry  ;  whilst  her  grace  was  all  Spanish,  and  her  wit  all  French.’ 

“■One  of  Eugenie’s  aunts  had  married  a  cousin,  an  English  gentle¬ 
man,  who  subsequently  became  a  banker  in  Paris.  Soon  after  the 
accession  of  Louis  Napoleon  to  power,  Eugenie,  with  the  title  of 
Countess  de  Teba,  accompanying  her  mother,  the  Countess  de  Mon- 
tijo,  visited  the  French  metropolis. 

“Instantly  the  young  Spanish  beauty  attracted  attention.and  admi¬ 
ration.  She  was  introduced  to  the  court,  and  at  once  was  recognized 
as  one  of  its  nmst  conspicuous  ornaments.  She  had  been  religiously 
educated,  scrupulously  conforming  her  conduct  to  the  doctrines  and  the 
rites  of  the  Catholic  church,  in  whose  communion  she  had  been  born, 
and  in  whose  tenets  she  had  been  thoroughly  instructed.  Her  char¬ 
acter  had  ever  been  that  of  an  earnest  and  devout  Christian.  4  There 
is  not  one  well  authenticated  adventure  which  can  be  told  to  her  dis¬ 
advantage.’  ” 

The  beauty  and  accomplishments  of  the  young  Countess  at  once 
attracted  the  attention  of  Napoleon,  and  it  was  soon  rumored  that 
she  was  to  share  his  throne.  This  rumor  was  confirmed  on  the  22d 
of  January,  1853,  by  the  official  announcement  by  the  Emperor  to  the 
Senate  of  his  approaching  marriage. 

The  civil  marriage  of  the  Emperor  and  the  Countess  of  Teba  was 
celebrated  at  the  Tuileries  on  the  29th  of  January,  1853,  and  the  reli¬ 
gious  ceremonies  took  place  the  next  day  (Sunday)  at  Notre  Dame, 
the  archbishop  of  Paris  performing  the  ceremony. 

Besides  winning  one  of  the  most  beautiful  women  in  Paris,  the 
Emperor  found  a  good  wife.  In  private  life  the  Empress  had  set  a 
noble  example  in  all  the  womanly  virtues  to  the  people  of  her  country. 
She  has  been  a  good  wife  and  mother,  and  has  gained  a  hold  upon 
the  affections  of  the  French  people  which  is  said  to  be  stronger  even 
than  that  possessed  by  the  Emperor  himself.  Her  devotion  to  her 
family  is  her  strongest  feeling.  Upon  one  occasion,  when  an  attempt 
was  made  to  assassinate  the  Emperor  and  herself,  she  exhibited  this 
feeling  in  a  marked  degree.  It  was  night,  and  the  Imperial  carriage, 
which  was  on  its  way  to  the  opera,  had  been  terribly  injured  by  the 
explosion  of  an  infernal  machine,  which  had  killed  and  wounded  a 
number  of  the  attendants.  Some  one,  wishing  to  make  sure  of  the 
safety  of  their  Majesties,  opened  the  carriage-door  hurriedly,  and  the 
Empress,  supposing  it  was  an  assassin,  threw  herself  before  her  hus¬ 
band  to  receive  the  blow  she  supposed  intended  for  him.  Nor  was 
courage  the  only  virtue  which  this  affair  caused  her  to  display.  Al¬ 
though  the  efforts  of  the  assassins  had  been  directed  against  her  own 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


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life  and  her  husband’s,  she  exerted  herself  to  save  them  from  the  doom 
they  so  richly  merited,  and  even  succeeded  in  averting  the  death  pen¬ 
alty  from  one  of  the  least  prominent. 

During  the  recent  prevalence  of  the  cholera  in  Paris,  the  Empress 
was  foremost  in  the  efforts  to  give  relief  to  the  sufferers,  and  did  not 
shrink  from  the  trying  ordeal  of  visiting  the  plague  hospitals,  and 
speaking  words  of  hope  and  comfort  to  the  sufferers.  Several  of  the 
ladies  of  her  court  desired  to  accompany  her,  but  she  refused  to  allow 
them  to  do  so,  saying  that  although  her  duty  required  her  to  incur 
the  risk  which  would  attend  her  visit,  there  was  no  reason  why  they 
should  subject  themselves  to  the  danger  of  the  infection. 

Those  who  have  seen  her  majesty  in  private  describe  her  as  exceed¬ 
ingly  pleasant  and  artless  in  her  manners.  Her  disposition  is  naturally 
tender  and  impetuous.  She  is  said  to  find  her  high  rank  rather  irk¬ 
some  at  times,  as  it  frequently  compels  her  to  control  the  impulsive 
and  affectionate  outbursts  of  her  nature,  and  assume  the  cold  and 
stately  manners  of  the  court  society.  She  has  been  the  constant 
attendant  of  her  husband  and  son  in  their  frequent  illnesses,  and 
seems  to  find  her  highest  pleasures  in  their  society,  n 

She  is  a  devout  Catholic,  and,  indeed,  is  said  to  lean  too  strongly 
towards  Jesuitism  to  please  the  French  people.  She  is  very  charita¬ 
ble,  and  has  made  many  friends  by  the  quiet,  but  liberal  manner  in 
which  she  has  sought  to  relieve  distress  of  all  kinds.  Upon  the  occa¬ 
sion  of  her  marriage  the  city  of  Paris  voted  a  very  large  sum  for  the 
purchase  of  diamonds  for  her,  leaving  her  to  select  the  jewels.  She 
accepted  the  gift,  but  with  characteristic  generosity  applied  it  to  the 
foundation  of  a  charitable  institution  for  the  education  of  youug  girls 
belonging  to  the  working  classes. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Italian  war,  one  of  the  regiments  of  the  Im¬ 
perial  guard,  on  its  way  to  Italy,  stopped  at  the  Tuileries  to  receive 
its  colors.  The  Cantini&re  of  the  regiment  presented  herself  at  the 
secretary  of  the  Empress  with  her  child,  a  little  girl  six  or  eight  years 
old,  and  exclaimed:  “  Geutlemen,  I  leave  you  my  child.  Conduct 
her  to  the  Empress.  I  know  that  she  will  take  good  care  of  her  until 
I  return  from  Austria.” 

She  then  departed,  leaving  the  child.  The  Empress  was  at  once 
informed  of  the  circumstance,  and  had  the  child  well  cared  for  at  her 
private  expense  until  the  mother  came  back  from  the  war. 

During  the  absence  of  the  Emperor  in  Italy  the  Empress  acted  as 
Regent  of  the  Empire;  and  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with 
Germany  the  same  powers  were  confided  to  her.  The  story  of  the 
mob  in  Paris,  and  her  flight  to  England  has  been  related  elsewhere. 
Since  then  she  has  continued  to  reside  at  Chiselhurst,  in  Kent,  Eng¬ 
land.  Proposals  were  made  to  her  to  resume  her  place  as  Regent  at 


730 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


the  price  of  parting  with  the  Rhine  provinces,  but  she  has  steadily 
and  firmly  refused  to  do  anything  which,  while  it  might  benefit  her 
family,  would  harm  France 


MARSHAL  MACMAHON. 


LEARIE  EDME  PATRICK  MAURICE  MACMAHON, 
Duke  de  Magenta,  Marshal  and  Senator  of  France,  was 
J'v  born  at  Sully  in  July,  1808,  and  is  descended  from  the 
ancient  Irish  family  of  MacMahon,  who  traced  their 
descent  from  the  Irish  Kings.  The  MacMahons  adhered  to 
the  cause  of  James  II.,  and  after  the  final  defeat  of  that 
monarch  passed  over  to  France,  where  they  intermarried  with  the  old 
nobility  of  that  kingdom. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  Military  School  of  St.  Cyr  in 
1825,  and  upon  graduating  there,  was  ordered  to  Algeria  in  1830, 
where  he  took  part  in  the  wars  against  the  native  tribes.  In  1832,  he 
was  present  at  the  siege  of  Antwerp,  acting  as  Aide  to  General 
Achard.  He  was  made  Captain  in  1833,  and,  after  serving  on  the 
Staffs  of  several  Generals  in  Africa,  took  part  in  the  storming  of  Con¬ 
stantine.  In  1840  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major  of  Chas¬ 
seurs  ;  in  1842  he  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Foreign  Legion  ;  in 
1845  he  was  Colonel  of  the  41st  Regiment  of  the  Line  ;  and  in  1848 
was  General  of  Brigade.  He  sided  with  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III. 
in  the  events  of  December  1851  and  the  establishment  of  the  Empire. 

He  vras  retained  in  Fi'ance  upon  the  opening  of  the  war  with  Rus¬ 
sia,  but  on  the  return  of  General  Canrobert,  MacMahon  was  sent  to 
the  Crimea  as  General  of  Division.  When  the  final  assault  on  Sebas¬ 
topol  was  decided  upon,  MacMahon’s  division  was  assigned  the  task 
of  carrying  the  Malakoff.  His  grand  assault,  one  of  the  most  famous 
in  history,  was  successful,  but  the  French,  were  compelled  to  main¬ 
tain  a  desperate  struggle  for  several  hours  with  the  Russians  who  en¬ 
deavored  desperately  to  re-take  the  works.  Marshal  Pellissier,  hav¬ 
ing  cause  to  believe  that  the  Malakoft’  was  mined,  sent  MacMahon 
orders  to  retire,  but  the  brave  soldier  replied,  “  I  will  hold  my  ground, 
dead  or  alive.”  He  did  hold  it,  and  the  evacuation  of  Sabastopol 
followed.  For  his  services  in  the  Crimea,  he  received  the  Grand 
Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  in  1856  the  Queen  of  Great  Britain 
nominated  him  an  Honorary  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of  the 
Bath. 

In  1857  he  returned  to  Algeria,  subdued  the  revolted  Kabyles,  and 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


731 


was  subsequently  given  tbe  supreme  command  of  the  military  and 
naval  forces  in  Algeria.  In  1859  he  was  summoned  to  take  part  in 
the  war  with  Austria  in  Italy.  He  was  given  the  command  of  the 
Second  Corps.  Hedecided  the  battle  of  Magenta  in  fiivorof  the  French, 
and  was  rewarded  with  the  baton  of  a  Marshal  of  France  and  the 
title  of  Duke  of  Magenta.  As  he  rode  into  Milan  at  the  head  of  his 
troops  after  the  battle,  a  little  Italian  child  begged  him  to  let  her  ride 
before  him.  The  Marshal  lifted  her  up  to  his  saddle,  and  thus  led  the 
van  of  the  victorious  army  in  its  triumphal  entry,  amidst  the  enthu¬ 
siastic  shouts  of  the  Milanese. 

lie  represented  France  officially  at  the  coronation  of  the  King  of 
Prussia  in  1861.  lie  attracted  great  attention,  not  only  by  his  bril¬ 
liant  reputation,  but  by  the  splendor  with  which  he  surrounded  him¬ 
self  as  the  representative  of  France.  In  1862  he  was  placed  in  com¬ 
mand  of  the  Third  Corps  d’Armee,  and  in  1S64  was  made  Governor- 
General  of  Algeria.  His  services  during  the  recent  war  are  familiar 
to  the  reader.  Notwithstanding  his  reverses,  he  retains  the  unshaken 
confidence  of  his  countrymen,  and  his  military  reputation  is  undimmed. 
We  have  already  shown  how  he  was  sacrificed  by  an  incompetent 
Ministry  in  the  face  of  his  protests. 

Marshal  MacMalion  bears  the  reputation  of  a  skilful  strategist,  an 
able  commander,  and  a  man  of  unsullied  character  and  great  personal 
heroism.  He  is  often  compared  to  Marshal  Ney,  and  his  troops 
cherish  for  him  very  much  the  same  feelings  that  the  “bravest  of  the 
brave  ”  was  so  successful  in  eliciting  from  his  veterans. 

A  Sister  of  Charity  who  attended  the  Marshal  during  his  confine¬ 
ment  from  his  wounds  received  at  Sedan,  thus  writes  of  him  : 

“  You  behold  me  a  prisoner,  and  a  very  happy  prisoner,  I  can  assure 
you.  Marshal  McMahon  is  as  well  as  we  can  expect.  What  a  rich 
and  powerful  organization  !  I  have  never  before  encountered  a  sick 
person  so  patient  as  the  Marshal.  Although  for  the  last  eight  days 
he  has  been  compelled  to  keep  in  the  same  position,  so  that  it  has 
been  impossible  to  make  his  bed — which  has  no  hair  mattress — yet 
never  a  murmur  has  escaped  him.  lie  has  been  cut  and  hewn  in  the 
most  frightful  manner  in  his  wound,  which  traverses  the  whole  of  the 
hip,  and  in  which  a  child  of  ten  years  old  could  easily  insert  the  finger  ; 
yet  never  a  groan.  Whatever  one  gives  him,  whatever  one  does,  it 
is  always,  ‘  Very  well,  dear  sister’ — never  a  murmur  against  the 
causes  or  the  effects  of  our  misfortunes.  He  has  done  what  he  could, 
and  believes  that  the  others  have  done  the  same.  As  soon  as  he  is 
sufficiently  recovered  to  support  the  voyage  without  danger,  he  will 
take  his  departure  for  Prussia,  to  rejoin  his  unfortunate  soldiers.  He 
says  the  commander  ought  to  set  a  good  example.  The  Marshal  and 
his  wife  are  goodness  itself.  I  am  busily  occupied  in  preparing  linen 


732 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


and  ‘  charpie  ’  for  the  poor  wounded,  because  the  good  Marshal 
wishes  all  who  are  near  him  should  be  attended  to  just  the  same  as 
himself.” 


MARSHAL  BAZAINE. 


« J)RANCOIS  ACHILLE  BAZAIHE,  Marshal  of  France,  was 
born  in  1S11,  of  a  family  which  has  produced  several  distin¬ 
guished  military  and  civil  engineers.  He  failed  to  pass  his 

f  examination  at  the  Ecole  Folytechnique,  and  enlisted  as  a 
private  soldier  in  the  37th  Regiment  of  the  Line.  He  was 
seut  to  Africa  in  1831,  where  he  was  rapidly  promoted.  He 
became  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  1832,  a  sub-lieutenant  in  1834, 
and  a  lieutenant  in  1835,  receiving  with  this  last  promotion  the  Cross 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

Louis  Philippe  having  lent  Queen  Christina  of  Spain  a  small  force 
to  aid  her  against  the  Carlists,  Bazaine  received  a  captain’s  commis¬ 
sion  in  it,  and  was  afterwards  made  Chef  de  Bataillon,  and  finally 
Government  Commissioner  of  France  at  the  Spanish  headquarters. 
For  four  years  he  took  part  in  the  guerilla  wars  of  that  period,  win¬ 
ning  a  high  reputation  for  daring,  skill,  and  decision  of  character. 
In  1839  he  returned  to  Algeria  as  captain  in  the  French  army,  and 
in  1840  was  given  the  command  of  a  company  of  the  newly  organized 
Chasseurs  d’Orleans.  In  1844  he  was  made  Chef  de  Bataillon,  and  a 
little  later  Director  of  x\rab  Offices  in  the  province  of  Oran.  In  1850 
he  was  colonel  of  the  55th  Regiment  of  the  Line,  and  afterwards  of 
the  Foreign  Legion.  He  took  part  in  the  expeditions  of  Milianah, 
Kabylia,  and  Morocco. 

He  went  to  the  Crimea  as  General  of  Brigade,  and  rendered  good 
service  in  that  capacity,  being  honorably  mentioned  in  the  dispatches 
of  General  Canrobert  and  Marshal  Pelissier.  After  the  fall  of  Sebas¬ 
topol,  he  was  made  General  of  Division,  and  commanded  the  troops 
which  reduced  Kinburn. 

In  the  Italian  war  of  1859,  General  Bazaine  commanded  a  division 
of  the  First  Corps,  and  won  great  distinction  by  his  brilliant  services. 
His  division,  in  spite  of  its  heavy  losses,  carried  the  key  point  of  the 
Austrian  position  at  Solferino. 

In  1862  he  accepted  the  command  of  a  division  in  the  Mexican 
Expedition,  winning  still  greater  distinction  by  his  brilliant  exploits 
in  that  campaign.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  to  succeed  Marshal 
Forey  in  the  chief  command  of  the  French  forces  in  Mexico,  and  in 
1864  he  was  made  a  Marshal  of  France.  He  was  made  a  Commander 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor  in  1856,  and  in  1863  he  was  given  the  Grand 
Cross  of  the  Legion. 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


733 


His  connection  with  the  Mexican  Expedition  very  seriously  affected 
his  popularity  at  home  ;  hut  it  was  felt  that  he  was  too  good  an 
officer  to  be  set  aside,  and  on  his  return  to  France,  in  18(37,  he  was 
given  the  command  of  the  Third  Army  Corps,  and  afterwards  of  the 
Imperial  Guard.  At  the  opening  of  the  recent  war,  he  took  the  field 
in  command  of  the  Third  Corps. 

Marshal  Bazaine  is  regarded  in  military  circles  as  one  of  the  best 
soldiers  in  the  French  service. 


GENERAL  TROCHU. 


S)OUIS  JULES  TROCHU  was  born  in  the  Department  of  the 
1  Morbihan,  March  12th,  1815.  He  was  educated  at  St.  Cyr, 
i  and  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  1S40,  and  captain  in  1843. 

file  served  in  Algeria  on  the  staff  of  Marshal  Bugeaud,  who 
complimented  him  for  his  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Isly.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  in  184G,  and  was  made 
colonel  in  1853.  He  went  to  the  Crimea  as  Aide-de-camp  to  Marshal 
St.  Arnaud,  and  was  greatly  distinguished  during  the  siege  of  Sebas¬ 
topol,  gaining  by  his  services  the  Commander’s  Cross  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  appointed  General  of 
Brigade. 

In  1859  he  accompanied  the  army  in  the  war  against  Austria  in 
Italy  as  General  of  Division,  and  won  great  distinction  at  Solferino. 
In  1861  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Grand  Officer  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor,  having  at  that  time  spent  twenty-five  years  in  the  army, 
served  through  eighteen  campaigns,  and  been  once  wounded.  After 
the  close  of  the  Italian  war,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Con¬ 
sulting  Staff  Committee  of  the  Ministry  of  War,  and  in  1S66  was 
specially  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  plans  for  a  reorgani¬ 
zation  of  the  French  army,  in  consequence  of  the  success  of  Prussia  in 
the  campaign  against  Austria  in  that  year. 

In  1867  he  published  anonymously  a  work  entitled  “  The  French 
Army  in  1867,”  in  which  he  severely  criticised  the  organization  and 
defects  of  the  French  army,  especially  those  features  which  tended  to 
render  the  soldiery  a  separate  and  professional  caste,  severed  in  inter¬ 
est  and  feeling  from  the  civilian  population  of  the  country.  The 
book  attracted  great  attention  not  only  in  France,  but  throughout 
Europe,  and  ran  through  ten  editions  in  six  months.  It  was  un¬ 
favorably  received  by  the  Government. 

General  Trochu  bears  the  reputation  of  an  able  officer,  and  a  man 
of  reproachless  life  and  character. 


734 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


LEON  GAMBETTA. 


EON  GAMBETTA  was  born  at  Cahors,  the  chief  town  in  the 


Department  of  Lot,  in  the  South  of  France,  in  1838.  Ilis 


^  family  is  Genoese,  and  he  has  the  ardent  physical  and  moral 
'4  temperament  of  that  passionate  Italian  race.  He  did  not 


achieve  much  reputation  at  college,  where  he  was  regarded  by 


his  tutors  as  rather  eccentric  than  intelligent,  though  he 
studied  hard  after  his  own  way.  He  was  fond  of  solitude,  had  a  high 
opinion  of  his  own  powers,  and  was  self-possessed  and  vehement  in 
tone. 

Repairing  to  Paris,  he  went  through  his  law  studies,  and  was  ad¬ 
mitted  to  the  bar.  He  became  the  secretary  of  M.  Cremieux,  who 
conceived  a  warm  affection  for  him,  called  him  his  “  son  ”  upon  all 
occasions,  and  predicted  an  unusually  brilliant  future  for  him.  He 
was  a  natural  Advocate,  and  his  eloquence  and  knowledge  of  his  pro¬ 
fession  soon  raised  him  to  a  high  place  at  the  French  bar.  His  greatest 
triumph  was  his  defence  of  the  Republicans  prosecuted  by  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  in  186S,  for  endeavoring  to  procure  subscriptions  for  the 
erection  of  a  monument  to  Baudin,  one  of  the  members  of  the 
National  Assembly  killed  in  the  street  fighting  after  the  coup  d’etat 
of  December,  1851.  His  course  in  this  affair  won  him  a  seat  in  the 
Corps  Legisiatif,  to  which  he  was  chosen  by  the  Paris  Republicans  at 
the  next  election.  Here  he  at  once  took  and  maintained  the  position 
of  a  leader  of  his  party.  His  eloquence  was  undeniable,  his  personal 
courage  as  great,  and  he  proved  a  formidable  adversary  to  the  Gov¬ 
ernment.  A  man  of  great  talents,  he  found  his  true  sphere  in  his 
place  in  the  Chamber.  His  personal  appearance  is  thus  described  : 

“Let  us  glance  at  the  physique  of  the  man.  His  complexion  is 
pallid,  contrasting  strongly  with  very  thick  black  hair  and  beard. 
He  has  a  masculine  and  intellectual  head,  solidly  embedded  in  a  stal¬ 
wart  pair  of  shoulders.  His  bust  is  superb,  and  his  frame  thick-set 
and  muscular.  His  walk  is  brisk,  yet  firm,  and  his  speech  rapid  and 
energetic.  His  voice,  which  never  seems  to  tire,  is  sometimes  full  of 
cadence,  sometimes  stunning  in  its  intonations,  and  somewhat  low, 
but  always  powerful.  His  countenance  is  a  very  attractive  and  sympa¬ 
thetic  combination  of  Italian  delicacy — for  he  is  of  Genoese  origin — 
and  of  Gascon  vigor,  full  of  commingled  thoughtfulness  and  audacity, 
frankness  and  haughtiness.  His  nose  is  straight  and  regular,  with 
strongly  marked  nostrils,  broadly  dilated.  His  mouth  is  neatly  cleft, 
with  fair  expansion,  and  is  none  the  worse  for  a  strongly  disdainful 
lip,  that  is  sometimes  brightened  by  a  hearty  laugh  of  Rabelaisian 
mirth.  Ilis  arms  are  muscular,  and  yet  lengthened  as  though  to 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


735 


clasp  an  adversary  ;  and  his  hand  is  broad,  firm,  solid,  and  seems 
made  for  energetic  grasping  and  setting  free  by  turns. 

“  When  Gambetta  is  in  repose,  the  observer  would  say  that  he  is  just 
about  to  leap  upward  or  to  take  his  flight  in  the  air  ;  in  other  words, 
that  he  is  going  to  speak.  II  is  large  black  eye  looks  upward  and  far 
away  into  the  distance.  He  then  seems  to  be  counting  the  ‘black 
spots  ’  on  the  horizon.  Yet  this  does  not  prevent  his  scanning  with 
sufficient  accuracy  the  minor  questions  that  swarm  below  and  on 
either  side.  His  mind  is  versatile  enough  to  sweep  in  at  one  and  tlie 
same  moment  the  grandest  topics  and  the  most  minute  details.  He 
can  soar  aloft  or  creep  below,  and  is  just  as  much  at  home  amid  the 
intricacies  of  affairs  as  on  the  loftier  heights  of  politics. 

“Gambetta  is.  above  all  things,  a  popular  orator  and  advocate,  and 
it  would  be  impossible  to  find  one  more  electrical  or  more  vibratory  in 
the  shock  and  tremor  of  his  words. 

“  He  lives  in  modest  apartments  on  the  fifth  floor  at  No.  45  Rue 
Bonaparte.  A  few  engravings,  a  good  many  books,  a  bust  of  Mira- 
beau,  form  about  all  the  luxuries  of  these  quiet  quarters,  which  have 
been  occupied  by  the  student,  the  lawyer,  and  the  deputy  in  the  suc¬ 
cessive  stages  of  his  career.  Such  is,  in  brief,  a  hasty  picture  of  the 
man  whom  the  grand  events  of  the  current  year  have  made  a  conspi¬ 
cuous  figure  in  French  contemporaneous  history,  and  who  was 
called  to  the  fi-ont  in  a  decisive  hour.” 


GABRIEL  CLAUDE  JULES  FAVRE. 

ABRIEL  CLAUDE  JULES  FAVRE  was  born  at  Lyous  on 
the  31st  of  March,  1809.  His  father  was  a  merchant  of  that 
city,  and  gave  him  a  liberal  education,  after  which  he  began 
the  study  of  the  law.  Before  his  studies  were  completed,  the 
Revolution  of  1830  broke  out.  He  was  then  in  Paris,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  events  of  the  conflict.  On  the 
29th  of  July,  he  published  a  letter  in  the  National  advocating  the 
abolition  of  monarchy,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Constitutional  Re¬ 
public.  The  monarchy  was  maintained  however.  The  Lafitte  clique 
succeeded  in  placing  Louis  rhilippe  on  the  throne,  and  young  Favre 
returned  to  Lyons,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  One  of 
his  first  cases  was  the  defence  of  working  men  charged  with  belonging 
to  unlawful  associations.  This  affair  caused  a  bloody  conflict  be¬ 
tween  the  workmen  of  Lyons  and  the  garrison,  in  which  M.  Favre 
came  near  being  killed  by  a  volley  of  musketry  which  was  directed  at 
him.  He  appeared  in  the  Courts  of  Paris  as  the  advocate  for  the 
Revolutionists  of  April,  1835,  and  began  his  defence  of  them  with  the 


736 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


bold  avowal,  “  I  am  a  Republican.”  His  eloquence  and  legal  abili¬ 
ties  made  him  a  very  successful  advocate,  and  his  boldness  made  him 
one  of  the  recognized  leaders  of  the  Republican  party. 

He  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Revolution  of  1S4S.  He  was  at 
once  appointed  Secretary-General  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  and 
as  such  wrote  the  famous  circulars  to  the  commissioners  of  the  Pro¬ 
visional  Government,  instructing  them  how  to  exercise  their  almost 
unlimited  powers.  Soon  after  he  was  elected  a  representative  from 
the  Department  of  the  Loire,  when  he  at  once  resigned  his  office  in 
the  Ministry.  During  the  same  year  he  acted  for  a  brief  while  as 
Under  Secretary  of  Foreign  Affairs,  and  in  this  capacity  supported 
the  prosecution  of  Louis  Blanc  and  CaussidRre  for  the  insurrection 
of  June.  Voting  with  the  extreme  Left,  he  refused  to  vote  the 
national  thanks  to  General  Cavaignac.  Soon  after  he  became  an 
opponent  of  Louis  Napoleon,  and  bitterly  denounced  the  expedition 
to  Rome.  He  was  reelected  to  the  Legislature  from  the  Department 
of  the  Rhone,  and,  after  the  flight  of  Ledru-Rolliu,  became  the  leader 
of  the  “  Mountain.” 

After  the  coup  cVttat,  he  was  elected  to  the  General  Council  of 
Loire-et-Rhoue,  but  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  new 
Constitution.  For  six  years  he  remained  in  private  life,  devoting 
himself  to  his  pi'ofession.  In  1858  he  defended  Orsini,  the  would-be 
assassin  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.,  and  his  speeches  created  a 
great  sensation  by  their  boldness  and  eloquence.  In  the  same  yeai 
he  was  elected  to  the  Corps  Legislatif,  in  which  he  continued  to  serve 
until  the  events  of  September,  1870,  being  the  recognized  leader  of  the 
Moderate  Republicans.  He  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his 
speeches  against  the  restrictions  upon  the  press,  the  war  with  Aus¬ 
tria,  and  the  Mexican  Expedition.  Many  of  his  most  famous 
speeches  have  been  published.  He  has  written  a  work  on  “Contem¬ 
poraneous  Biography,”  (1837).  Iu  May,  1867,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  French  Academy. 


LOUIS  ADOLPHE  THIERS. 

^OUIS  ADOLPHE  THIERS  was  born  at  Marseilles  on  the 
16th  of  April,  1797.  His  father  was  a  working  locksmith,  but 
obtained  for  him  admission  to  the  Lycee  of  that  town,  where 
he  received  his  preliminary  instruction.  His  friends  decided 
to  bring  him  up  to  the  law,  and  he  was  sent  to  Aix,  where  he 
studied  under  M.  Arnaud.  In  due  time  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  but  met  with  such  poor  success  that  he  determined  to  try 
literature  for  a  profession,  having  already  won  two  prizes  in  a  local 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


737 


institution  by  his  essays.  Accordingly,  in  1821,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five,  he  set  out  for  Paris,  where  by  great  perseverance  lie  gained  a 
footing  in  literary  society,  and  was  engaged  as  Art  Critic  by  the 
Constitutionnel.  In  1823  he  published  the  first  volume  of  his  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  French  Revolution,”  completing  it  in  ten  volumes,  the 
last  being  issued  in  1832.  He  joined  Armand  Carrel,  and  Mignet, 
the  historian,  in  editing  the  National,  and  took  part  in  the  struggle 
with  the  Polignac  Ministry,  which  ended  in  the  Revolution  of  1830. 
After  the  accession  of  Louis  Philippe,  he  held  various  minor  offices, 
and  under  Lafitte’s  Administration  held  the  post  of  Under  Secretary 
of  State  in  the  Finance  Department.  He  was  elected  to  the  Chamber 
from  Aix,  where  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  oratorical  powers 
and  his  financial  ability.  In  1832  he  was  made  Minister  of  the 
Interior,  but  shortly  after  became  Minister  of  Commerce  and  Public 
Works.  In  1836  he  was  made  President  of  the  Council  of  Ministers, 
and  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  “and  seems  to  have  entered,  about 
this  time,  upon  a  line  of  policy  which  was  destined  to  occasion  serious 
disputes,  both  with  his  colleagues  and  with  the  diplomatists  of 
Europe.  He  had  cordially  espoused  the  claim  of  young  Queen  Isa¬ 
bella  in  Spain,  and  had  joined  with  the  British  Government  in 
sending  a  military  expedition  to  her  aid.  The  general  rule  of  non¬ 
intervention  was  not  yet  recognized  in  those  days  ;  Lord  Palmerston 
would  break  it  upon  any  occasion,  for  the  sake  of  thwarting  Russia 
or  France  ;  M.  Thiers  would  violate  it  with  equal  alacrity  for  the 
extension  of  French  influence  abroad.  Hence  arose  a  rivalry  between 
the  French  and  the  English  statesman,  which  more  than  once 
threatened  to  involve  the  nations  in  war  against  each  other.  King 
Louis  Philippe  did  not  like  it,  and  was  rather  afraid  of  the  vivacious 
pugnacity  of  M.  Thiers.  The  unthinking  part  of  the  nation  were  de¬ 
lighted  with  it ;  for  the  rising  generation,  which  knew  and  cared  little 
about  the  miseries  of  the  great  war,  had  been  seduced  by  false  liter¬ 
ary  teachers  into  a  worship  of  Bonapartist  glory,  and  despised  the 
pacific  temper  of  the  Orleans  regime.  There  was  a  certain  personage 
at  that  time  hovering  around  the  frontiers  of  France — Prince  Louis 
Napoleon — who  shrewdly  observed  all  these  symptoms  of  growing 
disaffection,  and  prepared  to  profit  by  them.  Meantime  the  Bour¬ 
geois  King  still  reigned,  but  would,  unfortunately,  govern  too  much, 
contrary  to  the  maxim  of  M.  Thiers.  The  end  of  the  first  decade 
found  his  popularity  somewhat  impaired. 

“An  opportunity  for  its  restoration  was  now  given  to  M.  Thiers, 
if  it  had  not  been  for  his  proclivity  to  squabbles  with  foreign  Powers. 
On  the  fall  of  Count  Mole’s  Ministry,  in  1840,  he  was  authorized  to 
form  a  new  Government,  with  a  very  large  majority  of  supporters  in 
the  Chamber.  He  thought  fit  to  flatter  the  national  vanity  or  to  con- 
47 


738 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR 


ciliate  the  Bonapartist  faction  by  at  once  arranging  to  fetch  the  body 
of  Napoleon  I.  from  St.  Helena  to  Paris.  The  immediate  conse¬ 
quence  was  Louis  Napoleon’s  landing  at  Boulogne,  in  August  of  that 
year,  with  an  eagle  and  a  proclamation,  which  had  no  more  success 
than  his  similar  adventure  of  1836  in  Strasbourg.  But  a  further 
natural  effect  was  the  excitement  in  France  of  an  ignorant  wish  to 
avenge  upon  England  the  fancied  wrongs  suffered  by  that  mythical 
hero  and  demigod  of  the  national  idolatry  who  had  been  sent  to  pine 
and  die  a  captive  upon  a  rock  in  the  ocean.  And,  Lord  Palmerston 
being  still  in  office  here,  while  M.  Thiers  had  become  Prime  Minister 
there,  it  was  probable  that  the  pretext  for  a  war-cry  would  soon  be 
at  hand.  This  happened  in  the  usurpation  of  Egypt  and  Syria  by 
Mohammed  Ali  Pasha,  whom  M.  Thiers  chose  to  help  in  his  attempt 
to  wrest  those  dominions  from  the  Sultan.  Never  had  any  Minister 
a  bettter  mind  to  go  to  war  than  he,  when  he  found  that  all  the  other 
European  Governments  were  resolved,  on  Lord  Palmerston’s  invita¬ 
tion,  to  prevent  French  interference.  M.  Thiers  talked  big  and 
threatened ;  M.  Thiers  increased  the  French  army  ;  M.  Thiers  pro¬ 
cured  a  decree  for  the  fortification  of  Paris,  as  though  he  expected  an 
attack  from  Austria,  Prussia,  and  Kussia  combined  with  one  from 
Great  Britain.  There  was  no  such  danger,  nor  could  the  French 
statesman  have  sincerely  believed  it.  All  that  took  place  was  the 
cooperation  of  the  British  and  allied  squadrons  with  the  Turkish 
forces  in  reducing  Beyrout  and  St.  Jean  d’Acre  for  the  Sultan.  King 
Louis  Philippe,  who  had  cherished  the  entente  cordiale ,  knew  better 
than  to  declare  war  against  England  on  account  of  this  affair.  He, 
therefore,  allowed  M.  Thiers  to  resign,  as  an  unsafe  and  discredited 
Minister ;  and  M.  Thiers  has  never  held  office  in  any  Government 
till  the  present  one.  It  is,  indeed,  a  singular  circumstance  that  M. 
Thiers  was  thought  of,  in  those  days,  as  a  possible  Minister  of  Prince 
Louis  Napoleon  (not  that  M.  Thiers  himself  was  aware  of  it),  for 
some  papers  found  on  the  Prince,  at  Boulogne,  contained  the  name 
of  M.  Thiers  as  one  whose  services  it  would  be  well  to  engage,  if 
possible,  after  the  success  of  the  Bonapartist  party. 

“There  is  no  ground  for  the  supposition  that  M.  Thiers,  who  has 
always  been  strictly  faithful  to  the  House  of  Orleans,  would  ever  have 
accepted  office  under  those  circumstances.  But  the  anecdote  shows 
that  Louis  Napoleon  highly  appreciated  the  value  of  M.  Thiers’  pub¬ 
lic  actions,  and  of  his  writings,  as  tending  to  foster  the  Bonapartist 
faith  in  the  hearts  of  Frenchmen.  The  imaginative  glorification  of 
martial  prowess,  displayed  in  the  campaigns  and  battles  of  Napoleon 
I.,  was  the  literary  capital  of  an  author,  who  had  encouraged  the 
war  spirit  as  a  party  politician.  France  was  henceforth  ruled  by  the 
more  sedate  councils  of  M.  Guizot,  and  peace  was  tolerably  secure 


BETWEEN  GERMANY  AND  FRANCE. 


739 


under  Louis  Philippe,  though  the  scheme  of  fortifying  Paris,  which 
M.  Thiers  had  announced  as  necessary,  could  not  well  be  abandoned, 
and  was  further  developed,  in  1841,  by  a  committee  with  M.  Thiers 
at  its  head.  His  loss  of  office,  meanwhile,  afforded  leisure  for  him  to 
undertake  a  grand  historical  work.  It  was  the  famous  ‘Histoire  dn 
Consulat  et  de  l’Empire.’  The  first  volumes  appeared  in  1845,  after 
several  years  devoted  to  the  needful  researches.  That  this  book  is 
not  only  readable,  but  highly  attractive  and  interesting,  results  from 
the  great  abilities  of  its  author,  and  from  the  marvellous  nature  of 
its  subject.  But  no  reader  will  commend  its  solid  worth,  as  a  true 
representation  of  Napoleon,  France,  and  Europe,  in  the  eventful 
period  to  which  it  relates.  Thiers  neither  presents,  like  Michelet, 
graphic  views  of  actual  life  in  the  past,  nor  instructive  philosophical 
reflections,  like  Guizot ;  his  chief  merit  is  a  clear  narrative  arrange¬ 
ment  of  events,  with  a  faculty  of  compehending  strategic  details  and 
a  knowledge  of  administrative  business.  Whatever  be  his  qualities 
as  an  historian,  the  moral  and  political  inllnence  of  his  work  has  been 
enormously  great ;  but  we  cannot  6ay  it  has  been  good.  For  its  ten¬ 
dency  was  to  intoxicate  the  public  mind  with  romantic  visions  of 
martial  glory  and  conquest;  to  disguise  the  criminal  ambition  of  the 
First  Napoleon  as  patriotic  and  heroic  virtue  ;  and  to  account  for  its 
ruinous  failure  by  accidents  and  by  adverse  fate.  This  literary  trans¬ 
figuration  of  the  most  conspicuous  figure  in  modern  French  history 
must  have  contributed,  with  the  songs  of  Be  ranger  and  others,  to  the 
disasters  of  the  Second  Empire.  But  M.  Thiers,  wiLhout  anticipating 
so  far,  continued  from  1840  to  1848  leader  of  the  Centre  Left  Opposi¬ 
tion  in  the  Chamber,  advocating  a  liberal  domestic  policy,  with  a 
restless  interference,  and  defiance  of  England  and  Austria,  in  foreign 
affairs. 

“At  the  Revolution  of  February,  1848,  he  was  invited,  with  Odillon 
Barrot,  to  make  one  attempt  at  saving  the  monarchy,  but  it  was  too 
late.  He  was  never  a  Republican,  though  he  accepted  the  Republic, 
and  endeavored  to  give  it  a  Conservative  turn,  vehemently  resisting 
the  fallacious  notions  and  preposterous  schemes  of  the  Communists, 
and  the  intrigues  and  agitations  of  the  Red  party.  Sitting  in  the 
National  Assembly,  for  the  department  of  the  Seine  Inferieure,  he 
supported  the  advent  of  Frince  Louis  Napoleon  as  President  of  the 
Republic,  and  the  French  intervention  at  Rome,  fighting  a  duel  with 
the  Italian  General  Bixio  upon  that  occasion.  He  has  always  up¬ 
held  the  temporal  sovereignty  of  the  Pope.  In  1850,  with  the  Con¬ 
servative  ma  jority  of  the  Assembly,  he  helped  to  carry  the  restriction 
of  universal  suffrage,  in  order  to  prevent  the  re-election  of  the  Presi¬ 
dent.  Louis  Napoleon  was  by  this  time  obnoxious  to  that  party, 
who  suspected  him  of  a  design  to  usurp  absolute  power ;  while  he 


740 


HISTORY  OF  THE  LATE  WAR. 


suspected  them,  ou  the  other  hand,  of  an  intention  to  restore  the 
Orleans  monarchy.  M.  Thiers  had  become  his  chief  antagonist ; 
and  when  the  coup  d'etat  of  December,  1851,  struck  down  the  legisla¬ 
tive  body  of  the  Republic,  M.  Thiers  was  arrested,  taken  out  of  his 
bed  at  five  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  confined  some  days  in  the 
prison  of  Mazas.  lie  was  released,  but  expelled  from  France,  and 
passed  some  months  in  Belgium,  England,  Italy,  and  Switzerland. 
Returning  to  Paris,  in  August,  1852,  he  finished  his  Napoleonic  his¬ 
tory.  It  was  not  till  1863,  after  the  adoption  of  a  more  liberal 
Constitution  for  the  Empire,  that  he  entered  the  Corps  Legislatif, 
in  which  he  has  delivered  many  effective  Opposition  speeches. 
He  has  denounced  the  financial  extravagance  of  the  Imperial 
Government,  its  wars  in  Italy  and  Mexico,  and  not  less  its  abstinence 
from  a  warlike  behavior  towards  Prussia  four  years  ago.  He  has 
incessantly  protested  against  the  movement  of  the  Italians  and 
Germans  towards  the  completion  of  their  national  unity,  and 
he  has  taunted  the  Emperor  for  not  daring  to  stop  them.  It 
cannot,  therefore,  be  denied  that  M.  Thiers  is,  as  much  as  any 
Frenchman,  responsible  for  the  irritation  which  has  caused  the  pres¬ 
ent  war,  though  he  disapproved  its  undertaking,  last  July,  because  he 
thought  the  opportunity  was  not  well  chosen.  Notwithstanding  the 
grave  political  errors  which  have  been  pointed  out,  his  conduct, 
during  forty-five  years  of  public  life,  has  not  deserved  the  reproach 
of  tergiversation  ;  he  has  not  belied  or  forsaken  the  principles  which 
he  formerly  professed.  Constitutional  Monarchy,  with  a  responsible 
Ministry  dependent  on  Parliamentary  and  popular  support,  and  with 
a  permanent  aristocracy  to  strengthen  the  throne,  has  been  the  object 
of  his  constant  faith.  It  is  only  to  be  regretted  that  he  has  failed  to 
perceive  how  the  happiness  of  a  nation,  like  that  of  an  individual,  is 
to  be  consulted  by  fairly  respecting  the  claims  of  its  neighbors  ;  and 
that  the  golden  rule  of  public  policy  is  identical  with  that  of  private 
morality,  ‘  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  others  should  do  unto  you,  do 
ye  even  so  unto  them.’  ” 


THE  END. 


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LIFE  IN  UTAH; 

OR,  THE 

MYSTERIES  AND  CRIMES  OF  MORMONISM. 

BEING  AN  EXPOSE 

)F  THEIR  SECRET  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES;  WITH  A  FULL  AND  AU¬ 
THENTIC  HISTORY  OF  POLYGAMY  AND  THE  MORMON  SECT 
FROM  ITS  ORIGIN  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 

By  J.  I  I.  BEADLE, 

EDITOR  OF  THE  SALT  LAKE  REPORTER,  AND  UTAH  CORRESPONDENT  OF  THE 
CINCINNATI  COMMERCIAL. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  34  FINE  ENGRAVINGS. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  the  world  has  been  horrified,  startled  and  perplexed  by  tho 
audacity  and  success  of  a  sect  culling  themselves  Mormons.  Though  founded  in  fraud, 
this  sect  has  succeeded  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  until  it  is  to-day  the  standing  reproach 
of  our  country. 

Several  works  have  appeared,  purporting  to  be  exposures  of  the  secret  rites  and  mysto- 
fies  of  this  strange  sect,  but  none  have  been  complete,  and  few  authentic.  At  present  tho 
demand  for  a  work  of  this  kind  is  greatly  increased  by  the  determination  of  the  General 
Government  to  put  in  force  active  and  decisive  measures  against  those  people  who  calling 
themselves  Saints  have  violated  every  law  of  God  and  man. 

The  Author's  long  residence  in  Utah;  his  position  as  editor  of  the  leading  journal  of 
that  Territory  ;  his  spirited  defence  of  the  cause  of  morality  against  Mormon  treason  and 
licentiousness,  and  his  own  sufferings  at  their  hands,  peculiarly  qualify  him  for  this  task. 
Mormonism  has  been  productive  of  so  many  dark  and  strange  mysteries — so  many  terrible 
crimes  that  few  can  comprehend,  without  an  intimate  knowledge  of  it,  how  much  wicked¬ 
ness  it  has  to  answer  for,  and  what  a  standing  menace  to  order  and  society  it  is. 

THE  WORK  TREATS  OH1 

Mormonism  ;  its  origin  and  history,  and  shows  how,  founded  on  imposture,  it  has  grown 
by  deceit  and  crime.  It  shows  how  Joe  Smith  was  enabled  to  deceive  and  cheat  his 
followers;  how  by  leading  them  on  from  crime  to  crime,  and  enticing  them  with  licen¬ 
tious  baits,  he  succeeded  in  maintaining  his  influence  over  them. 

Of  crime  and  lawlessness  in  Utah  ;  showing  the  Mormon  leaders  in  their  true  light,  as 
thieves,  murderers  and  assassins;  how  human  life  is  every  day  taken  in  Utah  ;  explain¬ 
ing  and  illustrating  the  infamous  doctrine  of  killing  a  man  to  save  his  soul  ;  and  pre¬ 
senting  a  catalogue  of  crimes  and  horrors  at  which  even  the  coolest  and  calmest  reader 
will  turn  pale.  It  tells  of  frightful  massacres  of  whole  trains  of  emigrants,  how  they  aro 
murdered  for  their  property,  and  how  that  property  thus  obtained,  is  seen  daily  in  tho 
possession  of  the  Mormon  leaders. 

Of  the  Mormon  religion,  its  infamous  and  heathenish  character,  its  multitude  of  gods,  its 
abominable  doctrines  and  practices,  revealing  many  strange  mysteries  and  outrageous 
ceremonies. 

Of  the  Endowment  or  initiation  ceremonies,  showing  how  obscene  and  disgusting  they  are; 
how  female  modesty  is  outraged  in  them,  and  how  licentiousness  is  taught  as  a  part  of 
theii  religious  creed. 

Of  the  spiritual  wife  doctrine,  showing  how  a  woman  may  have  more  than  one  living  hus¬ 
band  and  accord  to  each  the  same  privileges  ;  how  women  are  debauched  and  degraded  ; 
how  they  are  required  to  prostitute  themselves  “for  religion’s  sake;”  showing  the  terri¬ 
ble  results  of  polygamy  and  sin. 

The  high  praise  which  this  work  has  received  from  members  of  Congress,  and  Govern¬ 
ment  officials  to  whom  it  was  submitted,  and  by  whom  its  publication  was  urged  as  a  duty 
to  the  country,  stamps  it  as  no  ordinary  work,  but  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  thrilling 
books  ever  published.  It  is  comprised  in  one  large  octavo  volume  of  540  pages,  illustrated 
and  embellished  with  34  fine  engravings,  and  furnished  to  subscribers, 

Elegantly  bound  in  Extra  Pine  English  Cloth,  -  at  $2.7  5  per  Copy. 

“  “  Pino  Heather,  (Library  Style,)  at  $3.25  “  “ 

AGENTS  WANTED.  Address,  NATIONAL  PUBLISHING  CO., 

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NEW  ILLUSTRATED 


Devotional  &  Practical 


CONTAINING  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS,  APOCRYPHA, 
CONCORDANCE,  PSALMS  IN  METRE,  Etc.,  Etc. 


With  a  History  of  the  Translation  of  the  Bible  ;  over  one  hundred  Scrip¬ 
ture  Illustrations,  Valuable  Treatises,  Chronological  and  oilier 
useful  Tables,  designed  to  promote  and  facilitate  the 
Study  of  the  Bible. 

Our  New  Illustrated  Bible,  with  its  numerous  Tables  and  Treatises,  Photographic  Album 
for  16  Portraits,  Beautiful  Family  Record,  etc.,  is  the  most  perfect  and  comprehensive 
edition  ever  published. 

The  Marginal  Readings  and  References,  the  Definitions  and  Explanations,  the  Scripture 
Illustrations  and  Descriptions,  will  prove  of  inestimable  interest  and  value  to  every  reader, 
and  of  vast  practical  assistance  and  importance  to  Ministers,  Theological  Students  and 
Sunday-School  Teachers. 

It  is  printed  from  large,  clear  type,  on  fine  white  paper  made  expressly  for  this  Bible, 
and  contains  over  One  Thousand  Pages,  and  over  One  Hundred  Illustrations,  and  bound 
in  the  most  handsome  and  substantial  manner. 

In  Arabesque  Leather,  Marbled  Edge,  at  $  7.50  per  Copy. 

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In  French  Morocco,  Full  Gilt,  Panelled  Sides,  at  13.00  “  “ 

The  following  are  specimens  of  the  letters  that  we  have  received  from 
Clergymen,  and  from  agents  who  are  selling  our  Bibles  : 

New  Milford,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  September  17 th,  1869. 
NATIONAL  PUBLISHING  CO. 

Gentlemen  : — -You  get  up  the  beet  Bible  in  the  market.  I  can  get  fifty  certificates  to 
that  effect.  A  $10.  Bible  has  just  been  delivered  in  tnis  County,  and  persons  who  bought  il 
are  anxious  to  trade  even  for  your  $7.50  Bible. 

Yours,  Respectfully, 

MATTHEW  FREEMAN. 


Rev.  R.  .T.  Kellloc  writes: — I  have  carefully  examined  the  “  New  Illustrated  Family 
Bible,”  published  by  the  National  Publishing  Co.,  and  have  no  hesitation  in  pronoune* 
ing  it  the  best  edition  of  the  Bible  I  ever  saw. 

Its  numerous  marginal  references,  tables  and  treatises,  definitions  and  explanations, 
Scriptural  illustrations  and  descriptions,  Bible  emblems  and  symbols,  make  it  of  great 
worth  and  unbounded  interest  and  value  to  every  reader  of  the  inspired  word. 


Mr.  J.  Barnes,  our  Ajent  at  St.  James,  Phelps  Co.,  Mo.,  writes  us  under  date  of 
March  25,  1870  : — ‘;The  Bibles  you  sent  me  surprise  the  people.  They  say  they  are  the 
finest  ever  brought  into  this  County.” 

Bibles  are  always  in  demand,  and  you  can  often  sell  a  really 
valuable,  handsome  and  cheap  one  to  persons  who  will  buy  no 
other  book. 

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any  address,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  Price. 


SEXUAL  SCIENCE; 

INCLUDING  ' 

MANHOOD,  WOMANHOOD, 

AND 

THEIR  MUTUAL  INTER-RELATIONS; 

LOVE,  ITS  LAWS,  POWER,  ETC. 

By  Prof,  O,  S.  Fowler. 

“  Sexual  Science  ”  is  simply  that  great  code  of  natural  laws  by  which  the  Almighty  re¬ 
quires  the  sexes  to  be  governed  in  their  mutual  relations.  A  knowledge  of  these  laws  is  of 
the  highest  importance,  and  it  is  the  general  ignorance  of  them  which  swells  the  list  of  disease 
and  misery  in  the  world,  and  wrecks  so  many  lives  which  would  otherwise  be  happy. 

THE  WORK  TREATS  OF  LOVE-MAKING  AND  SELECTION,  showing  how  love 
affairs  should  be  conducted,  and  revealing  the  laws  which  govern  male  and  female  attraction 
and  repulsion;  what  qualities  make  a  good,  and  a  poor,  husband  or  wife,  and  what  given 
persons  should  select  and  reject;  what  forms,  sizes,  etc.,  may,  and  must  not.  intermarry. 

OF  MARRIAGE,  its  sacredness  and  necessity,  its  laws  and  rights ;  of  perfect  and  miserable 
unions ;  and  ot  all  that  it  is  necessary  to  know  concerning  this  most  important  relation  in  life. 

OF  BEARING  AND  NUPtSING. — This  portion  being  a  complete  encyclopedia  for  pro¬ 
spective  mothers,  showing  how  to  render  confinement  easy,  and  manage  infants;  every  young 
wife  requires  its  instructions  as  affecting  her  embryo. 

OF  SEXUAL  RESTORATION. — This  is  a  very  important  part  of  the  work  ;  because 
almost  all  men  and  women,  if  not  diseased,  are  run  down.  The  laws  of  sexual  recuperation 
are  here,  for  the  first  time,  unfolded,  and  the  whole  subject  thoroughly  and  scientifically 
treated;  giving  the  cause  and  cure  of  female  ailments,  seminal  losses,  sexual  impotence,  etc. 

And  Tells  how  to  promote  sexual  vigor,  the  prime  duty  of  every  man  and 
woman. 

How  to  make  a  right  choice  of  husband  or  wife  ;  what  persons  are  suited  to 
each  other. 

How  to  judge  a  man  or  woman’s  sexual  condition  by  visible  signs. 

How  young  husbands  should  treat  their  brides;  howto  increase  their  love 
and  avoid  shocking  them. 

How  to  avoid  an  improper  marriage,  and  how  to  avoid  female  ailments. 

How  to  increase  the  joys  of  wedded  life,  and  how  to  increase  female  passion. 

How  to  regulate  intercourse  between  man  and  wile,  and  how  to  make  it 
healthful  to  both  ;  ignorance  of  this  law  is  the  cause  of  nearly  all  the  woes  of  marriage. 

How  to  have  fine  and  healthy  children,  and  how  to  transmit  mental  and 
physical  qualities  to  offspring. 

How  to  avoid  the  evils  attending  pregnancy,  and  how  to  make  child-bearing 
healthful  and  desirable. 

How  to  prevent  self-abuse  among  the  young,  and  how  to  recognize  the  signs 
of  self-abuse  and  cure  it. 

How  intercourse  out  of  wedlock  is  injurious  ;  a  warning  to  young  men. 

How  to  restore  and  perpetuate  female  beauty,  and  how  to  promote  the  growth 
of  the  female  bust. 

How  to  be  virtuous,  happy,  healthful  and  useful,  by  a  rigid  compliance  with 
the  laws  of  sexual  science. 

There  is  scarcely  a  question  concerning  the  most  serious  duties  of  life  which  is  not  fully 
and  satisfactorily  answered  in  this  book.  Such  a  work  has  long  been  needed,  and  will  be 
found  invaluable  to  every  man  and  woman  who  has  arrived  at  years  of  discretion.  It  should 
be  read  especially  by  the  married,  and  by  those  who  have  the  care  of  children,  and  it  will 
carry  happiness  with  it  wherever  it  goes,  by  diffusing  knowledge  on  those  subjects  concern¬ 
ing  which  it  has,  until  now,  been  almost  impossible  to  obtain  reliable  information.  The 
book  is  pure  and  elevated  in  tone ;  eloquent  in  its  denunciations  of  vice  ;  and  forcible  in  its 
warnings  against  the  secret  sins  which  are  practiced  with  impunity  even  in  the  family  circle. 

In  one  large  royal  octavo  volume  of  930  pages,  embellished  and  illustrated  with  numerous 


Engravings,  and  furnished  to  Subscribers, 

Bound  in  Extra  Pine  Cloth . . . . at  $3.75  per  Copy. 

Bound  in  Pine  Leather,  (Library  Style,) . at  $4.50  “  “ 


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Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Chicago,  Dl. ;  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  or  Atlanta,  Ga. 


I 


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